Rat! Help!

[showmethegin]

Our cat, the useless can't catch anything ever cat has somehow bought a very large mouse or a small rat in the house! It ran into our front room that is full of boxes (moving house) he's now lost interest and can't seem to find it again.

What the hell do we do?! We've moved and banged all the boxes, most of which are sealed checking as we go and nothing. I don't see how it could have got out?!

Please help, this is so grim!!!

Put some cat food (preferably dry in case it doesn't work first time) and sit very quietly close to the food, holding a slipper or thick rolled up newspaper or similar. When the 'mouse' comes to feed, which it will eventually if still inside, hit it hard, put it in a plastic bag and bin it.

If it doesn't work first time, leave a small amount of food there and leave it until you have time to sit again.

If the food is going but the mouse never comes out when you are waiting, after a few days put the food in a humane trap in the same place. The mouse, by now, feels safe feeding there so should be easy to catch. You could also use chocolate with or instead of the cat food.

Peanut butter is good too .

It might have got out - rats and mice can squeeze through the tiniest of gaps.

If it was still there, I think your cat would be showing some interest - cats can hear the supersonic squeaking of rodents and will hang around for ages waiting for them to appear if they're about.

Those are great tips. Here's the little git sleeping soundly as ever so hopefully that means it has gone!!

Our cat used to do this (God rest his lovely cat bones). Rats tend to seek safety in enclosed spaces, so we'd often catch them in a wellington boot laid horizontally along the skirting board.