Rat problem

[waldoputty]

serious questions about rats and cats.
my house in SF has an unusual structure with 1.5 feet gap between a tile exterior and the inside wall.
i got a rat that is living there.

i dont have a cat and want to borrow a cat.
we got lots of feral cats in the neighborhood.
i figure out i will use some catnip to attract a few one night to take care of the rat.

i have a 70 feet long driveway that is very steep.
i figure i will use multiple piles of catnip/catfood to lure the cats up the driveway.

any ideas?
will it work?
any downside risks?
how far can a cat smell catnip from?
how much should i use?

thanks!

 

[Tabascocat]

Call an exterminator, will be less expensive and time consuming

 

[waldoputty]

Call an exterminator, will be less expensive and time consuming

i did and they failed.

 

[Tabascocat]

i did and they failed.

Give him a bad review on yelp then find a different one . Those cats probably won't get the rat if it is inside the walls.

Set some poison traps around the house or something first before going old school

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

i think i'd rather have a rat problem than a feral cat in my house. As other posters said, attack the root problem (the rat). There are many options in the way of traps, poisons, etc. Give a look on youtube, there are endless videos on DIY traps that are effective

 

[waldoputty]

Give him a bad review on yelp then find a different one . Those cats probably won't get the rat if it is inside the walls.

Set some poison traps around the house or something first before going old school

i did the poison trap and got one.
but the space really invites rodents so need a long term solution.
a cat would do it but i am not there enough to keep a cat.

the rat comes out to feed at night.
i can hear it moving.
i need cats to wait outside for their meal.

 

[Phoenix]

rat poison?

 

[waldoputty]

i think i'd rather have a rat problem than a feral cat in my house. As other posters said, attack the root problem (the rat). There are many options in the way of traps, poisons, etc. Give a look on youtube, there are endless videos on DIY traps that are effective

no, the rat does not get inside the living space but the gap between the inside wall and the outside wall.
this is a very unusual house with steel i-beam skeleton and a huge 1.5 foot gap between the wall and the outer wall.
i did the traps and poison stuff and nailed a couple.
but the space begs for rats so i need a cat.
but i am not there enough to keep a cat so i would like to leave lure cats to visit once a month.

 

[waldoputty]

rat poison?

tried it and it worked somewhat.
i need a cat but i am not there enough.
so want to lure cats to visit once a month.

 

[Tabascocat]

i did the poison trap and got one.
but the space really invites rodents so need a long term solution.
a cat would do it but i am not there enough to keep a cat.

the rat comes out to feed at night.
i can hear it moving.
i need cats to wait outside for their meal.

I'm telling you that you do not want feral cats in or around your home, especially if you aren't there much. Call a reputable exterminator.

 

[waldoputty]

I'm telling you that you do not want feral cats in or around your home, especially if you aren't there much. Call a reputable exterminator.

i paid lots to money to exterminators and no luck.
my traps killed the rats, not theirs.

what is wrong with feral cats around the house?
when i am gone and there is no food, would they not go away?

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

no, the rat does not get inside the living space but the gap between the inside wall and the outside wall.
this is a very unusual house with steel i-beam skeleton and a huge 1.5 foot gap between the wall and the outer wall.
i did the traps and poison stuff and nailed a couple.
but the space begs for rats so i need a cat.
but i am not there enough to keep a cat so i would like to leave lure cats to visit once a month.

I gotcha.....how about one of those ultrasonic rodent repellent thingamajigs?

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...on&sprefix=rat+pre,aps,139&crid=2LA67QD0Z674M

 

[waldoputty]

I gotcha.....how about one of those ultrasonic rodent repellent thingamajigs?

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_7?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=rat+prevention&sprefix=rat+pre,aps,139&crid=2LA67QD0Z674M

interesting. i will look into it. thanks.

 

[Tabascocat]

i paid lots to money to exterminators and no luck.
my traps killed the rats, not theirs.

what is wrong with feral cats around the house?
when i am gone and there is no food, would they not go away?

If they fix your rat problem, you will most likely have a cat problem soon after. Four cats will turn into 12 cats rather quickly

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

interesting. i will look into it. thanks.

I'd also suggest filling in that void or closing up all access points. Possibly getting someone to come in and apply that spray foam insulation which after it expands and hardens would fill in that space

 

[waldoputty]

If they fix your rat problem, you will most likely have a cat problem soon after. Four cats will turn into 12 cats rather quickly

that is what i dont understand.
if there is no food for 3 weeks, what would the cats do?
i would only do this lure thing once or twice a month.
they cannot live between the walls like the rats do.
any particular bad things to worry about feral cat?

 

[waldoputty]

I'd also suggest filling in that void or closing up all access points. Possibly getting someone to come in and apply that spray foam insulation which after it expands and hardens would fill in that space

the exterminators tried to close all the access points but apparently they did not get everyone.
i thought about the foam but it is very difficult with steel i-beams every 6 feet.
trucks also have trouble coming up my driveway.

 

[Tabascocat]

that is what i dont understand.
if there is no food for 3 weeks, what would the cats do?
i would only do this lure thing once or twice a month.
they cannot live between the walls like the rats do.
any particular bad things to worry about feral cat?

They might think they found a home and foodsource, even if they leave.....it won't be for long. They breed pretty fast too. Hey, it might work but I think it is a risky move. Do what the guy above suggested, fix the walls.

 

[waldoputty]

They might think they found a home and foodsource, even if they leave.....it won't be for long. They breed pretty fast too. Hey, it might work but I think it is a risky move. Do what the guy above suggested, fix the walls.

i have been thinking about using foam for the walls but it is very difficult with steel i-beams every 6 feet.
trucks also have trouble coming up my driveway.
i am still thinking about that.

question is what home?
there is no place for them to nest...
but i dont know how feral cats live...

 

[Tabascocat]

i have been thinking about using foam for the walls but it is very difficult with steel i-beams every 6 feet.
trucks also have trouble coming up my driveway.
i am still thinking about that.

question is what home?
there is no place for them to nest...
but i dont know how feral cats live...

More like territory than a home. It is hard to make them forget about it once they found food.

If they built the house and driveway, they can fix the walls