How to Get Rid of Rats (Simple & Practical Rat Control Guide)

Rats are clever, fast and multiply rapidly. When once a decade a female has 50-60 babies, the quiet rat problem can be a serious infestation before you know it. You need to follow a well-thought-out plan of rat control, rather than making random traps or feeding home remedies. Once we influence their “ways” (doorways, food items accessible, and where they choose to stay), then they can be effectively controlled.

how-to-get-rid-of-rats

Why Rats Come Inside

Rats do not come into a house by chance. They arrive in search of three necessities: sustenance, hydration, and secure refuge. If your house offers these, rats will establish themselves, reproduce, and silently create nests. The aim is to disrupt this cycle by managing the environment rather than solely exterminating the rats.

What They Need	Where They Find It in Homes
Food	Open grain packets, kitchen crumbs, dustbins, pet food
Water	Leaky taps, damp bathrooms, AC water drops
Shelter	False ceilings, attics, storerooms, wall gaps

Identify Which Rat You Have

Understanding the type of rat helps you choose the correct pest control method. Different species hide in different parts of the home, and they respond to different traps. If your traps “aren’t working,” it’s often because the wrong strategy is being used.

Rat Type	Where They Hide	How They Behave	Best Control Method
Norway Rat (Brown Rat)	Drains, basements, ground-level corners	Burrows and lives close to the ground	Traps + burrow treatment
Roof Rat (Black Rat)	False ceilings, lofts, cabinet tops	Climbs easily & avoids floor traps	Traps placed high + sealing roof gaps

Seal Entry Points

Rats can squeeze through gaps as small as a 1-rupee coin, which makes blocking entry points one of the most important steps in long-term prevention. Look carefully along walls, corners, sinks and drains. If there’s an opening, rats will find it.

seal-entry-point-of-rats

Before bullet points, remember:

Sealing should always be done before trapping.
Use materials rats cannot chew.
Inspect both inside and outside the home.

Seal:

Holes behind sink pipes
Gaps under doors
Cracks in walls or floors
Drains without mesh covers
Openings in loft or false ceilings

Use steel wool + cement or metal mesh. Avoid plastic and wood.

Remove Food & Water Sources

Rats will not stay where they cannot feed. Even if you trap or poison them, new rats will return if food is accessible. This step reduces rat presence by 30–50% all by itself, especially in kitchens and storerooms.

remove-food-&-water-sources-of-rats

Focus on:

Nighttime kitchen cleanliness
Proper storage habits
Reducing dampness and leakage

Do This:

Store food in airtight containers
Clean counters before sleeping
Fix leaking pipes
Keep dustbins sealed and emptied daily

How to Control Rats Effectively

No single method works alone. The most successful rat control plans combine traps, sanitation and long-term prevention. Choose based on how big the infestation is and where rats are moving.

1. Traps (Good for small infestations)

Place traps where rats travel most:

Along walls
Behind fridges
In loft corners

Best Baits: peanut butter, nuts, dried fish
Use gloves to avoid leaving human scent.

2. Bait Stations (For larger infestations)

Use locked bait stations only
Prevents risk to pets and children
But monitor carefully to avoid odor from hidden deaths

Latest & Smart Techniques (2023–2025)

New rat management methods emphasize long-term reduction rather than continual extermination. These methods are particularly beneficial in urban areas and multi-family residences.

Technique	Why It Works
Smart Sensor Traps	Sends phone alerts when rats are caught
CO₂ Burrow Treatment	Removes Norway rats from underground nests quickly
Fertility-Control Baits	Prevents reproduction, reducing rat populations safely

Fertility-control programs for rats have shown up to a 60% population decline in cities worldwide since 2023. These programs focus on preventing reproduction and safely reducing rat numbers without relying on constant extermination

Kolkata-Specific Rat Problems

Kolkata’s old buildings, humid weather and open drainage lines provide ideal circumstances for rats. Roof rats typically conceal themselves in attics and false ceilings, whereas drain rats access homes via plumbing systems.

Areas where this is very common:

Behala
Lake Town
Burrabazar
Park Circus
Tollygunge
And most apartment blocks near open markets.

When to Call a Professional

Even after cleaning and trapping, if rats continue to return, the infestation is more widespread than first thought. Experts are able to properly utilize controlled bait stations, secure drains, and monitor activity inside walls.

Call for help if: