Need a rat catcher in Spalding, Peterborough or the villages around them? Our trained technicians deal with rats in homes, gardens, farms and businesses every week.
About rats
The brown rat is the rat you will find in UK homes, gardens, farms and drains. It is not fussy about food, so even the cleanest house can attract rats if there is a way in. Rats carry diseases including leptospirosis (Weil's disease) and salmonella, contaminate food and gnaw through wiring, pipes and timber.
Signs of rats
- Droppings, about 12mm long, along walls and in cupboards
- Gnaw marks on wood, plastic and cables
- Greasy smear marks along runs
- Burrows near walls, sheds and decking
- Scratching in walls, ceilings or under floors at night
Droppings much smaller than that, about the size of a grain of rice, usually mean mice instead. If you are not sure, our identify a pest guide compares the two, or you can send us a photo.
Rats and drains
A lot of rat problems we see start in a broken or disused drain. Rats swim and climb well and will use a defect in a pipe to get under floors and into cavity walls. Treating the rats without fixing the drain means they come back. Our drainage team can CCTV survey and repair drains, often with no-dig pipe lining. Read more about rats in drains.
Other ways rats get in
Above ground, rats use gaps around pipes and cables, broken air bricks, gaps under doors and damaged vents. They climb well, so we also check the roof line, where they can gnaw through plastic grilles under the tiles. Outside, they burrow under sheds, decking and compost heaps, and they will gnaw into wheelie bins to reach food waste.
How we deal with rats
- SurveyWe confirm what you have, how many and how they are getting in, including checking drains where needed.
- TreatmentWe choose the most suitable method for your property. In homes we often use trap systems, which also mean the rats are removed rather than left to smell.
- ProofingWe seal entry points with materials rats cannot chew through.
- Follow-upWe return to check results and remove any traps or bait.
Our Rat-Free Guarantee means you pay once and never have rats at the property again.
Some rat populations have become resistant to common rodenticides, and poorly placed bait can harm pets and wildlife. We follow the UK rodenticide stewardship scheme (CRRU), use professional products only where they are needed and always place them in secure bait stations.
Frequently asked questions
Why do rats keep coming back?
Usually because the way in has not been found and fixed. Defective drains, gaps around pipes and damaged airbricks are common routes. We survey for entry points and proof them, so the problem is solved rather than repeated.
Will dead rats smell?
Rodents that die in a wall or under the floor can smell for a while. In homes we often use trap systems, so rodents are removed rather than left, which avoids this.
What about pets and rat bait?
We only use professional rodenticides where they are needed, always inside secure bait stations that pets and children cannot open, and we tell you where every station is.
