How to Get Rid of Rats and Mice Without Harming Pets

Rodents in the house are a problem, and when you have pets, too, your problem's compounded. While poison may be the easy route, there are numerous ways to discourage rats and mice from entering your home without affecting your dog or cat.

Things You'll Need

  • Black pepper
  • Light bulbs
  • Expandable foam
  • Caulk
  • Traps
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove anything that would invite rats and mice into your home. This includes opened food containers as well as garbage cans that smell and are easily accessible. Keep the compost heap away from your home's exterior, and avoid putting meat products in it. Sprinkle black pepper in the heap to discourage rodent feeding. Light up any dark or hidden corners -- such as in the basement -- where a rodent might feel comfortable starting a nest.

    • 2

      Walk the exterior of your home and seal any holes or cracks where rats and mice can enter. Look at openings for pipes, valves and vents; surround these with expandable foam or caulk. Look under exterior steps for holes that have been gnawed into siding or wood homes; or look for burrowing in flowerbeds next to the foundation. Seal any cracks around windows and door frames, as well.

    • 3

      Check the interior of your home for rodent access points. Basements and attics can provide numerous opportunities for rodents to enter the home; seal and caulk holes and cracks as well as entries for pipes on the interior of the home as well as the exterior.

    • 4

      Set rodent traps where dogs and cats cannot reach, such as behind appliances or under furniture. While these can capture a mouse or rat, you'll have to protect against the risk of an animal getting a paw caught out of curiosity.

    • 5

      Place dryer sheets with an oleander scent, such as Bounce Classic, throughout the basement and garage where rodents might come in. Both rats and mice are repelled by this scent.