Neighbour using rat poison

[FrancesNiadova]

I've found 3 dead rats in our garden. Our neighbour doesn't keep her barns very clean & I was aware that there were rats about; we'd put a tunnel trap down.
Anyway, when I found the rats I went and asked her partner if they'd put poison down. He said that they had. I told him that I was worried for my cat & that 4 years ago our other girl had died horribly after the neighbour had put poison down.
He said that 1 of their cats had died yesterday.
I'm so worried, we've been doing flea treatments on our girl then putting her outside whilst we do the house.
Our vets is now closed except for emergencies.
Is there anything that I can do?

Bloody hell. They killed their own cat! I don't know. Make sure your cat is inside now. If you notice anything at all then rush her to an emergency vet.

I know, she killed our cat 4 years ago with her poison. If she kept her barns clean & her goats & chickens clean, we wouldn't have this problem.
I'm so worried I feel sick.

Well if you think there's a good chance she has eaten a poisoned rat then I would take her to an emergency vet now. It may at least make you feel less worried, even though it's an expensive option.

I've just got back from the emergency vet; he opened the surgery especially for her.
He's prescribed vitamin K tablets as we think that she's had a go at one of the rats.
It was expensive, but what price the life of our lovely girl.
Thanks for your advice & concern TheCat

Am I missing something. I am pretty sure that you can put rat poison in pet proof receptacles. Why isn't she doing this!

Well, it's horrible to think your pet might be getting poisoned, but it's not illegal to poison rats and there will be hazards if you let a pet roam around. I think it's the other side of the "I can't help it if my cat poos in other people's gardens and kills wildlife" thing, really.

like this

I'd be tempted to buy her some and give them too her to safeguard your cat

'to' her

But no, it's not very neighbourly.

hmc what you're missing is that the cats catch and eat the poisoned rats. It's not that the cats eat the actual poison themselves.

I'm glad you went to the vet OP. I'm so sorry about your neighbour's cat and about your previous cat.

Thanks TheCat I did take her to the vet; he opened up especially for her. It was expensive, but what price can you put on a life?
He prescribed vitamin K, so hopefully that will combat any rat poison.
Anyway, we're home now, and I've bought her some cat milk as a treat. She's sitting on the windowledge feeling pampered!

Admittedly, I am no cat expert

put a bell on your cat so it can't catch anything

Can't a cat be killed by eating a poisoned rodent though? A dying rat would make easy pickings for a cat.

Exactly. A dying rat will still be caught by a cat with a bell.

Sorry, X posted with TCN.

Are you in the UK? I'd report them to the RSPCA for not taking care of their own cat and letting it get poisoned. Poor thing!

Yes, our other girl caught a poisoned rat.
This girl seems fine. She drank some cat milk and has eaten about 1/2 pouch and some crunchies. She might be feeling a bit off because of the vitamin K.
Thanks everyone for your advice and concern.

Legislation on use of rodenticidess changed this year. It is no longer permissable to use rodenticidess routinely, non-toxic indicator baits should be used and if an infestation is identified break back traps should be used with toxic baits as a last resort. You could phone the BPCA for advice.

Rodenticides..... No double s, thank you auto-correct!

We live by farm land and from time to time one of the houses has a rat problem in the garden or shed. The council send a man out to put poison down, so it's not illegal.

He warns neighbours either side that he's doing it, so it's up to them to keep the cats in if they are afraid they'll eat the poisoned rats.

They changed the law? That's good. Rodenticide is a horrible way to die whether it's a rat or a cat (ex-rat owner).

Would environmental health be interested, if she's not keeping things up to a certain standard?

I hate HATE poison, such a cruel way to kill things.

I had this problem recently, my 12 week old puppy ate a mouse I suspected had been poisoned from the adjoining farm. I took her to the vet and he told me not to worry. If a dog or a cat eats a mouse or rat that has been poisoned then the amount of poison to kill a rodent is not enough to kill an animal. But if an animal eats the poison neat then you must get them to the vet immediately. Rat poisons can take up to 21 days to work.