I had a similar problem with a rat, gnawing up telphone cables (and Openreach would charge £150 to fix ’em, but I put the cables up high and fixed them with a old block 52 connector with GPO on it left over from my house (I need to put a “legit” one in before me move office). it didn’t help that BT/Openreach cabled the place in such a sketchy manner…

I also befriended a local cat and let her in the office and she indicated there were numerous rats, but I didn’t let her in the loft because the rat catcher has been putting difenacoum up there and he is well sketchy about his health and safety – I’d rather have the rats than breathe in that stuff, especially as he has been ill 4 times with minor strokes and brittle bone problems..

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But the rats are smart and they turn out when it is pissing down with rain, and the cat does not come in – I haven’t seen this one for a while either, and there is only a young tomcat but he is too scared of me – we can sit and meow togethe but he doesn’t want to cross my territory (I might start tempting him with bits of go-cat).

Although hunting with dogs is banned, there is no law against hunting with cats – and its not impossible if you get the right cats (ancient Egyptians and other Oriental folk did this). However there has to be a reward for the cat or they won’t work.

I was gonna live trap the rat but we are moving out of that unit anyway, and you need as many traps as there are rats and there is usually more than one, and at £15 a time they aren’t cheap (but cheaper than the rat-catcher). It would be then photographed, the cage put on the back of my bike and then I’d ride up to Stowmarket and let them loose,

If anyone had challenged me I would produce a clipboard and say “I’m a contractor from Mid Suffolk District Council. I am working under EU directive 88 478 to encourage British wildlife, and am making sure you have sufficient rats to keep you going through the winter” – would you mind signing for these rats please?

If I lived nearer to you, I’d help you rewire the busted circuits if you supply the materials, and a good bottle of Scotch and a few party supplies (as its a repair it shouldn’t be part P although bathroom is supposed to be a “special area”).

If you DIY it read up on loop in circuits and two way switching for general lighting (that is where the screen name comes from), otherwise its easy to get confused and just have all the switches tripped when you turn the lights on