I know I can keep the poison from the cats, but if it is not instantaneous like ricin then there are poisoned rats around, that might be easy prey for them. Maybe bait the traps with castor oil seeds in peanut butter?
I do have a Jack Russell and I am confident that any rat that made it into the house proper would be very quickly dealt with. I don't want him learning to kill things though. As it is he can't be let loose in the garden because he chases the ducks and can't be trusted with them.
I haven't known cats that are fed and are not feral to eat rats. I don't know if feral cats would. We always had cats when we lived in the country
Thanks @Dovefromabove, I rather thought that was the case. I've just bought a roll of small square mesh metal fencing (only thing I could get hold off) and hope it might work if I put a double layer up over the wooden door, screwed to the blockwork all round. There's an armoured mains electric cable inside the undercroft which I'm worried about if rats get in as I believe they are known to nibble them.
Ambrose does regularly, brings them in to show us, then eats them, though not every time. If we aren't around we may find a tail or other remains. Koshka eats very little bought cat food, definitely prefers voles she catches for herself, she also brings in a rat from time to time. We've had both from kittens and they are well fed and not feral
Our third cat doesn't ever catch anything, it involves effort, means missing sleeping time. I actually saw her come face to face with a rat in the boiler house once. They looked at each other for a moment, then she turned away and the rat sauntered off!
Ambrose does regularly, brings them in to show us, then eats them, though not every time. If we aren't around we may find a tail or other remains. Koshka eats very little bought cat food, definitely prefers voles she catches for herself, she also brings in a rat from time to time. We've had both from kittens and they are well fed and not feral
Our third cat doesn't ever catch anything, it involves effort, means missing sleeping time. I actually saw her come face to face with a rat in the boiler house once. They looked at each other for a moment, then she turned away and the rat sauntered off!
Really? Maybe my cats were catching them and not letting me know. They never took them into the house anyway- thank goodness.
I have been reading this thread with interest as I appear to have rats (brazen in daylight!) encouraged it seems by a near neighbours pigeon loft. I hear they have got rid of the pigeons and had a professional in to lay bait, having found two dead rats in my garden it seems to be working but for how long?
It is depressing not being able to feed the birds, especially as the weather worsens, although they are making the most of berries on the cordyline and cotoneaster. There is not much hope from others on this thread so I am thinking relocate the birdfeeder and make some form of seed catcher for underneath, cross my fingers.
Hope others with this problem find a way round it.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
I thought of some sort of feeder too that the rats cannot get at but it seems impossible. The rats can climb anything and get everywhere. I feel we are doomed to not feeding the birds. It's lovely to see them on the feeders in the dull winter days. 😔
I agree with you @Fallon but I refuse to give up any of my few pleasures. I used to enjoy the busy birdbath but no food seems to mean fewer baths as well.
My feeders are hanging from a pole so I am currently trying to find enough materials to make a baffle/seed catcher to attach to the pole. I welcome wildlife into my garden as a rule but I draw the line at rats, difficult to shift them without upsetting the other creatures but I am going to give it a go!
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
Do you actually see the rats doing this? If not then maybe just put the feeders out when you want to watch the birds ? A bit of hassle I suppose but would save you money on feeding them when you’re not around.
I do @delski and that is why I removed the bird feeders. This picture was taken about 20mins after I took the feeders down, at about 13:00hrs with me sitting on my patio!
If you look carefully there are three in the picture, they were just brazenly running around.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
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It is depressing not being able to feed the birds, especially as the weather worsens, although they are making the most of berries on the cordyline and cotoneaster. There is not much hope from others on this thread so I am thinking relocate the birdfeeder and make some form of seed catcher for underneath, cross my fingers.
Hope others with this problem find a way round it.
My feeders are hanging from a pole so I am currently trying to find enough materials to make a baffle/seed catcher to attach to the pole. I welcome wildlife into my garden as a rule but I draw the line at rats, difficult to shift them without upsetting the other creatures but I am going to give it a go!
If you look carefully there are three in the picture, they were just brazenly running around.