"Presence" in the loft

[Roussillon849]

We've been hearing scuttling and scratching noises in the loft for the last couple of hours.

Would it be a bad idea to let our - indoor, neurotic and not massively fierce - cat loose in there? She's itching for it, we think, sitting on the highest bits of furniture staring at the ceiling. Or will we end up with half dead creatures running around the house?

Never had an infestation of any kind so no idea what to do. Any advice appreciated! We're wondering if the rain has something to do with it?

My advice would be to all a priest, you'll be puking pea soup next...

Ours were attic squirrels who appeared to get their kicks dashing up and down from one end of the house to the other, stopping only to throw bits of insulation around.

If she’s anything like mine she’ll just bring her new ugly/smelly/not impressed/half dead from terror babies into the bloody house . Literally my boy sits and licks mice he finds in the garden.. and was absolutely appalled I wouldn’t let him in in a blizzard with a mouse friend (very much alive friend).

There’s also a risk of an opening at the wall cavity n said cat finding that more interesting.. some cats are graceful.. some are klutzes by nature.

Pest controller will know by any leavings and be able to spot possible entry points. Pray it isn’t bats, according to our council they can’t move roosting bats.

We've had it all recently! Mice, rats and birds! I know. It sounds like something out of Noah's Ark!
We've had pest control out and he said, "If the sound makes you think it's rats, then it's usually mice. If it sounds like a herd of elephants then it's usually rats."
The mice and rats never stopped. Even when we made a noise, they kept going. The rats were the worst. We didn't get any sleep. The mice, I could sleep through for a bit.
The birds were a tippy tappy noise and it seemed to stop from time to time. They found their own way out so they were short lived.
I hope that we've seen the last of them now. It's been a rough few months.

Second response in

Best to call a local pest

I read as priest.

Then a few more posts I figured out we're talking about birds in the attic.

your loft probably has old fibreglass insulation, which sheds irritant dust and fibres. Even if the cat doesn't get any in its eyes or paws, it will get some in its fur, which it will doubtless try to lick off.

I wear a dust mask and gloves in lofts.

The law states that any squirrels (grey, obvs) getting inside properties cannot be captured and returned to the wild, they have to be exterminated. They are very destructive and will chew wires, cabling, joists, anything. I would want to put a camera up there just to see what it is, as some animals are protected by law like the bats and birds.

I wouldn't put my cat in the loft for the reasons above, plus she chases foxes and seemed really hard core until a grey squirrel chased her, they really are vicious animals and are aggressive even to humans.

I had squirrels at an old rented house. The scratching was so loud and I wondered what on earth it was until I saw one go in from outside!

It sounded like scratching and loud tapping/running around.

I gave in my notice and left because the landlord didn't seem bothered.

We popped a sonic repellent gadget on the back of the loft hatch and stopped hearing the noises.