# Rat in the Kitchen,what am I gona do **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2007, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479 "2007-02-09T11:12:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brett\_patrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@brett\_patrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brett_patrick)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/1 "2007-02-09T11:12:09Z")
I have had a Rat infestation for 6 months and have trapped or poisoned about a dozen so far. There are 2 or3 left and with perserverance they will eventually be gone. What I need to know is how do I get rid of the appalling smell. Has someone a recipe for an effective deodouriser. Not dead rat smell but a Rats Lair smell. Please help me. I live in Australia. Brett Patrick. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/2 "2007-02-09T11:15:14Z")
Look up a pest control agency in your local yellow pages or telephone book. They deal with rat infestations all the time, so they’ll know what to do. Most work commercially. If you call your municipality (town house) they might point you to an agency that will help you for free. ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/3 "2007-02-09T17:16:12Z")
As I understand it, rats don’t have any control over their bladder and so end up peeing as they scurry around. That leaves you with trails of urine wherever they are. You’ll have to figure out where they live and run to figure out what to clean. Buy a cheap portable flourescent UV (black light) and use it around your place. You’ll pick up the green trails of dry urine and find out where to clean. Then use an enzyme cleaner to decrease the smell. Don’t use laundry detergent to try to clean a spot. It flouresces more than the pee and is a pain to try to clean up properly…stupid sister-in-law… The enzyme cleaners are sold at pet stores for cleaning up pet stains…you’ll need a jumbo size… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/4 "2007-02-09T18:25:06Z")
[QUOTE=brett patrick] Please help me. I live in Australia. Brett Patrick. [/QUOTE] Have you considered moving to New Zealand? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/5 "2007-02-09T18:33:12Z")
I’d call the professionals. Is this a house or a business? OMYGOD. Rats. Much worse than pesky mice. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/6 "2007-02-09T18:46:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Rat in the Kitchen,what am I gona do Sounds like the lyrics to a Blues song, man… 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/7 "2007-02-09T18:58:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Sounds like the lyrics to a Blues song, man… 🆒 [/QUOTE] _Rat in the kitchen, whatami gonna do? Rat in the kitchen, whatami gonna do? Rat in the kitchen, whatami gonna do? Skip to my Lou, my darlin’._ Maybe not the blues… ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/8 "2007-02-09T21:43:24Z")
Do rats have a lot of meat on them? I mean… if people eat squirrels then I dont see how you can’t eat a rat. As for the smell, call a pest control agency and hope it’s not too expensive, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/9 "2007-02-10T00:44:42Z")
If you’ve used poison bait, rats will die in the most inconvenient spots (inside your wall), even perhaps eaten by a neighborhood pet, which might kill said pet. This is why I think that poisoned rat bait is a bad idea. Rats are reasonably large animals and their decomposition will be noted much more than that of a mouse. I’ve been trying the two level technique. Classic old school rat traps (huge spring loaded mouse traps) baited with peanut butter or Cheese Whiz. The newer [electric chair](http://www.nixalite.com/ratzapper.aspx) rat trap (expensive at US$40) that uses 4 D size batteries and lasts for 12 rat killings, depending on how long it goes between killings. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/10 "2007-02-10T01:12:13Z")
Isn’t it obvious? You gotta \*fix \* that rat, that’s what ya gotta do. You gotta \*fix \* that rat. 😃 (For anyone who doesn’t get either reference: Rat In My Kitchen is an old UB40 song). ---
**Author:** ![badkittypriestess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8baadc/32.png) [@badkittypriestess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badkittypriestess)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/11 "2007-02-10T01:34:39Z")
Get a very BIG kitty. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/12 "2007-02-10T02:01:13Z")
[QUOTE=brett patrick] There are 2 or3 left and with perserverance they will eventually be gone. Brett Patrick. [/QUOTE] Well, no. Once the population gets down to one pair, survival of the species kicks in and all your irradication efforts will be in vain. And all descendants will carry this survival gene. Really! Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![brett\_patrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@brett\_patrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brett_patrick)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/13 "2007-02-10T06:00:11Z")
Thanks for all of your advice,I will let you know when I am successful. UB40 rocks. Brett Patrick. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/14 "2007-02-10T17:05:25Z")
Close up any and all means of entry into your home, too. Steel wool? I think we put that in every crevice and crack, and also sealed up the skirting on our place. (Doublewide mobile, so there’s space underneath and they came up… from… beneath.) They can squeeze through incredibly small spaces to get in. Ugh. Rats are the WORST thing ever. We didn’t use poison, as we were told they’d go someplace hidden and die, there to rot and stink. Just the old-fashioned Victor traps. Meticulous housekeeping doesn’t hurt, and also don’t live right by the woods where there’s also a creek. ☹ Also, don’t put birdseed right outside your place for the white peacock that showed up. I think it was the birdseed that put out a HEY, RATS! FOOD HERE! sign up. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/15 "2007-02-10T17:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=zelie zelerton] Isn’t it obvious? You gotta \*fix \* that rat, that’s what ya gotta do. You gotta \*fix \* that rat. 😃 (For anyone who doesn’t get either reference: Rat In My Kitchen is an old UB40 song). [/QUOTE] [Rat in the Kitchen](http://www.amazon.com/Rat-Kitchen-UB40/dp/B000000WIZ/sr=1-1/qid=1171129518/ref=sr_1_1/002-4977424-6220818?ie=UTF8&s=music) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/16 "2007-02-10T19:53:23Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] [Rat in the Kitchen](http://www.amazon.com/Rat-Kitchen-UB40/dp/B000000WIZ/sr=1-1/qid=1171129518/ref=sr_1_1/002-4977424-6220818?ie=UTF8&s=music) [/QUOTE] Available on iTunes as a single for $1, or album _The very Best of UB40_ for $13 Hmmm, they sound just like UB40! Excuse me, I gotta go fix that rat. BTW; You’re sure they’re not possums, right? 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/17 "2007-02-11T00:00:39Z")
There are ozone generators. Don’t know about where you are, but here they can be rented by the day. They run for a day or two and kill the strongest of odors by oxidizing the daylights out of them. In fact, they might be worth trying before you even catch those last couple of rats, might send them packing. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/18 "2007-02-11T00:10:32Z")
UB40 are what I call “wimp reggae”. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/19 "2007-02-11T01:48:06Z")
I don’t know about rats (we wouldn’t allow such vermin around here), but I think the popular poison for mice is supposed to sorta dehydrate the victims so they don’t rot. I’ll try to find a cite. ---
**Author:** ![TheBaptiste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f6c823/32.png) [@TheBaptiste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBaptiste)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479/20 "2007-02-11T22:17:01Z")
Nope, there is no such product. The SD is rat bait is an anticoagulant, The rats die from either small cuts and bleed out or from internal hemorrhage…and stink they will! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-kitchen-what-am-i-gona-do/391479.md?page=2)