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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to panic about a mouse/rat in kitchen?

4 replies

LemonRobin · 21/04/2025 08:09

Had a random toddler wake up last night (teething/night terror?) and entering the kitchen to offer her water found a mouse/rat on top of the food waste bin(lid closed). And an army of slugs.
I am pregnant so inclined to panic today and sanitise/steam clean everything even though Im exhausted from the long, stressful night time wake up, toddler likely to be exhausted too and partner is away. I suppose I am panicking mainly because or the Hantavirus story.

However flat is part of a very old house with wooden window frames and probably tons of holes for the mouse/rat to get in. So it may just have come in from outside looking and not be living here?
No unsealed food outside cupboards (except apples) but while I hoover we dont mop often so could bw food traces. Partner leaves food waste bin open a lot though. It is my constant mission to close it.
Also may have been crumbs in toddler’s playpen(think I will definitely steam clean that)
Also Ive been eating in the lounge and feeding toddler there to get away from kitchen smells when nausea bad and wondered if I therefore need to sanitise all the toys?

(There could definitely be crumbs on the floor)
Should I ask to borrow the neighbour’s cat? Cat always wants to come into the kitchen but havent let it since baby born as it’s quite jumpy (though lovely) and hard to get him to leave when needed!

OP posts:
ThePoshUns · 21/04/2025 08:11

Rats carry diseases, I wouldn’t want either in my home.

thedevilinablackdress · 21/04/2025 08:24

Don't panic.
Do get a pest controller who will advise what to do and where the holes that need blocked up are.

OpalSpirit · 21/04/2025 08:30

Month ago I woke to the sound of a shower.
Went down to kitchen to find a flood and water spraying from a pipe under kitchen sink.

A rat had entered kitchen and chewed through the pipe!

Got an exterminator here and he showed me one hole that I blocked with wire wool ( rats have no enamel so trying to bite through that is very unpleasant to them).

Traps and poison were set, but two weeks later no sign of any rats at all.

Exterminator said no rats living here, just passing through and this is very common so no need to think you have a nest.

Sympathise with the sanitising you have ahead, every tiny thing in my kitchen was bleached and then washed, it’s a real pain.

LemonRobin · 22/04/2025 07:28

Update for anyone else in the same situation:

-neighbour identified droppings as from a young wood mouse so less panicked(but still removed all food and cleaned surfaces, more to do today!)

  • cat wasn't interested in hunting out mouse
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