Do Pet Rodents Attract Other Rodents?

Are you considering joining the 400,000 American households that have pet rodents? Perhaps you’re concerned that having a pet rat might attract unwanted wild rats or that having pet mice could lead to a rodent infestation.

The good news is the assertion that pet rodents will attract other rodents into your home is a myth, with no scientific studies backing up this suggestion. In fact, the American Veterinary Medicine Association points out that rodents can make excellent pets. Some are solitary, while others are social. Some are calm, while others enjoy much more activity, making it easy to find a pet rodent that matches your lifestyle.

Having a pet rodent doesn’t attract other rodents from outdoors or increase the risk of an infestation. However, if you don’t clean up after yourself and your pet, it can open your home up to the risk of an invasion of other rodents and pests.

Will My Pet Rat Attract Rodents?

Research suggests that mice and rats leave scent trails, which are pheromone-laden scents that provide a path for others to follow. At first, you might think that this suggests rodents will be attracted to the scent of your pet and find their way indoors. However, when you consider typical rodent behavior, it becomes apparent that the risk of this happening is quite low. Rodents tend to be social but only within their social circles.

So, the risk of your pet rat attracting other rodents to enter is minimal based on scent alone. However, scavenging rodents can easily be attracted to the food inside your pet’s cage and all the other typical things that attract them. It’s critical to keep the cage and your home clean at all times to ensure crumbs and other matter left by your pet don’t serve as a lure.

Keep in mind that mice, rats, and other rodents can squeeze into tiny openings and are often searching for items to satisfy their needs, such as:

Shelter: Wild rodents often come into human spaces in search of warm, safe places to nest. They often gnaw through insulation, wood, and wires along the way.
Food and water: Mice and rats aren’t picky about what they eat. Crumbs, unsecured garbage, pet food, birdseed, and easy sources of water like pet water bowls and dripping pipes can draw their attention.
Compost: Your compost pile and even waste from other pets can attract rodents to your home or garden.
Plants: Indoor plants, particularly fruit trees that provide a food source, can also attract rodents. Additionally, large potted plants may offer an easy source of shelter.
Access: Rodents can squeeze through small cracks and openings. If they find access along the foundation, roof soffits, vents, and other spots, they will enter.

What Can I Do to Keep Other Rodents Out?

Pet rodents can create an environment that is conducive to attracting other rodents. Like wild rodents, pets can be quite messy, littering whatever space is available to them with crumbs and food waste. Keeping your pet’s cage clean is essential, but it’s not the only way to protect your home.

Secure All Food Sources

Rats and mice can chew right through cardboard and thin plastic wrappers. They also are known to scavenge in pet food bowls, bird feeders, and anywhere with crumbs. Storing all your food items in plastic, glass, or metal containers can help keep rodents out. Likewise, ensure all garbage is securely bagged and kept in receptacles with tight-fitting lids to keep hungry wild rodents out.

Clean, Sanitize, and Check for Leaks

Although rodents can also infest clean spaces, decluttering, keeping surfaces clear of crumbs, and regularly cleaning indoor spaces can help minimize the risk. Additionally, routinely checking indoor and outdoor areas for leaks can help avoid further damage while preventing wild rodents from finding a water source.

Keep Outdoor Spaces Mowed and Tidy

What you do outside can make a significant impact on whether rodents infest indoor spaces. Keep the lawn neatly mowed, trim all overgrown vegetation, and remove debris. Additionally, avoid storing firewood against the house. Clean up after all pets and keep compost in secure containers to reduce the temptation for rodents and other pests.

Seal Off Openings

Perhaps the most critical thing you can do to keep other rodents out of your home and prevent infestations is sealing openings. Mice and rats can enter gaps as small as the width of a pencil. Inspect the interior and exterior of the home to seal off potential entryways. Examples include spaces around pipes, dryer and air vents, floor drains, utility lines, fireplaces, and roof lines.

Likewise, look for gaps and cracks around doors and windows, behind appliances, and in crawlspaces and attics. Fill holes with steel wool and caulk over them. Other materials you could use include cement, metal sheeting, and lath screens.

Better yet, invest in an exclusion system. Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems provide a safe, humane, permanent barrier for targeted protection. These three chemical-free systems can be used singularly or together to keep rodents and nuisance wildlife from entering vulnerable areas.

Keep Your Home Safe and Free of Other Rodents with Catseye Pest Control

Even after taking careful precautions, it’s possible for wild rodents to enter your home. When rodents invade, turn to the professionals at Catseye for prompt removal and preventive measures. Our trained technicians will help keep you, your family, and your pet rodents safe and healthy while eliminating the infestation. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a free inspection.

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