Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Cat brought in live baby rat-help!

36 replies

Milly2016 · 29/07/2022 08:30

I am currently sitting in the living room listening to the sound of a baby rat moving about the room.
The cat keeps bringing them in live from the woods opposite.
I am so pissed off about this.
She brings them in, plays with them for a while and just f*ing leaves them.
There is no attempt to finish the poor creature off.

The sound of it scuttling about is very unnerving and , while I am not phobic, I obviously want it gone because it can spread disease and chew wires etc.
I'm recovering from covid and the last thing I want right now is another illness!

Any tips on how to get it to go outside?

Please help I have no idea what to do. The cat has utterly and totally lost interest in it.

P. S. Please no comments about me knowing better about cat behaviour because this is my dp's cat and I would never have got one because this is the sort of thing they do and I know it's their nature but I can't be doing with it.

OP posts:
fluffyducky21 · 29/07/2022 08:53

Sorry, nothing useful to suggest but if that happened in my house I'd be out and checking into a hotel. I've got a real phobia .

Marblessolveeverything · 29/07/2022 08:59

According to my Vet when cats do this they are probably trying to help you be a provider for your family. Put a bell on the cat or dont let her have free access in so you can vet her visitors.

Open door grab sweeping brush and chase mouse out- a la Tom and Jerry 1980s. Yep we have been that soldier.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 29/07/2022 09:03

I'd try and get it out ASAP while its still a bit shocked and unsure of its surroundings. Maybe invest in few rat traps for future too just in case!

Is the room got an external door you could issue it out of as Marblessolveeverything suggests? Or try and cover and and scoop it up with an old ice cream tub?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cats
holidayhonesty · 29/07/2022 09:03

You might need to get a humane (or not depending on your views) trap. They like peanut butter so maybe lure it out with some and then pounce with a large container?! Good luck!

Original poster
Milly2016 · 29/07/2022 09:10

Thanks for the suggestions. I've scattered some cotton wool balls with a few drops of peppermint oil as they hate the smell.
The cat is now in living room but totally disinterested in it.
This is driving me nuts. It's the disease aspect for me.
I have spoken to my dp and he understandably won't get rid of the cat but honestly I have to leave if this continues (no dc).
I cannot be doing with this all the time.
It sounds funny but it's not.

OP posts:
Greensleeves · 29/07/2022 09:13

Definitely get a humane trap and bait it with peanut butter. And be really careful - I retrieved one from the jaws of one of my cats and it bit me - cue 8 hours at A&E when the bite turned rancid and streaks appeared up my arm!

TheLoftHatch · 29/07/2022 09:19

Is it time to get rid of the cat flap? It's a bit of a pain but if you let the cat in and out using the door, you can check first if it's captured something gruesome! Not ideal but plenty of people do have cats without cat flaps. The cat just learns to shout when it wants in or out.

siriusblackcat · 29/07/2022 09:57

This is why we don't have a cat flap. We can check their Jaws before letting them in.
He kills stuff outside and leaves us the corpses to deal with 🤢

Babdoc · 29/07/2022 10:05

Marbles, bells don’t work - cats soon learn to muffle them by pressing down with their chin. And be very careful if trying to sweep a rat out the door with a broom - I only did that once, and the large adult rat leapt at my throat! I ducked, and it flew over my shoulder.
Trapping is the safest option, but I’d recommend a lethal trap that instantly breaks the rat’s neck. Put it in the room with the rat, baited with peanut butter, and shut your cat out of that room so it can’t be injured by the trap itself.
Humane traps mean releasing vermin outside to continue breeding and reinfesting your home.

Drevere · 29/07/2022 10:20

My cat does this. I end it if the cat won't.

ErrolTheDragon · 29/07/2022 10:28

If it's a baby rat chances are the adults will kill it anyway if it smells of cat or human so a 'humane' trap may not be particularly relevant.

MRSAHILL · 29/07/2022 10:41

I feel so sorry for you and totally understand how you feel. My son is desperate for a cat. I've been looking at rescues and I'm so tempted to get one but this is the main reason I'm not going ahead. I couldn't cope with this behaviour, even though I know it is just nature.

ErrolTheDragon · 29/07/2022 10:55

MRSAHILL · 29/07/2022 10:41

I feel so sorry for you and totally understand how you feel. My son is desperate for a cat. I've been looking at rescues and I'm so tempted to get one but this is the main reason I'm not going ahead. I couldn't cope with this behaviour, even though I know it is just nature.

If you do get a cat, don't get a cat flap!

MrsSkylerWhite · 29/07/2022 10:59

Grab a towel. It will appear at some point. Throw the towel over it, wrap it up and put it outside.
alternatively, leave the door open and put a big blob of peanut butter outside, the smell should entice it out.

SavingsThreads · 29/07/2022 11:10

MrsSkylerWhite · 29/07/2022 10:59

Grab a towel. It will appear at some point. Throw the towel over it, wrap it up and put it outside.
alternatively, leave the door open and put a big blob of peanut butter outside, the smell should entice it out.

Or entice others in 😉

BigWoollyJumpers · 29/07/2022 11:14

With mice I open/close doors leaving an outside exit and try to chase them out. Sometimes I catch them, but have been bitten. If all else fails, I put down lethal traps. Humane traps are a waste of time, the cat will just bring the saved rodent back in. Better a quick death with a last supper of Nutella.

darisdet · 29/07/2022 11:19

I have spoken to my dp and he understandably won't get rid of the cat but honestly I have to leave if this continues (no dc).

I should hope not about 'get rid' of the cat! You'd really leave?

Anyway, I'd agree with collar and bell suggestions. Make sure it's a safety collar that will release if it gets caught on anything.

FlibbertyGibbitt · 29/07/2022 11:31

Towel or bowl over it , scoop and take back to fields

Original poster
Milly2016 · 29/07/2022 11:49

darisdet · 29/07/2022 11:19

I have spoken to my dp and he understandably won't get rid of the cat but honestly I have to leave if this continues (no dc).

I should hope not about 'get rid' of the cat! You'd really leave?

Anyway, I'd agree with collar and bell suggestions. Make sure it's a safety collar that will release if it gets caught on anything.

Yes I would.
Maybe we'd still be a couple but live apart.
Obviously if we had children I'd not consider this but we haven't.

The cat is generally anti-social, hisses a lot, is a trip hazard and has now taken to doing this.
My DP is a man of principle and will not get rid of her even though he is covered in scratches as she attacks him constantly.
One day they'll get infected.

I don't blame him but the animal is making my life miserable.
It's just one of those situations where neither of us is at fault.
And now vermin in the house. It's becoming intolerable.

OP posts:
darisdet · 29/07/2022 13:02

It sounds like it's got on top of you a bit!

I'd be interested to know the cat's background. When/why it attacks. I've had scratchy cats (not well socialised when younger I think) one liked to lie in wait in the hallway and would swipe at hair or ankles, but it can be improved upon.

I'd ask for this to be moved to the Litter Tray. You'll get more advice there.

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 29/07/2022 13:04

I've scattered some cotton wool balls with a few drops of peppermint oil as they hate the smell.

Do they? I've had pet rats eat mints by choice.

womaninatightspot · 29/07/2022 13:07

I locked the cat flap having come down to rabbit entrails. It is a pain but the cat will figure out how to let you know when they want in.

TibetanTerrah · 29/07/2022 13:08

Approach rat.

Sprinkle rat with catnip.

Make a trail of catnip leading from rat to cat.

Honestly I would just burn the house down tbh.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 29/07/2022 13:09

Treat it like a big spider. Get a vase or something and put over it, then slide some card under and pick it up.

Or chuck a towel over it and pick it up and put it outside.

womaninatightspot · 29/07/2022 13:10

Apparently rats don’t like onions if you have any of those. A bucket with a smear of peanut butter in the bottom. Steps leading up to it made of boxes. Hopefully it should jump in. Cardboard over top. Chuck it out lock your cat flap.