How to avoid rats in the house?

Question

I want a permanent solution for avoiding rats in the house. Pl help

Answer 1

Seal up all entries and keep a clean house.

Answer 2

Seal up all holes. This is hard, because they can squeeze through some really small spaces. When we removed the trim from around a door, I discovered a small hole to the outside. I filled it with concrete.

Clean up the yard. Don't let dried vegetation build up next to the house. We had rats in a woodpile once, but when we stacked it neatly, they went away.

Our dog loves to catch rats--but you don't know if the dog will be a good ratter until it's grown and weaseled its way firmly into your heart. Still, a dog might not be a bad idea.

Of course, poison or traps for those already in. Traps might be a better idea, as a poisoned rat's body might be hard to find, and will stink really bad (our mice smelled bad enough and they don't have nearly the mass!). If you do use poison, definitely get the dessicating kind--vastly reduces the smell.

Answer 3

Rats eat what we eat (and more).
Anything you drop or throw away could become food for rats.
Make sure if you drop foodstuff anywhere, pick it up and clean the area, even small crumbs.
Also make sure that waste is disposed of properly, it's no good left in a bag, but needs to go into a sealed container / bin.
Saying that unfortunately wherever Humans live there are going to be rats!

Answer 4

-- Keep the doors closed.
-- If you have windows without screens, GET screens that are made with aluminum mesh.
-- Don't leave garage doors open for any longer than necessary.
-- Look at ALL the plumping that go through the walls, ceiling, or floor, stuff steel wool into the spaces between the pipes -- even the tinyest spaces. Use a narrow dull knife to press the steel wool into those teeny spaces.
-- Inspect the outside of your home, especially where the structure meets the foundation. Seal those spaces with outdoor caulk.
-- Inspect your basement / crawl space for any holes to the outside. Seal those up with caulk.
-- When you're not using the fireplace, keep the damper closed. If it doesn't close tightly have it relined.
-- Keep all food stuffs (pet food, bird seed, too) in tightly sealed containers.
-- If you have pets, don't keep uneaten food in the bowl, no matter whether you feed them inside or outside the house. After they feed clean up the dish
-- If you feed the wild birds you may have to stop for awhile. Clean up the grounds around the feeders.
-- Don't leave any crumbs about the house. Vacuum and clean often.

Good luck!
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Answer 5

A permanent solution for a house with a CRAWL SPACE. If you can kill them before they get into your main living area, then that's the key. Put out tray(s) of rat poison under the house. When the tray is empty, you know you killed a rat. Put out another tray. I've found my dead rats near the access door of the crawl space, like they were dying to get outside. :-) Unless your house has no 1/4" spaces or cracks anywhere on the foundation, you will have to put out rat poison occasionally. It happens to all home owners.

Answer 6

There's truth to the saying, "while the cat's away the mice will play." Get a couple of cats. They may leave a rat on your rug or something to show what good job they've done for you...but eventually the rats will go find someplace else to live or get killed.

Answer 7

Nothing is permanent, but a cat is a good deterrent. Keep all food coverd and house clean of debree, junk dirty clothes and crumbs etc. Set traps with hot dogs or peanut butter as bate. They really like this. Seal all hole coming into house and under sinks with sos pads or tin foil if small they do not like metal. If its a larger hole wood or patch kits. That's your best bet. I wish I could give you a firm answer but there is none to my knowledge. No One is Safe from the little varmints from wanting to get warm. Maybe build them there own house away from yours and set them up with food,water and warmth.

Answer 8

are u talking about rats or mice or squirrels if u just hear them in walls&attic it may be squirrels just seal up all areas they can get in from the outside .if it's rats big uns 12"&upsame thing seal up any access from the outside to inside top to bottom keep all food &dirty dishes cleaned & put away , common mice & field mice same as the rest but also find as many interior entrances as you can stuff these with steel wool before sealing up it gets stuck in there teeth drives them nuts you can also make dough balls with alittel honey and boric acid 10-12 marbel sized balls need about 1/2 tsp.honey& 1tbs. boric acid this will crystalize in there gut they die but is harmless to most pets& other animals .( let balls dry & harden before using mix 1/2 cup flour 1-2tbs.boric acid 1/2 tps honey water to make dough mixture to clay like consistancy make balls let harden in lowest heat in oven dont cook just dry when hard placein areas mice may hide or travel get some cats but that does't always help . if you live in the country get use to them there just part of life they will sometimes just come in for shelter or releaf from the weather. good luck i dont think ther is a permant cure to eliminate themcompletely

Answer 9

Keep your toilet lids down ALL THE TIME!! Our city was working on our sewers. The jackhammering sent the rats scampering. One (and we live in a really nice neighborhood) came up through our toilet. Our neighbors had two come in through their toilet.

Ours found a way under our kitchen cabinets on the floor. Stole all my Merck chocolates one by one and would have lived forever...if I wasn't standing on top of the kitchen table one evening and my husband caught it in a trap and...well, let's just state that we disposed of it! Close that toilet seat lid!!!!1

Answer 10

Remove sources of food, water (bird seed, pet food,etc) seal up openings get a rat predator (cat, dog, snake) Exterminate at first sign because they are breeder machines