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.

We have mice. I'm beyond stressed, can't relax, can't stop cleaning. I keep randomly bursting into tears as it's making me hate my house.

Oh no purple, have you put death traps down ? Mice love a blob of peanut butter ( but maybe not having their head caved in with the metal bar, but ho hum, such is life) and it always lures them in.

My DD plays the organ in lots of old country churches (it's her job -she's not a random organ botherer ) and all sorts of wildlife has fallen out of various organs - rats, mice, bats and all their associated shittings.

Rodents' preferred residence is a musical instrument. Fact. (channels JK)

But really nothing to be ashamed about - isn't there some factoid about no one ever being more than ten feet from a rat? (possibly urban myth)

My rats are just party animals! Come New Year they were completely bladdered, apart from Bob who went to bed early!

Mine usually live down my top, which is much worse than a piano tbh

Pmsl at random organ botherer!

I had a mouse nesting in my porridge oats box (one of the ones with the little cardboard doors) Now that was gross. The first day I found a bit of shredded paper in my bowl if was non plussed and carried on eating. By day 2 I had twigged . . . Quite a good nesting spot when you think about it.

mycar your ratties are very cute! I can't wait to get more but waiting until DD is a bit older concerned DD is too young and will give them stupid names like Anna and Elsa or fluffy

Lots of traps, 10 mice and counting but they seem to be everywhere

Pumpkinette I had a large break in rattie keeping when I had DS, he's older now and still tried to give them stupid names I only got back into them as a work colleague had a pair that were 'going on Gumtree' I got this little lot as it seemed a shame to waste the cage after they'd gone ...

Oh no, sorry to hear that, I would find it really stressful too.
Would your local council be able to help ?

A bit of Beethoven ought to sort that out. Rats hate Beethoven. Philistines.

Liking the pix of pet rats. Cute rattles.

I'd be ashamed of the cat..or the cat should be ashamed of itself for poor rattery (is that a word) skills.

rattles ratties!!??

I had a rat in the kitchen...I didn't know what to do...

I changed tack and started drinking red red wine...

I've a feeling a 'rattery' is where [pedigree] rats are bred. I don't think the OP wants one of those

I had a rat under my fridge for a night. He was bribed out with sweaty cheese and peanut butter its exactly a year later today and he lives with his brother in a cage. I have three girls and a lone boy too

Don't feel ashamed by the rat op. They are quick and sneaky!

Love the rtty with the piano!

Three of mine :) the one eyed one is my fridge rat!

Pixie he's gorgeous! Mine ran under the settee once ... he couldn't be bribed out as there were so many crumbs under there he could have survived for weeks

Thanks :) weed have that issue if we had a proper sofa too ;) as it is our lot find all sorts of random for items when free ranging, no clue where half of it s from! [Confused] we haven't even got kids to blame for it

Here's another of Ashi, him on NYE. He's my lone boy, 4mo and my heart rat :)

pixie love the YABU mug! Ratties are lovely too.

What did you do when your DH said "Hey, do you know there's a rat in the piano?"

I hope it was "No, but if you sing it, I'll play along."

Oh, I want a rat now. So cute. my cats would love it too

Could be worse: could be a mouse organ!

GetSober

Aw pixie I love the way he has a hat on!