CAN RATS COME UP THE TOILET? WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A RAT IN YOUR TOILET?
Yes, rats really can come up through toilets. Rats are strong swimmers and can travel through sewer and drainage systems, sometimes making their way into homes through the pipework connected to a toilet. While finding a rat in your toilet is unusual, it can happen — so it's important to know what to do if you find one.
What should you do if you find a rat in your toilet?
If you find a rat in your toilet, stay calm and avoid approaching or handling it. The priority is to contain the situation and prevent the rat from getting into the rest of your home.
1. Close the toilet lid
Carefully lower the toilet lid if you can do so without getting close to the rat. This helps contain the situation and makes it less likely that the rat will leave the toilet.
2. Put something heavy on the lid
If possible, place something heavy on top of the closed lid to help keep it securely shut.
3. Close the bathroom door
Keep the bathroom door closed to prevent the rat from entering the rest of your home.
4. Keep people and pets away
Keep children and pets away from the bathroom until the situation has been dealt with.
5. Don't try to handle the rat
Do not attempt to catch, touch or remove the rat yourself. Rats can bite when frightened or cornered.
6. Contact a pest or wildlife professional
Contact an appropriate pest control or wildlife professional who can advise on safely removing the rat and identifying how it gained access.
7. Don't flush the toilet
Do not flush the toilet while the rat is inside it. Rats are capable swimmers, so flushing is not a reliable way to remove one.
Watch this video showing the safe removal of a rat from a bathroom toilet.
How can you prevent rats from coming up your toilet
The best way to reduce the risk of rats and other unwanted creatures entering your toilet is to prevent them from travelling back through the waste pipe. A one-way non-return valve can allow wastewater to flow out while helping to prevent unwanted creatures from travelling back into the toilet.
How MultiFlap helps protect your toilet
MultiFlap is a one-way non-return valve designed to help prevent rats, snakes, frogs, cockroaches and other unwanted creatures from entering your home through the toilet. It is fitted into the waste pipe and allows waste to flow out when the toilet is flushed, then closes to help prevent unwanted creatures from travelling back through the pipe.
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