Giant dead rat - warning: includes images

[Ratsindahouse]

I’ve nc for this thread as may be outing. Apologies for any rat lovers/owners but my cat has brought me this love token tonight. I’m traumatised, I’ve never seen a rat this big. Is this normal? I’m now panicking that my house/garden has loads of these beasts lurking and want to get in pest control immediately. What can be done when you have other pets as I don’t want them picking up poison. The shoe next to it is a size 6 for the sake of size comparison!!

I meant to add - Mickey was pretty slender and delicate looking as a cat. The rat was easily as big as him.

That’s a standard size

Bet your cat was WELL suited with itself!

@vanillandhoney I've heard that too. Not a nice thought, but as long as the only ones you see are dead ones, that's not a problem. I should think a cat is a good deterrent anyway and I have three furry friends.

I'm sorry to say that I have seen bigger. We had a rat move in once. It hung over the sides of a bin lid including its tail once it was caught. It was living with us for over 2 weeks!

[quote Mittens030869]@vanillandhoney I've heard that too. Not a nice thought, but as long as the only ones you see are dead ones, that's not a problem. I should think a cat is a good deterrent anyway and I have three furry friends. [/quote]
Me too, and a dog.

Never seen a rat near here but we're quite rural so I'm not sure if that makes a difference. Plenty of foxes, hedgehogs and rabbits though.

That’s not a giant rat. See what my cat brought in.

Standard size, I've seen bigger. But well done your cat, many cats won't even attempt that.

That's a normal sized rat. My previous cat once brought home a cooked pork chop, it was filthy from her dragging through the garden, but definitely cooked and still warm. God knows where it came from.

Poor little ratty. Well, poor standard sized ratty. I've seen bigger but that looks like a decently sized girl.

Your cat must be pleased with themselves.

@AutumnSummersBuffysCousin

You should really put a warning about that picture. I will never be able to un-see that

What were you expecting from a thread marked ‘Giant dead rat’?

My cat once brought home a whole (albeit small) roast chicken, freshly cooked
I hope you sent him back out for the chips and gravy.

The pictures of the NYC ones you could throw a saddle on them and ride them!

I'd say that rat looks like he' been enjoying the eat out to help out scheme a little bit too much...

Don't forget to thank your cat 🥇🏆

The other day I saw a bigger one run along the pavement then into a shop!

If it's a one off then there's nothing to worry about. There's always rats around, they only become a problem if their numbers explode or they get into buildings.

Your cat has done his job, good cat!

At least it was dead, mine has on at least one occasion bought in a live partially stunned one and let it go for a "laugh" and a chase around the house before finishing it off. Also quite a lot of mice too.

I hope you have rewarded your cat with some tuna or other appropriate treat.

Funny (and informative) thread

Yes I’ve seen rats that size unfortunately!!

Once the me and the kids went on holiday without DH - the cat brought him a fresh kill every single night we were away , he obviously thought DH wouldn’t be able to survive without us

We had a rat in our kitchen years ago. We came downstairs in the morning and there was a big hole in the bread bag with masses of slices ripped to shreds and pulled out - but the worst thing was the floor and counter were covered in this black grime so you could see where it came in (we had a lean to off the kitchen it must've come via) and follow it's trail perfectly - you could see from the pattern that it would've been absolutely enormous. Was very distressing to think such a big rat was in the house! We set traps but never caught it or saw evidence of it again.

Very clever cat!

Mine brings me socks and deodorant lids.

We had a construction site near a bread factory and the canal so got lots of rats, one morning the manager came in and made his toast, he asked me if I wanted some and I was just about to say yes until I saw the massive hole and several chewed corners at the bottom.

Impressive catch, the cat is doing it’s job!

Wouldn’t worry about it.

Best rat control would be Jack Russel terriers, lots of pest control use them. I nasty poison and a quick death. But hopefully your cat is on the case!

I don’t know whether to feel relieved or horrified that the general consensus is that this is a normal sized rat! I would probably have been far better off blissfully unaware of the size they can reach.
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, while I did praise my cat I would rather he just killed them quietly and I didn’t know about it instead of bringing me the spoils of his labour.

@Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd

Off topic but I love those sandals! Where'd you get them?

They were from John Lewis but a few years ago. I think I’ve seen similar from Hush lately

Normal sized and very well fed and healthy looking, asides from you know, being dead.