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Original poster

Somethings in my attic and I’m freaking out!!!

179 replies

DandyPinkDuck · 01/12/2025 20:51

There’s something living in my attic and I’m freaking out, this whole situation is making my mental health even worse, I’m so anxious I can’t leave my room and haven’t eaten all day as I’m scared I’ll find something running around I’m extremely on edge 😔 I live by myself in a semi detached house in a semi-rural area.

Sunday around 2am I heard a noise outside my bedroom window (I have a conservatory below my window) it literally sounded like someone was trying to break in or open the window, was rather loud and I freaked out. Calmed myself down and thought maybe it was a cat outside my window on the conservatory roof….I was wrong…today (Monday) this time at 12:30am I could hear noise above me in the attic which was definitely in the attic as was rather loud, sounded like something crawling/running pretty fast as well as scratching, lasted about 10minutes and then went silent and not heard anything as of yet. Best way I can describe it is it was like a kitten that’s energetically running around and clawing things. I assume whatever it is climbed onto the conservatory and at first tried to find a way into my bedroom around the window which failed, I'm praying it failed, and then settled to the attic instead.

I called my landlord as I rent a council property and they said someone will contact me in 2-5 working days and I can’t afford to go private but I’m loosing my mind I’ve genuinely had anxiety attacks on/off all of today as I’m really stressed and scared to death that I’m gonna see something big and grey (don’t want to mention it) running around I honestly cannot relax and as mentioned I’ve not eaten because of it… may sound silly to some but my mental health is really bad and this situation has made it worse. The fact I heard it trying to get into my room near the window makes me terrified they may come into my room or already be here somewhere I’m having to constantly scan my room every few minutes to check (it’s triggering my OCD symptoms).

I know it’s not something sitting on the roof and doubt it’s a bird as when it was moving it was really fast. There’s no way I can put traps around or go into the attack, as you can tell I’m already distressed just knowing somethings there. I feel like I’m a complete mess and I’m dreading tonight as I know I’m bound to hear it again I’m really anxious this time I’ll hear it in my actual room or trying to get in again. I couldn’t even pluck the courage to look outside my window onto the top of the conservatory this morning in case I saw something.

Should I call the landlord again tomorrow to explain how I suffer with mental health and it’s really effecting me to hopefully see if anyone can come sooner?

Any reassurance would be great right now as I’m very panicky, already searched what the chances are of a pest in the attic coming into the actual house and regret searching it…any reassurance on that would be great or just to hear peoples experiences.

OP posts:
FrodoBiggins · 01/12/2025 20:53

It's a squirrel prob. One in my attic currently. It's cold outside so they seek out warm places then get freaked out if they can't escape, little idiots.
Yes tell landlord. Don't see why it would be relevant to mention your mental health. Just say there's an animal in the attic and they need to have it removed.

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 01/12/2025 20:53

Get some rat poison and put it up there. You need to get rid of whatever it is. We had a squirrel living in our loft (until it died from the poison) and it also ate our electric wires, very dangerous

Trampoline · 01/12/2025 20:55

Poor you! Could it be a squirrel? Or a rat? Squirrels gallop across our roof and are surprisingly noisy.
Definitely call your landlord again tomorrow.

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GumFossil · 01/12/2025 20:56

Email your tenancy services and explain about your mental health.

FrodoBiggins · 01/12/2025 20:56

That's not that helpful when she said she is scared to go up there.

OP tell landlord they send pest control around tomorrow or you're getting them over and taking it off the rent. Don't mention your MH. this isn't a "you" issue it's a landlord issue to sort.

They can't get into your house unless you leave the roof hatch open. Which you won't. So don't worry about that.

CalmShaker · 01/12/2025 21:11

I bet it's a squirrel.
As a temporary fix, hit hard on the attic door hatch. It will make them run back outside for a bit

Original poster
DandyPinkDuck · 01/12/2025 21:13

@FrodoBiggins

Don't know how but feel a bit better imagining it’s just a squirrel! I thought about mentioning my mental health to my landlord as I already contacted them today and they said it’ll be 2-5 working days just for someone to be in touch with me, thought it’s worth seeing if they can get someone out sooner as they’re not aware of my health and how it’s effecting me. Thank you for the reassurance really appreciated right now!

OP posts:
deepdas · 01/12/2025 21:18

In the dead of night even mice running around an attic can sound alarming loud. Make sure pest control put up a whole load of poison.

Fighting vermin is not a one off thing. You need to be able to access the loft to replace poison. You need to stay on top of the defences as they will come back.

if you are too scared to go in the loft do you have a friend who would do this for you?

megacat · 01/12/2025 21:19

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 01/12/2025 20:53

Get some rat poison and put it up there. You need to get rid of whatever it is. We had a squirrel living in our loft (until it died from the poison) and it also ate our electric wires, very dangerous

You poisoned a squirrel? Wow. What a ghastly person you are.

NessShaness · 01/12/2025 21:21

I would bet my house on it being a squirrel OP. They are surprisingly loud!

We had one once, I gave it a name which sounds silly but helped me relax when I heard it running about.

justasking111 · 01/12/2025 21:22

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 01/12/2025 20:53

Get some rat poison and put it up there. You need to get rid of whatever it is. We had a squirrel living in our loft (until it died from the poison) and it also ate our electric wires, very dangerous

I'd remind the landlord that they'll gnaw through electric wires, insulation etc and to pull his finger out or have a hefty repair bill

Timeforabitofpeace · 01/12/2025 21:22

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 01/12/2025 20:53

Get some rat poison and put it up there. You need to get rid of whatever it is. We had a squirrel living in our loft (until it died from the poison) and it also ate our electric wires, very dangerous

Don’t do this, not for sentimental reasons, but because it is illegal. It probably is a grey squirrel and pest control will euthanise it, as directed by government legislation.

CalmShaker · 01/12/2025 21:23

megacat · 01/12/2025 21:19

You poisoned a squirrel? Wow. What a ghastly person you are.

Show quote history

Yes of course megacat , once they enter the house they are vermin. What if they start eating through the electric cables, items in storage etc. What are you suggesting the op does , invite it downstairs for a brew?

Original poster
DandyPinkDuck · 01/12/2025 21:25

@deepdas

Thank you for the advice, unfortunately I have no support system so nobody to help me, unfortunately I’m having to rely on the landlord to sort it out.

OP posts:
Crumbelina · 01/12/2025 21:25

Another vote for a squirrel as well. We've had them in our loft over the years and they're little sods.

Very1 · 01/12/2025 21:27

We had a squirrel in our loft and it was so loud. It did manage to find its way back out again. Hopefully yours will as well.

mazedasamarchhare · 01/12/2025 21:27

It might be a bat, that can make quite a noise going in and out of the eves, and can get through tiny crevices. Bats are super cute, and it won’t come into the main house, try not to worry about it OP, one of the noisiest little critters we had was a tiny blue tit, the little creature had made itself a nesting area just under the guttering and the roof, where some mortar in the stone work had fallen out. Once it raised its young, we fixed the hole, but the noise was unreal!

Hendersso · 01/12/2025 21:29

In our loft it wasn’t a squirrel but rats and pest control had to come out. They were loud when running around too.

Legthing · 01/12/2025 21:30

Hi OP,

I think you're okay. It's almost certainly a jolly nice squirrel.

I had one several years ago. They're much better climbers than rats so much more likely. They really can be noisy rushing about up there though so I totally understand what you mean.

I got the pest control man and he just blocked the hole in the eaves of the house and we never had anything in the attic again.

I think you can really set your mind at rest.

If the noise bothers you at night then you can sleep downstairs and then you won't need to hear it.

Take care there and try to think pleasant squirrelly thoughts if you hear a noise.

Xx

StrangePaint · 01/12/2025 21:30

Another vote for squirrels. They sounded like racehorses galloping up and down our attic in the early hours.

Legthing · 01/12/2025 21:31

StrangePaint · 01/12/2025 21:30

Another vote for squirrels. They sounded like racehorses galloping up and down our attic in the early hours.

That's true! so loud. LOL.

CalmShaker · 01/12/2025 21:35

Just a thought op, you don't have a water tank do you? A friend of mine had a badger living in his attic once and it used to take a shit in it

hellowhaaat3632 · 01/12/2025 21:38

Do you know where they enter? You could put mouse repellent balls - they stink and seem to stop them hanging around too long. If it works it's better than poison cos you know you don't want them hanging around even longer...

FairViewRosie25 · 01/12/2025 21:44

We had squirrels. Theyv
pissed down the electric conduit down to the utility & downstairs loo. Sorted that, now have rats which we have put bait up there

KittyFinlay · 01/12/2025 21:50

CalmShaker · 01/12/2025 21:35

Just a thought op, you don't have a water tank do you? A friend of mine had a badger living in his attic once and it used to take a shit in it

How the heck did a badger get up there?