Fucking rats in the kitchen

[GovernmentFundedSteak]

As the title says really. We've had the same issue in the past, hence I had things in to try and help.
Realised when I got home that there was a rat in the kitchen. Opened the back door and made a lot of noise, then left the door open for a while so it could get out. Couldn't hear it anymore, so shut the door, found a hole where it must have come in. Tipped peppermint pellets into the gap and stuffed it with wire wool. Went and did some other stuff and then went back to the kitchen. The bloody thing has pulled the wire wool out and is back in the kitchen.
Ugggh. I don't know what to do. Landlord refuses to do anything about it, can't afford to move.
Does anyone have any tried and tested methods? Or do I need to call in pest control? Is that expensive? I am unbelievably skint right now.

@GovernmentFundedSteak explain your situation on a local community group on Facebook and ask if anyone has a bait box you can borrow for a week or can help you.

If your worried about landlord seeing it go anonymous.

Horrible to think of them in your car. I'm sure the presence of cats in your garage area will help prevent that. Incidentally, we've just put a car back on the road thats been parked up for 10 years in an open garage by the house and there was no problem with rats/mice chewing anything on it. It'll be a little bit of work to settle your feral cats in but I'm sure it will be worth it.Good luck with them.

I have bait boxes from last time they were a problem. Have ordered more bait.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. It's just nice knowing I'm not the only one with an issue. I was slightly concerned you'd all just accuse me of needing to clean more or something!

Check on local FB groups. There are some 'professional' rat catching terriers for hire. I have a Patterdale and she's excellent. She has killed a couple in my garden, that I didn't know they were there - she sniffed them out, good girl.
Though it sounds gruesome, they are so clinical, its literally over in seconds and the rat is killed without being disembowelled so to speak

Nothing to do with cleanliness!
Whilst I'm sympathetic to animals and do not approve of them being cruelly culled, rats carry Weil's disease. It's dangerous and who in their right mind, is cool with rats/disease? 🤷🏼‍♀️

We had a cat who hunted nice, she wouldn't kill them so we had mice in the house. Once we got rid of them I found a nest in a pair of boots

Yes I suppose that's true. I was forgetting the swimming bit!

We had a very bad mouse infestation that was solved with electric traps, which electrocutes the mice instantly. They make rat sized ones as well.

I would call in pest control.

Haven't really got any insights to share OP, but just had to say I am loving your username! 😄Hope you manage to nail the rat issue.

I got that song in my head as soon as I saw the thread title! 😄

I think I've got rid of them, thanks everyone. But just as an extra precaution, which plug in deterrent do you have please? I don't want to waste money I don't have on one that doesnt work!

Oooh what did you do to them?!

ETA sorry don't know about deterrents, I had just heard abut the drowning bucket.

Squirt expanding foam into the gap and then shove steel wool in there before the foam hardens. We had professional advice on this, and it has been 100% effective.

Steel wool and expanding foam in the gap. Traps with bait which havent caught anything. But the rats are no longer inside my house. Just dont want to risk them coming back if I open the door out window for fresh air!

No OP
It breaks the rodent's back, quickly, done and over
Those glue traps though, they don't kill quickly and I'd not use one personally
I like rats as well, the pet type :)

We had a cat who hunted nice, she wouldn't kill them so we had mice in the house. Once we got rid of them I found a nest in a pair of boots

Aww
A nest in a pair of boots sounds sweet

You can't make cats live outside in winter!

We cannot get rid of ours. Paid nearly £300 to the rat man so far. Traps, poison... the bastards survive. Wits end.

Infuriating! I thought they'd moved outside, but i can hear one again so I've ordered an electric trap to come tomorrow. Little fuckers with cute faces

I’m glad you aren’t going g to use poison! It is an agonizing way for them to die. Horrific.