Saint Joseph County, South Bend Rat Control Situation:
Hey Dave I stumbled on your web site during a search for mice in the ceiling. I have a 12" tile ceiling in my entire house and a finished attic in my South Bend IN home. Unfortunately my neighbors are pigs and about to foreclose on their home and since they were living here we have a mouse problem which with previous neighbors we did not. We have a semidetached property so of course our homes are connected in the middle. I hear mice running on top of my tile ceiling mainly on our first floor where our kitchen and living rooms are and its loud. We have an awesome mouser cat but he can't get these although he stares at the ceiling often, he is obsessed with moussing! And does a wonderful job on the ones that venture out. I was told by a professional to cut some tiles out and place glue traps in the approximately 1 ½" between the tile back and the old ceiling. These neighbors will be leaving soon and I fear if no one cleans up their property inside and out my problem will get worse. I have even considered cutting random tiles out in their path and hooking a copper line to one of my gas engine tools and gassing these basterds out, the mice not the neighbors. LOL But I am sure that is not such a good idea, right? I have a feeling that all my solutions will involve removing ceiling tile and I guess I am looking for an easy way out but fear there is none. What are your thoughts?
South Bend Rat Control Tip of The Week
Do Rats Pose A Threat To Dogs, Cats, Or Other Pets?
Toxoplasmosis:
There is a parasite that mice and rats can become infected with that causes health conditions in dogs and cats. Toxoplasmosis can cause diarrhea and severe flu in many dogs and it can also change digestive tract functions in cats. This will often be presented as an early infection that leads to a severe flu that can make it difficult for your pet to enjoy a good quality of life. This sickness can also be spread to humans just as easily as it could be spread along to animals.
Roundworms:
Rats often carry roundworms that can be passed on to other animals in your home. There's a variety of medications that can be delivered to treat infections like roundworms. This can also be passed along to humans and if you're experiencing ongoing headaches, digestive issues, fever, or rashes it could be possible that you have been infected.
They Multiply Quickly:
The threat that rats can pose multiplies quickly because they can have an average of 84 babies throughout the course of the year. Working to manage a rat problem can be crucial in the earliest stages before it becomes worse. Without ongoing management of your rat problem, you may end up in a situation where it becomes more difficult to handle the population you are faced with.
Anxiety:
Rats may also cause anxiety in many of your pets. Hearing the ongoing noises in the walls, knowing that they're rather close by and even feeling threatened by rats can be problematic especially for the family pet. Rather than having the ongoing stress that rats can pose for your dog or cat, it may be wise to consider the option of getting a professional exterminator to manage the rat population in your home.
