cat hunting mouse

A Look at Natural Rat Deterrents

You undoubtedly want to prevent an infestation of rodents in your home rather than eradicate one after the fact. Rats are likely particularly objectionable to you. Understanding this reality, you may wonder what natural rat deterrents exist that can aid you in preventing an infestation in the first instance. The most commonly utilized natural rat deterrents are:

  • Cats
  • Peppermint oil
  • Fox urine
  • Hot sauce mixture
  • Cleanliness

Cats

One of the most natural options available to you is to obtain a cat or cats to assist you in preventing rats from invading your home. Cats are natural predators of mice and rats. Rats will avoid cats if at all possible. Thus, having a cat at your home may make a difference when it comes to keeping rats out of your home. The mere presence of a cat may keep rats at bay.

If you want a cat to be active in dealing with rats, you need to understand that not all felines are equipped to assist in this manner. In other words, if you think you need more than just the presence of a cat to keep rats out, you need to make sure that a cat your select is a proven “mouser.” (The term “mouser” is applied to cats that stalk and capture mice and rats.) You need to confirm that a particular cat is adept at stalking and snaring rats.

A typical house cat in this day and age is not going to have been trained to catch a mouse by its mother. On the other hand, a barn cat will be taught to catch a mouse. Thus, you need to do a bit of homework about a cat’s background if you want an active mouser rather than sentinel that repels rats by its mere presence.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is thought to deter rats from entering into treated areas. In order to accomplish this objective, a considerable amount of peppermint oil must be used in high concentrations. For many people, the concentration creates such an intense odor that it becomes unpleasant for them. In other words, intense peppermint oil may repel rats, but it also has a similar impact on humans.

It is thought, but not clearly confirmed, that peppermint oil is an effective deterrent to rats. There is evidence that particularly tenacious rats will forge ahead regardless of the presence of even a concentrated peppermint oil.

Fox Urine

There are products on the market that contain fox urine. Foxes are natural predators of rats. Thus, rats are repelled by fox urine as a means of self-preservation.

A fox urine product can be applied in a perimeter around a residence as a means of preventing egress by rats. Fox urine is considered one of the more consistently effective natural deterrent products available today.

Hot Sauce Mixture

Another natural deterrent that some people swear by involves the use of hot sauce. The deterrent mixture includes a gallon of water, a tablespoon of hot sauce, and a ¼ cup of dish soap. The ingredients are mixed together in a bucket.

A portion of the mixture is then placed in a spray bottle. The mixture can then be sprayed along the perimeter of a residence or at other points where a concern exists about rat entry. The mixture needs to be reapplied every couple of days for optimal effectiveness.

Cleanliness

In the final analysis, the most important natural rat deterrent is cleanliness. You need to keep your residence in a clean and tidy condition if you want to most effectively deter rats from entering into your residence. Maintaining cleanliness truly is a daily task that serves many important purposes, including the prevention of vermin infestations in a residence.

Cleanliness in your residence particularly needs to focus on ensuring that no food items or food remnants (crumbs, etc.) are accessible in your home. This includes keeping foodstuffs in tightly sealed containers. It requires you to ensure that your kitchen and other parts of your home are kept clean and rid of crumbs and similar food-related waste.

Finally, you will want to put away the pet food bowl. If you want to deter rats and mice, you need to establish a practice of picking up your pet’s bowl and not leaving food out all of the time for your furry family member.

If you utilize deterrent practices and end up with a rat issue at your home, you need to consider seriously hiring a professional extermination service to ensure that the infestation is eradicated. In addition, because of the very real dangers associated with rat droppings, you should also consult with a skilled, experienced rodent dropping remediation specialist to eliminate the hazardous materials that remain in the aftermath of a rat issue in your home.