To feel ashamed that we had a rat living in the piano

[flower68]

We have a lean-to side room that has had loads of junk in it and housed the cats food and the piano. 3 weeks ago we had a big clean up, moved stuff upstairs but didn't move the piano. On Thursday I was doing my accounts in there and realised it smelled rodenty plus droppings near piano. DH investigated and discovered a live rat hiding in the piano. Mass panic ensued, called out pest control who put down poison and told us it would take a week to get rid. No way was that OK so I bought some snap traps, DH laid them and rat was dead next morning. Thing is I feel really scuzzy that we actually had a rat in our house who may have been resident for a while. The cat - usually a good hunter - was sod all use. Not clear how rat got in maybe from garden. I keep house as clean as 3 kids and a busy job allows but what if that's not enough? I'm also worried that there may be more than one rat although the pest control person said no evidence. Am very rodent phobic.

I don't think you have anything to be ashamed of, you found a rat and you sorted the problem.

They can get in pretty much anywhere and a piano would have been the perfect place to hide.

Don't take it as a judgement on how clean/organised you are, and if you're bothered about what other people might think - don't tell anyone.

God I would have hated it too! Never mind feeling ashamed how about feeling relieved it's gone and sorting out that room it was resident in!

A piano rat?

Was it a boomtown rat?

Or a member of the rat pack?

(I'm here all week folks)

Nah. Having a rat living in your piano is quite bohemian and laid back.

Be proud.

(And it's just a rat. I know people freak out about them but it's just another animal. No biggie.)

I bet the cat bought it on. Ours bought one in once and it lived in the boiler. We didn't realise for a while then did the trap thing the same as you.

Bloody cats!

in not on

lol Ratmaninov?

Move the cat food, thats what attracted it. Nothing to be ashamed of.

I'm with King Joffrey here. I'm quite impressed.

There's a rat in my Steinway what am I gonna do.

not your fault at all, nothing to be ashamed about.

This is a stealth boast about you having a piano, isn't it?

Thanks for fab funny responses! King Joffrey you successfully reframed this experience for me. Eating my words, glad it wasn't just me. Mumsnet rocks.

Sounds vair posh to me. Go immediately to Waitrose with a friend and announce loudly, 'Darling, there was a rat living in the piaaano!' You'll make someone's day.

Ratvinsky

YANBU for being so inhospitable. You should have found your guest somewhere more comfortable.

Was the piano played while it was doubling as a rodent's residence?

That's a Pixar film waiting to happen OP.

Nah, a rat in the piano is cool. We had a mouse living in the sofa for a while - now that is manky.

Delightful thread. It's making my evening (stuck on the sofa with boob monster). Thanks OP

Shit, you beat me to' boomtown rat'. sulks

If it makes you feel better, one worked out how to get into our kitchen a while back. It took a few days to kill and decided to eventually die on my son's school shoes

They only need a hole as big as your thumb to get in.
Do you have a catflap in the leanto?
Lean to may well have a small gap.
You could extend poison / traps (but contained to protect pets/ pleasant wildlife from ingesting) to garden borders or behind sheds.
They're rarely alone for long

I had two rats living in my house for almost 3 years! They did have a cage and stuff though, and I did buy them as pets - they make great pets. I wouldn't feel too bad op,they have strong teeth so can chew through pretty much anything to in. It was probably the cat food that kept them there as it's an easy food source.

Our first pets were two rats called Pinky and Perky, vile creatures. Gave me an awesome porn star name though. Perky Judkins.

I want a rat that lives in a piano. It sounds so romantic (ignores the smell and droppings).....

LibeRATce