Is it safe to use rat poison with cats in the house?

Putting poison where the cats cannot reach lowers one risk and leaves the others. Rodents move bait around. Many poisons work slowly, so a poisoned mouse or rat can wander into the house, where a cat catches it. And a rodent that dies in the attic can lie there, out of reach, and smell for a long time. So the honest answer is no, it is not really safe with pets in the house.

Not knowing what else to do is the most common reason people reach for poison. There is another order, and it deals with the cause rather than today’s animals.

Why out of reach is not enough

• Bait travels. Mice and rats carry food away to store it. Pieces of bait can end up in a wall, under a floor or in a spot your cat can reach.
• Poisoned rodents are easy prey. A slow, unwell mouse is exactly what a hunting cat goes for. Eating it can pass the poison on.
• They die where you cannot get them. In an attic behind a screwed panel, a dead rat means smell, flies and a job you cannot easily do.
• Wildlife eats them too. Owls, foxes and other animals that eat rodents can be poisoned the same way.
• It does not close the way in. New rodents arrive through the same gap, and the bait has to keep going down.

If you think your cat or dog has eaten bait or a poisoned rodent: call a vet straight away, even if the animal seems fine, and take the packet or a photo of the label. With some poisons, signs only show days later. If bait is already down, follow the label for removing and disposing of it.

The order that works without poison

1. Work out what you have. Mouse droppings are small, like grains of rice. Rat droppings are much larger. Scratching at night in the attic can be either. The mice and rats guide shows the signs side by side.
2. Find how they get into the attic. Look where the roof meets the walls, under the eaves, around pipes and cables, at vents and at any gap in the fascia. Outside, check where pipes enter the house.
3. Seal with chew-proof materials, once they are out. Steel wool with sealant over it, metal mesh over vents. Seal the last gap only when you are sure nothing is still inside, or you trap them in. See sealing gaps.
4. Take away the food. Pet food and water bowls up at night, food in hard containers, bird feeders away from the house, bins closed.
5. Live catch traps, checked daily. These work for mice in places you can reach every day. Release as local law allows. If the attic is behind a screwed panel and daily checks are not realistic, that is a sign to bring in a professional.
6. Rats: call a professional. Rats in numbers are a job for someone who does proofing. Tell them you have cats and want no poison. Ask what they will seal, what with, and whether they come back to check.

What about the cats themselves?

Cats that hunt may catch some mice, but they do not stop more coming in, and they can be bitten. Keep their food indoors and up at night so it does not feed the rodents too. Our answer on pest control and pets covers other treatments and how to ask a pro about them.

Cleaning up safely

Wear gloves for droppings, nests and dead rodents. Spray with disinfectant, let it soak, then wipe up with paper towels and bag it. Do not sweep or vacuum droppings dry. Keep pets out of the attic while you work. The safety page has the general rules.