Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

Cancel holiday tomorrow because of cat and rats?

37 replies

stupidsocialmedia · 09/04/2023 15:57

We are having huge arguments over this and right now I don't want to go.

You may have seen my thread yesterday about the cat bringing in a dead rat here.

Today she brought in a live one and left it in the hall. Luckily today DH was home, but that didn't stop me shutting myself in the front room and screaming for the town to hear. DH got rid of it, but all he told me was it was under the radiator and I couldn't see droppings so just randomly sprayed bleach everywhere.

Anyway, we are going away tomorrow morning for four nights (five days). I am not happy that the cat will be able to come and go. We will shut her out of the front room, but we have no doors from the kitchen to the hall or the dining room. This means any rat could get under the fridge/cooker, or in our bedroom, or under anything in the dining room.

I would like to get a litter tray. DH said no! He's blocked under the shed where he saw her get under, and says that fine, but I'm not convinced. She could still wait and they get out of small spaces.

My adult (ASD) son is coming in to feed her, but he is as squeamish as me and is a real clean freak, and already said he will not deal with rodents. He also wouldn't look at every nook and cranny for an escapee.

The one she caught today was just after being fed, so that knocked DH's theory that she was hungry.

It would also stop the local tomcat coming in and spraying (he's stopped after I blocked the cat flap at night, but obviously won't when away.

I really, really, will not relax on holiday, unless I know I can come home without having to deal with dead, or worse live rodents.

Rat in the hall *tw- photo within thread* | Mumsnet

Mumsnet makes parents' lives easier by pooling knowledge, advice and support on everything from conception to childbirth, from babies to teenagers.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/rat-in-the-hall-tw-photo-within-thread?

OP posts:
sunshinesupermum · 09/04/2023 17:53

ittakes2 Eeeeewwww!

Original poster
stupidsocialmedia · 09/04/2023 18:05

@Gymmum82 with respect I've had her for 11.5 years, so am very used to dealing with rodents. I suggest you check the tail of the 'mouse' on the other thread, as it is certainly not a mouse tail...it was also far too big for a mouse (unless there is some giant species).

OP posts:
wellhi · 09/04/2023 18:40

I can't see your other thread @stupidsocialmedia, please may I see the pic?

I have the same problem. I try to get a live in sitter when we go away but it's not easy to find someone willing to do it.

I would agree that being kept in with a litter tray would be best, or go to your sons for the week.

Isanny · 09/04/2023 18:47

Gymmum82 · 09/04/2023 17:14

I’ve looked at your other thread and that is a mouse. Not a rat. Not even a baby rat. My cats bring them in all the time. Usually dead. Sometimes live.
Unfortunately rodents in your house are part of having a cat. If you can’t cope with that then I don’t think pet ownership is for you. However I would shut the cat in while you’re away with a litter tray

It's definitely a rat.

RedSquirrelRoar · 09/04/2023 18:56

We always leave our cat shut in the house with a litter tray when we’re away - partly because we don’t want mice in the house but mainly for her safety as a PP said.

Original poster
stupidsocialmedia · 09/04/2023 19:16

@wellhi

Cancel holiday tomorrow because of cat and rats?
OP posts:
SeeWhatYouGetWhenYouAskAStupidQuestion · 09/04/2023 19:18

ZirihePevzig · 09/04/2023 16:21

You need a pest control specialist to deal with the local rat population without using poison. There are one-way corridor traps - the important thing is that cats can get seriously ill if they catch a poisoned dying rat.

The fact that the cat regularly catches rats is a good thing, alerting you to the fact that there is an ongoing rat infestation, that needs dealing with.

You can't deal with it by never leaving the house again.

this

wellhi · 09/04/2023 19:34

stupidsocialmedia · 09/04/2023 19:16

@wellhi

Yikes Sad

Yeah I love cats but also don't like these gifts.

Hope you manage to come up with a solution.

Dancemonkee · 09/04/2023 19:36

ittakes2 · 09/04/2023 16:49

We use those microchip cat doors to avoid other cats getting in.
Can I share my cat and mouse story please.
My cat cries in a special way when he has brought in prey. When he first started doing this he did it once at 1am in the morning in our bedroom so I woke my hubby up and said cat has brough prey into our bedroom we need to turn on the lights and look for it. We could see nothing so I went to the bathroom. After a quick wee I got up and noticed a mouse's tail hanging into the toilet bowl - the mouse had hid under the toilet seat and I had sat on it.

😯😯😯

thatsn0tmyname · 09/04/2023 19:39

My Mums cat caught a bat (true story).

Original poster
stupidsocialmedia · 09/04/2023 19:42

@ittakes2 Your poor mum, stuff of nightmares.

OP posts:
WhoWants2Know · 09/04/2023 20:59

Cat litter is really the easiest solution for now. She may have found a nest, so she'll just keep bringing them until it's empty.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread