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Original poster

Rat in the hall *tw- photo within thread*

26 replies

stupidsocialmedia · 08/04/2023 12:22

My cat has brought in a rat. It is fat and the size of a very large mouse, but I know it's a rat, due to it's tail and face. I'm sure the neighbours also know due to the loud screaming coming from our house.

I'm going to sound incredibly wimpish here, but I can't deal with it. At the moment it's covered by a cardboard box, so I can't see it, but I know I have to put my big girl pants on and get rid of it...but I am petrified of rats, even dead ones. I just cannot bear to lift the box and touch it and look at it. Dead birds, dead mice I can deal with....rats, I'm petrified.

OP posts:
Elieza · 08/04/2023 12:27

Ask a neighbour to help?

Shut all doors (and wedge towels or something under any gaps) before you move the box so if it does escape it can’t go far, only into the landing/outside.

Elieza · 08/04/2023 12:29

Forgot to say, if you have a large but thin hardback book or an old thin chopping board or something you can slide under then you can lift the whole lot in one go.

SchoolTripDrama · 08/04/2023 12:30

Right so just to be clear - it's definitely dead?? If so, if you don't have a DH or DP to deal with it later (meaning you can just go out and leave it for him!) then I'd be calling ANYONE & everyone I know to come and do it for me.
If there isn't anyone then do you have a spade????

Original poster
stupidsocialmedia · 08/04/2023 12:31

@Elieza It's dead, but even so I'm terrified of them. My sister is coming over soon to sort it. I'm worried that the cat will bring in more (and possibly live ones), whilst we are away next week.

Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
stupidsocialmedia · 08/04/2023 12:34

The cat is sitting on the chair quite pleased with herself, though confused by my screaming at her 'gift'.

The only other option (apart from my sister), is my 12 Yr old DD. DH won't be home till after 7pm, so I don't want to leave it till then.

OP posts:
WickedSerious · 08/04/2023 12:35

You don't live next door to be by any chance do you?

I've lost count of the number of times I've seen their cat tearing along the wall with a rat that's almost as big as she is dangling from her mouth.

Michaelmonstera · 08/04/2023 12:37

I feel your pain. My cat regularly deposits live animals in the house, much to the delight of my terrier. I have managed to get rid of some rodents by cornering them, putting a plant pot over the top of them and sliding a stiff piece of cardboard underneath and releasing them through the nearest window. The whole process is accompanied by screams from me and barking from the terrier whilst the cat looks on with disinterest at the chaos she has unleashed.

dingit · 08/04/2023 12:38

Count yourself lucky. Mine bought in a live one. I screamed too and hid under the duvet. Dh dealt with it. She bought it back again. Dead 🙄😂

ReadersD1gest · 08/04/2023 12:38

stupidsocialmedia · 08/04/2023 12:22

My cat has brought in a rat. It is fat and the size of a very large mouse, but I know it's a rat, due to it's tail and face. I'm sure the neighbours also know due to the loud screaming coming from our house.

I'm going to sound incredibly wimpish here, but I can't deal with it. At the moment it's covered by a cardboard box, so I can't see it, but I know I have to put my big girl pants on and get rid of it...but I am petrified of rats, even dead ones. I just cannot bear to lift the box and touch it and look at it. Dead birds, dead mice I can deal with....rats, I'm petrified.

Don't touch it!

Paperbagsaremine · 08/04/2023 12:43

Can you bribe your daughter? She may enjoy the chance to earn some spare cash and show up her Mum!

I sympathize, when I found a dead mouse I did a scream that expressed, "I'd rather not deal with this, can you do it?" to my other half, who is now the official Corpse Handler and gets huge numbers of brownie points for it. If I lived alone I'd put my big girl pants on. But I don't;)

Original poster
stupidsocialmedia · 08/04/2023 13:11

I got rid of it, I found a spade in the garden to chuck it out with.

Just about to go and clear up the bleach and blood.

Dsis came and said she doesn't think it's a rat (due to its face), but I'm convinced it is due to the tail. I'm attaching a photo of it (will try to get a trigger warning put on the thread).

Rat in the hall *tw- photo within thread*
OP posts:
ReadersD1gest · 08/04/2023 13:12

Oh, op... 😱
That is definitely a rat.

PortiasBiscuit · 08/04/2023 13:13

Poor little thing, I have four pet rats, they are delightful creatures.. and far less destructive and dangerous than both human beings and cats!

Sparklfairy · 08/04/2023 13:15

Yeah that's a rat for sure. My DM's cat who catches something maybe once a year, was so delighted with rat kill that she dragged it through the cat flap, up the stairs and left the giant monstrosity outside DM's bedroom door. DM only narrowly avoided stepping in it in the morning Envy

Paperbagsaremine · 08/04/2023 13:15

Well done OP!

bengalcat · 08/04/2023 13:17

DD and I had such a chuckle when we were away last week and DP sent a message to say the cat had left a mouse in his shoe

GretaGood · 08/04/2023 13:20

OMG that photo is horrendous - why did I look??????????

DiscoDragon · 08/04/2023 13:25

Our cats have brought in a few live critters! One of them brought in a frog that was leaping around our hallway, I hadn't realised until that point that I am actually afraid of wildly leaping frogs! I was standing on the sofa in terror as my poor DP chased it about the house with a dustpan and brush with the cat "helping" him! Another cat brought in a lizard - that one was very fast and hard to catch! The live mice are much easier to catch.

lljkk · 08/04/2023 13:29

Finding it hilarious people are upset by a picture. FFS. Deffo a rat, btw.

orangeflags · 08/04/2023 13:30

Hundred percent ray

ReadersD1gest · 08/04/2023 13:31

lljkk · 08/04/2023 13:29

Finding it hilarious people are upset by a picture. FFS. Deffo a rat, btw.

I'm not upset by a picture, I'm imagining having to deal with it!

Mistymoonsinastarrysky · 08/04/2023 13:34

Nothing is worse than a dead/alive/entrails of rat/mouse/godknowswhat in your wellies when you have bare feet.
Absolutely nothing.

EyesOnThePies · 08/04/2023 13:48

Young rat.

At 12 I would have been matter of fact about scooping it up with a spade. Try not to get your Dd worked up about such things.

Original poster
stupidsocialmedia · 08/04/2023 13:49

@Mistymoonsinastarrysky we're lucky, nothing in boots/shoes, but if we're asleep she she will leave dead things on the bedroom floor for us to walk in (and very occasionally sick). Luckily we had nothing over winter.

OP posts:
ohsuzannah · 08/04/2023 14:23

My friends cats bring in grass snakes!
They live near a river.

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