Worried about infection from rats

[Fangtastics]

Yesterday I cleared out the bins that tenants had left at my property. Seven wheelie bins of unbagged food waste. There were rats in the bins. I’m freaking out I’ll get ill now. What should I do?

Actually thinking on this, my childhood cat used to catch rats dead and alive daily, the dead ones my stepdad flushed down the toilet. He lived. Cat only went to vet once as one rat bit him, never had boosters. So as long as you wash yourself and hands (anti bacterial stuff if you’re worried) you should be fine.

Just like @Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain we have cat who is a prolific ratter and regularly have to deal with bodies and body parts that he leaves on the doorstep. We and the cat are all fine. He's been doing it all his life and being 19 now has only just started to slow down and prefer a night in.

You wore gloves and washed your hands afterwards - I would not be worried about this. If you get any symptoms in the next couple of weeks, it's worth mentioning, and a doctor might test with symptoms. I'd have thought leptospirosis (Weil's disease) was more of a risk than hantavirus, though.

I grew up on a farm and lived with cats, so I too have had to handle dead rodents. I've got a pretty strong immune system. I assume if you're up to cleaning out bins, you're fairly fit and healthy. You'll be fine.

My cat managed to bring in 2 rats alive into the house which got into the gas fire and tumble dryer. Think British Gas had to come for the gas fire one. Cat used to leave the paws in a little pile in lean to/by back door. Tabby called Tigger bless him. Lived to 18 years old. Found by my dad in a box outside restaurant as a kitten.

Yeah my stepdad is from Ballisodare in Ireland. Not brought up on a farm but brought up around them (friends/family had farms). 3 brothers. So was used to dealing with dead rodents. My mum probably freaked out seeing them!

Wow he’s still alive! What colouring/breed is he? My parents weren’t impressed with their “presents” but the cat just wouldn’t stop catching the rats! He got fed too.

18 is a good age as well. He's Tabby with a lot of white. He does love his proper food too but then you open the front door and there's a collection of paws, a liver, intestines and a tail. If we're lucky the crows and magpies might have got there first and taken bits. Terry came to us when he was about 3. Neighbour couldn't deal with all the body parts. She was hoping for a lap cat who would sit on the sofa and play with a few toys but instead she got Terry the super ratter. Her kids were upset but at least they still got to see him every day.

My current cat (Tilly) caught one rat dead and one alive outside recently so I got a video camera cat flap to prevent this. Terry sounds like a character, definitely not a lap cat! Tilly my current cat pictured is tabby and white. Tigger my childhood cat I think ate the tail and intestines luckily.

Tigger long since passed away. 😢