You are probably reading this because you have a rat in your car and you are wondering what to do about it. Well, you aren’t the only one by a long shot! The number of people searching for the phrase ‘Rat In Car’ has surged recently. The graph below shows you what I mean. We will discuss the reasons for this here, and let you know how you can get rid of rats from your car permanently.

So what are your options? The RatMat is an ideal solution to the problem. It works like an electric fence on the floor, permanently and effectively keeping rats away. We find that a perimeter around the car completely stops the problem, even in areas with very high rat activity. It is specifically designed to keep rats apart from your prized items. Visit ‘Buy Now’ above to find your nearest dealer or OnTarget Pest Control if you are looking for a rat repellent for cars in Cyprus.

In case you aren’t familiar, this is a screen shot from Google Trends; it tells you how many people have searched for the term ‘Rat In Car’ in the US. You can see the number has gradually increased over the years, plateaued from about 2013 to 2020, then surged again. So why is this? There are several causes for this increase which we will discuss below.

Why Is Everyone Searching For ‘Rat In Car’ And What You Can Do About It

One of the most important is that modern cars are far more tasty for rodents. This is because an increasing number of the major manufacturers are using soya protein mixed with PVC to coat the wires in the car engine. Tesla, BMW and Audi are all doing this and it makes the wires more like food for the rats. We have also heard of some manufacturers using peanut oil as a lubricant. As a result, the rats are enticed into the car and they are more likely to spend longer inside and cause more damage. Cars offer rodents warmth, protection, and sometimes the opportunity to find food. It's time to stop using the footwell as the dustbin for your crisp packets and empty sandwich boxes!

The major reason for the surge in searches for ‘Rat In Car’ over the last couple of years has been lockdown. The closing of eateries and the movement of people inside had an influence on the feeding patterns and behaviour of rats. According to experts, rats began emerging from hiding not long after the coronavirus shut down pubs and restaurants in the cities.

So Why Has There Been An Increase In Rats During Lockdown?

Pest controllers think it is unsurprising that additional rats have been seen. Large colonies of rodents on a residential block may be reliant on visitors dropping litter. They may also be missing out on a substantial quantity of trash being dumped at night. If this is an area where rats have been reliant on easy food, and that source of income disappears, they are at a loss for what to do. The rats are hungry and desperate, leading to changes in behaviour and more visibility in public places. In certain areas, lockdown meant that rats' favourite food source was no longer accessible, and as a result, they adapted. It has become common in cities to report sightings of rats in unexpected regions and at unusual times for the normally nocturnal animals. Others have seen no change in their neighbourhood rats' activities. The rats in these areas might feed on residential garbage, which is still plentiful, rather than restaurant waste. If you are wondering whether you have a rat infestation, you can identify them from their droppings. Find out how here.

The National Pest Technicians Association in the United Kingdom issued a caution during lockdown. They said that closing public locations could have unforeseen repercussions. They were right. If food is available, pest populations may flourish in vacant buildings and grow empowered by the disappearance of humans. Alternatively, pests may seek food on their own, the report said.

Hungry vermin are adaptation masters and may travel quite a way and end up in a whole new community that previously had no rodents. These are resourceful animals adept in sniffing out food supplies. Their strong teeth may easily pierce through obstacles such as a door, resins, or textiles. However, seeing more rats does not imply that cities will be overwhelmed. This is the ideal moment to use control strategies. Additionally, good hygiene is a great pest management tactic since without food, rats will eat each other. Cannibalism is widespread in overburdened colonies. There is always the possibility that stray, ravenous rats will cause damage to houses and transmit illness. It is possible that they may wind up in someone's house, their bedroom, their children's bedrooms, their nursing homes, or their hospitals. Hardwood and electric cables may be gnawed through by them, which can cause a fire hazard. Apparently, rats are linked to roughly fifty five different infections. This means it is important to keep them under control when they are in areas inhabited by humans.

To deter rats out of houses, here are some tips;

One technique is to cover up any holes or crevices that they may get through, such as around ground level or utility lines. Fill them with cement or wire wool.
Make sure there aren't many hiding spots for them inside, and keep the environment clutter-free. Murine-resistant containers are ideal for storing food.
Don’t feed pets or birds on the ground or in the yard. Left over food and dropping will draw rodents.

The RatMat has proved to be an excellent option for containing rodent damage. To remedy the issue, all you need to do is set up a barrier around your automobile or across the entryway. It may be installed in a matter of minutes and operate for many years. You can be sure it's both humane and efficient in keeping rats away.