KonMari 2018 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Slinky

GreyQueen wrote: »

I've read something somewhere in the past few weeks about a new type of catflap which doesn't allow the cat to carry prey indoors with it. Don't know how that would ever work but I suspect they'd be a market for it.

Perhaps the cat has to miaow to be allowed in, hence dropping what they were holding.

greenbee

It takes time to catch rats, they're very suspicious. Read up on it before you move anything.

Siebrie

Hoovered part of the attic until it was too hot, about five minutes

Found/could finally reach an artwork: an Indian woollen woven tapestry, representing a city. It's not been nibbled, so I am well pleased. I will air and hoover it, and find a place for display.

I also took down a cardboard box with some childhood dolls and cuddly toys. I never was a doll or cuddly toy lover, and this box waa kept mainly on Mum's insistence, and because some were handmade by Aunties. All dolls and cuddlies were nibbled! Only a handmade stuffed corduroy monkey survived. I will wash him, perfect weather for drying at the mo The rest is already in the bin; no regrets.

Igamogam

GreyQueen wrote: »

Ahh, yes you've got to keep the cat in until she is properly homed.


I've not personally known cats to bring rats indoors, although I have mice and birds and spiders and moths. I think a rat is a bit of task for cats and they tend to deal with them and not play with them when alive.

You havent met my cats:eek:

Saw a You Tube once of a cat who had a full size rat in a suffocating bite hold to the neck, in the same way that cheetahs suffocate prey they've run down but don't have the jaw power to kill easily.

Maybe we have namby pamby country rats:rotfl:

TBH where ever you are you are unlikely to irradicate/remove completely a family of rats.

Slinky

GreyQueen wrote: »

I've read something somewhere in the past few weeks about a new type of catflap which doesn't allow the cat to carry prey indoors with it. Don't know how that would ever work but I suspect they'd be a market for it.

https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2019/6/30/19102430/amazon-engineer-ai-powered-catflap-prey-ben-hamm


He works for Amazon. How long before they are available...... we'll need two as she will have to have a flap to get out the front, and another to get out the back. There's no direct access to the back garden except through the house or garage.

luxor4t

Igamogam wrote: »

TBH where ever you are you are unlikely to irradicate/remove completely a family of rats.

My dad did - but only because he built a garage on top of the nesting area. Found the nest and tried to clear it as he was digging foundations.

After the concrete pour for the flooring etc we never saw them again.

It is an extreme method, I admit!

silvasava

Remember working for a company that was doing massive building work for a new office. I was moved into a little gatehouse temporarily. One of the builders knocked to tell me to stay in and dont come out until they gave the all clear as they were breaking in to old sewers - first time I ever saw a rat - the size of a Jack Russel with huge yellow teeth. The builders wer clobbering them with whatever tools they had available. If it had been now I'd have been claiming for PTSD!
My old cat brought me in a couple of rats once - DH was in hospital and during the night I heard this banging in my bedroom that woke me up - put on the light to find Wills slapping a dead rat round the bedroom,hitting the wardrobe doors purring his heasd off as if to say - Look! This is how I killed it! I absolutely hate rats and I had to get some toilet paper to pick it up by its tail and throw it out the window. Wasnt there the next morning and the little blighter did the same thing the next night!

Slinky

Been reading up on rats, the pond will definitely have to go. It's in a bad place anyway, within about 7 feet of our patio door, and where we intend to put a catflap. Surrounded by overgrown planting, including some enormous and viscious yukka plants. Not going to be any fun trying to sort that lot. I think subbing it out to somebody else could be worthwhile.

Slinky

Yay, first rat has been caught. We moved the trap on Friday afternoon, didn't check it yesterday as it was chucking it down with rain and the trap was under some very wet bushes. OH checked this afternoon and we have one. Don't feel good about it really as they are only doing their thing, but I can't have them so close to the house.


Have reset the trap and put it back in the same place.

Siebrie

Sorting through dds' toys, crafts, books, mess. Throwing away anything broken, damaged, uncomfortable, unread, unused. DD2 was happy with everything that went, helped me sort and helped me clear out the pencil and felt tip drawer - about one third went! DD1 is still away at camp, I am undecided if doing this without her will benefit her or not. She has a problem letting things go if I let her decide, but hardly ever misses anything if I clear it without her help. Less mess in the children's corner definitely sparks joy in me.