The Rat Timeline in February 2026
The rat probably entered our kitchen in late January 2026. It may simply have walked in while the back door was open - perhaps after Clare's mopping the floor or airing the room to clear cooking smells.
Alternatively, the cat may have brought it inside.
In any case, it established itself behind the fridge-freezer and the washing machine, where it was able to build a nest for itself. It also had access to food: we kept kitchen scraps in a plastic bowl underneath the cooking hob before transferring them to the outside compost heap every day or two. During that interval, scraps would accumulate, and the rat was able to feed on them without difficulty. We later discovered that it had a particular taste for avocados - the skins, and possibly overripe or discarded fruit left in the bowl.
The first sign of any problem was the washing machine. It began squeaking and displaying an E30 error at the end of its cycle, just before the final spin. On 9 February we consulted ChatGPT, which suggested that the error indicated activation of the float switch due to water collecting in the base - possibly caused by excess detergent foaming. We attempted some straightforward remedial measures and believed the issue had been resolved. However, the problem later recurred.
A week ago, on Sunday 15 February, while we were having lunch in the kitchen, we heard heavy thumping pawstep-like noises above the ceiling, in the crawl space. The sound was unmistakable: something moving back and forth between the kitchen and the dining area directly overhead. We thought it might be the cat but she was sleeping on the couch: disconcerting!
By that point the washing machine had failed again so we had arranged for a Bosch engineer to attend on Monday 16 February. It was still under warranty.
When the engineer arrived, he pulled the washing machine out and removed the top panel. Initially he was puzzled by the diagnostics, but he soon discovered that internal cabling had been gnawed through. Behind the washing machine there was a substantial pile of droppings. His diagnosis: rodent damage. Unfortunately, he said, not covered by the warranty.
“You’ve got a rat eating away at the wiring, some of these droppings are fresh.”
There were also urine stains inside the machine. We were horrified.
He then checked the fridge freezer, pulling that out. Another pile of droppings and nesting material made from kitchen roll at the base of the unit, although the wiring itself appeared undamaged.
At that point there was nothing further he could do, and he left. That evening, we positioned our trail camera to monitor behind the fridge-freezer.
At quarter to eleven that evening the camera showed the rat wandering along the waste water pipe (above).
Next morning we contacted pest control — Somerset Wildlife Services — and the two Andys came within the hour to set traps: this was Tuesday 17 February. We also thoroughly removed the droppings and disinfected the area. That evening, after we'd gone to bed, our trail camera showed the rat inspecting one of the traps just before eleven pm, then carefully skirting around it and continuing towards the cooker (picture, video).
The rat then encountered a second trap behind the tumble dryer, which duly caught it although we were unaware of that at the time. Wednesday passed without any further news from our point of view - the camera showed nothing new.
But by Thursday 19 February there was a distinct smell of something dead in the kitchen. We pulled the tumble dryer out and found both a mess behind it and a dead rat in the trap (picture below). We rang Andy, who came back, removed and disposed of the rat, and checked the remaining traps.
Since then, the kitchen has been quiet again. Three traps remain in place with two bait boxes outside. These will be left for a week as a precaution, in case there was more than one rat.
So far there has been no evidence of that: no noises, no fresh droppings, and no traps triggered. We are therefore fairly confident that it was a single rat that took up residence in our kitchen.
Later this coming week Andy will return to remove the traps. After that, we will ask him to look at sealing any gaps that might allow access to the ceiling cavity or entry from outside - particularly around pipework - the original point of entry is still uncertain.
Finally, we will arrange for a replacement washing machine; so that's a trip to Lewis's soon at the Cribbs Causeway Mall.
