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

[DandyPinkDuck]

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.

Rats probably.

Ok guys I’m shitting myself excuse my language…the noise I heard earlier sounded like something being dragged and thumping and as I said it didn’t sound like it was from the attic but was definitely in the house…I just went downstairs as I had a delivery and I saw a bit of bubble wrap that was in a storage box in the kitchen is now in the hallway and I don’t remember it being there earlier when I went to get food (before hearing the sound) so I think it’s now got into the house and has been in the kitchen

I've had bubble wrap float around due to breezes that run through the house when doors are open and shut.

That said, can you leave the house? It seems to be really causing you mental distress.

Rats generally operate at dawn and dusk.

I know you said the council is your landlord, but they will likely have separate department that deals with pests. If landlord is not acting quickly enough, contact the council's pest control department. They may come out quicker, particularly if you don't mention you are a tenant of same council, as they might then refer it back to landlord. Don't worry OP. Whatever it is got into the roofspace from the outside. There won't be a way it can enter your inside living space except maybe through a loft hatch if it is opened. 🌹

I would ask your landlord to have a look in the loft.Have you any brave neighbours or a friends to have a look for you? It's probably nothing too much to worry about! please do not use poison, as someone had suggested.It does not descrimnate. In my opinion it's a cruel way to eradicate a unwelcome animal wild or domestic in the loft.If it's a rodent,bats,or birds.I would open the loft door,close doors on the rooms below.Leave one door & window open,hopefully they will find the window open & escape! please let us know how you resolved this issue.

Has the bubble wrap been chewed

I think I’m gonna have to go private and try to pay for someone to come as now I think it’s been in the kitchen I really can’t cope and it’s effecting my mental state massively. I know it won’t hurt me and chances of it coming into my personal space are unlikely but there’s still a chance and I really don’t feel comfortable in my room knowing this. I genuinely won’t be able to go back into the kitchen now there’s evidence it’s been around there. I know the hallway was clear previously, I could hear banging and a dragging type noise which didn’t sound like it was above in the attic and when I went back downstairs suddenly there’s a bit of bubble wrap in the hallway that was securely put in a box in the kitchen. Didn’t examine it for bite marks etc as the minute I saw it had moved my legs went to jelly and I panicked.

I called my landlord and mentioned how it’s effecting me and I’m struggling to hang on till Friday and they said it’s not in their control as it’s a pest company that works alongside them, the lady gave me a number for a private company but the man said he can’t come till tomorrow and he was rather rude as he said “not being funny but if you’re in a council house how are you gonna afford it” when it’s £130 which isn’t really that much…I feel silly as Friday is 3 nights away and if I wait till then it’ll be free but now I know it’s likely been in the kitchen I don’t think I can wait. I wish I had more support around so I could have somewhere else to stay till Friday.

Op, roughly where in the country are you??

Do you have a ring system
you could move the cameras to focus inwards

@Ponchodreams
Im in Hertfordshire

Are u near Watford only I’m aware there’s an issue of rats in and around the area

@BrownTroutBluesAgain
Im in Hertford so not too close to Watford

You may find it is £130 per visit and at least 2 visits may be required.
(When my DPs had glis glis last year it took 6 visits.)

You're near Welwyn and they have a real problem
I’m beginning to think it’s not a squirrel

Do you think it’s cruel to kill rats and mice that have found their way into houses too or just squirrels?
Im genuinely interested.

Much sympathy OP, I also have MH struggles, furry invaders are a nightmare for me too.

@BrownTroutBluesAgain
Yes I’m more local to Welwyn then Watford, as much as I want to reassure myself and picture it being a squirrel I also think it’s a rat or maybe even mice especially as it seems to have been in the kitchen and I’m not sure a squirrel would do that.

We had this once and it did indeed turn out to be squirrels. They are SO loud.

The sounds you’ve been describing do sound more like a rat
We have them here

Keep as many doors closed around the house.
In future you might want to rethink what foods you keep in low level cupboards etc, the eat everything so
cardboard, foil, plastic are all potential food sources and shouldn’t be left out

Hope someone comes out very soon

Could also be Glis Glis round that way.

I think you need to have a chat with neighbour even if you aren’t close they will be hearing it too they need to be aware and may help get rid

I agree, they are clever little buggers and masters at sneaking in through gaps. Thought we had rodents at the yard once pinching the horse food until I caught it red pawed and it deftly sneaked back out of a tiny gap in the eaves of the barn! Sorry it’s impacting you so much OP, it’s probably worse because you haven’t seen it and your imagination is running wild. No harm asking the landlord to expedite so you don’t get any more stressed!

Yes, in New Zealand we say if it sounds like a possum it's a rat, and if it sounds like a rat, its a mouse. We don't have squirrels here.

You can buy plug in devices that emit a high pitched noise that deter rats and mice. We used them last winter when rats got into our loft..helped to keep them at bay whilst we got pest controls sorted out. Should be able to get next day delivery online so might help with the anxiety a little.

When is it most active if during the day it’s probably a squirrel if at night a rat . Either way they will probably stay in the attic or leave again and not go in the house . I know it’s hard but try to be logical