Of Rats… and Cats
Image from HiKwaMehluli at Pixabay
I think all creatures have their place and I try not to harm anything living deliberately, but I note that many people do not share my sentiments when it comes to rats. I am not suggesting I would welcome the little furries into my home but I certainly don’t get my knickers in a twist about encountering them outside. After all, everything just wants to live out its life, doesn’t it?
However, knowing the strength of some of my friends’ and neighbours’ feelings on the subject, I thought I would share some tips I have come across on deterring the little beast from popping by your manor.
Rats are mainly night time visitors to the garden, but it is usually possible to tell in daylight if rats have paid a call. When patrolling your outside space, look out for rat tunnels or runs along your garden edges, droppings or chewed wood. These are a bit of a giveaway.
Rat poison or traps are unsafe for wildlife, and our beloved pets and are never a permanent solution. Deterring the rats is what the experts advise and the first thing we can do is make our gardens less inviting.
Keep compost bins tightly closed and placed where there is some activity in the day to deter Ratty from sneaking in and taking up residence.
Feeding the birds may be a delight but experts advise using a squirrel-proof feeder (Mmm… is there such a thing?) Try to ensure no leftovers fall on the grass; and if you own fruit trees, don’t leave windfalls to offer a tasty snack.
If all that seems a bit obvious, here come some tips on smells that apparently make rats turn and run. I am not convinced myself that a slug of aromatherapy oil is going to work, but I would be very interested in hearing your success – or failure – stories.
It is said that rats have distinct dislikes when it comes to pongs.
They dislike things clover, garlic, onion, hot peppers, house ammonia, used coffee grounds, peppermint, eucalyptus, white vinegar and citronella… and of course cat.
The experts recommend moistening cotton wool balls with 100 per cent pure peppermint oil or one of the other oils of choice. These can be put around the garden and any outbuildings and should be replaced a few times each week.
Onions are supposed to be another deterrent but you are advised to replace the onion before it rots.
Returning to the mention of cats… my two seem pretty determined to ensure my immediate environment is rodent-free. While a number of cat-deprived neighbours have encountered problems with the rodent intruders, the only ones I have the horrors of are rats that have been brought to me in a moribund state and which have been consigned to the compost bin to better allow their little bodies to return to the good earth.
Let us know if you have any thoughts on rat deterrents. I am sure my cat-free neighbours will be delighted to hear them.
