In article 3WRZb.25$ta.1@newsfe1-win, Mark markas.REMOVE.shaw@hotmail
..com writes

Got a bit of a rat problem.
Some rats are living in the small roofspace (8 feet x 3 feet x 4 feet
approx) above my kitchen which juts out from the main house. They're also
heard in the main attic, and in the wall cavity of both houses.
The local council only provides an advisory service and say the house (and
adjoining neighbour's house) has had a long history of rats, and cant offer
any further advice.

Bet they would if their chief executive lived the-(

I've got 4 B&Q rat traps in the main attic, and 9 of them in the small
kitchen attic - most baited with chocolate and chocolate biscuits. I check
the roofspaces every fortnight and no traps have been touched. There's some
poison up there too, B&Q rat killer stuff, but it hasnt been eaten.

So just where are they getting their daily bread?.

In the small roofspace above the kitchen, I can see tunnels in the
insulation where they're living and any time I poke my head up there I hear
them scurrying away into the tunnels.

Had a drain specialist out who put cameras down the drains, but came up with
no sources of entry. Found a possible point of entry and have blocked it up,
so there may be no way for them to get out. In any case, i'd like them to
leave in a rat trap so I can be sure they're dead and out, and dont cause a
stink in an inaccessible place.


Well the stink will fade after a while.

I've had a cat for a year now. I've let it have a sniff around in the main
attic and even brushed it up there to get its hairs around to put the rats
off settling there. Doesnt seem to have had any effect.

Starve cat and leave in roofspace for a day or so;-).

In a recent survey 99.999% of domestic cats were obese....

Considering getting protective equipment and pulling all the insulation down
from above the kitchen, unless any of you can give me any advice. I imagine
they may attack when I start dismantling their "home".

Have you tried asking the local pest control services in the private
sector?..

--
Tony Sayer