I have a packrat in the house, HELP! sm

• I have a packrat in the house, HELP! sm - Lyndia
  • Finally got rid of one after several months - with a live trap
  • We just use those D-con(?) rat poison - sm -
  • I have a rat too - the original zzz
    • That's a hilarious shot, showing - Misha
      • I WISH those were my feet!! :-) - the original zzz
        • 2nd toe longer, wide space between big toe and - 2nd toe. NOT pretty. nm
          • Above post is IMO, of course. - nm
            • of course! but compared to my 1/2 bunions, to me they are pretty LOL nm - the original zzz
              • that should be 1/2-inch ;-) NM - the original zzz
                • I'm sorry. Shoulda kept opinion to myself. - nm
                  • No! Not offended in the least and as a matter of fact, sm - the original zzz
                    • What a nice response by a nice mom - may
                      • to may, misha, etc. :-) sm - the original zzz
                      • How could you know they were a kid's feet just - from the pic? nm
                      • Yeah, plus, they were nice feet, I thought. - Misha
  • I have inside and out protection.... - Never have pests here
  • City gal here. We have professional critter people, who SM - Domestic Shorthair
    • reminded me of my Christmas story - mdlfcrs
  • Not only do you need to trap - Me
  • Borrow a cat!! Keep it indoors a week or so! (nm) - Me
    • Years back we lived in the country, and mice - annabanana
    • HA! My cat loves to leave little presents - trose
      • cats - jlynn
        • mine brought me a very alive green garden snake - mdlfcrs
          • Ha! I got to see a green snake - Misha
  • If you've got one, you've got bunches! - Hayseed
    • Can't have a cat sm - Lyndia
      • Get you some Coca-Cola ... - Ok, no cats
      • They do have hairless cats. :))) - DS
        • Usually not hair people allergic to, it is the dander - from the skin and saliva that causes allergies. nm
    • I had a mouse get in my double oven many - mlstoo
    • Oh, another non-poisonous trick someone told me... - Hayseed

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

We live on the outskirts of town, lots of outside rodents - squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, etc.  I went to clean out my daughter's closet, and up on the shelf in a shoebox I found a huge stash of dog food (we have two dogs).  When cleaning out our linen closet (the bottom of which we use to store plastic handle bags from stores), I found another huge stash of dog food, and also the handle bags, which I roll up into balls and tuck in so they won't unroll, a bunch of them were very neatly stacked up in the far corner in back of the closet.  No one I know would stack them back there, where you would have to get down on your hands and knees to reach.  It was downright eerie!!

We've got to do something. In the evening we can hear all this skittering over our heads (no attic, just a crawlspace with insulation) and I keep expecting something to drop through the ceiling onto our heads. Creepy. 

The last time we put down poison, one evidently died under our bedroom and really stunk the place up for about a week.  I tell you, at this point, I'd almost be willing to go through that again!

in fair condition about 10 years ago, got into some medical problems, and have just now paid off the mortgage.  Hubby and I agreed we would do nothing to the house for remodeling because we wanted to pay it off first, then the medical bills.  I need to know of some websites/magazines/books to start researching for how to go about this.  These will be major repairs - roof, septic, basement, windows, pretty much everything except wiring.  Where do we start?  Maybe hire a general contractor just to do an evaluation and give us recommendations?  Hubby is a handyman but cant seem to get a handle on where to begin.  We would like to do as much of the work ourselves as possible - labor of love and all that...   

Thanks for any and all kind suggestions!

I definitely agree that she should take the dog inside, but if she absolutely refuses maybe you could buy her a well-insulated doghouse so at least the animal will have some protection from the cold.  Animals have survived cold temperatures for years, but they need a place that shelters them from the cold, and she needs to provide that for them!!

I feel for you - vegetarian here :)  One of the big reasons I lost respect for my ex-best friend was the way she treated her animals.  She was always buying dogs and cats and then leaving them at the pound or pawning them off on people.  It really made me think less of her, because what kind of person does that! She also won't admit she did anything wrong!  arrrrgh! It drives me crazy when people don't take proper care of their animals.  They are a big responsibility - not just a cute puppy to show off when it's convenient.  I hope your daughter straightens up, but again, if she doesn't I highly recommend purchasing a good doghouse for the poor dog!

Girls, has your hubby ever gotten you a "practical" gift that you did not appreciate?  This video will put a smile on your face!  Enjoy the lighthearted fun. 

http://bewareofthedoghouse.com/video.aspx

I chuckled reading your post. I have 9 - yes 9 - cats, three of whom are kittens in the range of 7 months old.  I got them all about a week apart and they're each about a month apart in age.  They are refugees from the neighbors really bad decisions.

Nothing in the house is safe any more.  All of my bigger plants are now in hooks on the ceiling - the smaller plants were already there.  It looks silly, but it works.  There is nothing left on any flat surface.  It cracks me up when they get going and chasing each other.   My house is very cat friendly at this point.  I made the choice to put the good furniture in storage for now and I have washable furniture.   There are cat beds everywhere.  My office shelving unit is more cat bed than it is storage and I have 2 beds on the desk beside my computer.

Yes, I am the crazy cat lady. 

Rotel tomatos

Velveeta cheese

taco-seasoned ground beef

Brown ground beef and add taco seasoning (as in making tacos). Melt Velveeta and Rotel in microwave; add meat mixture. I transfer to a crockpot to keep it hot.  Serve with corn chips. This recipe is made with 1 lb ground beef, 1 packet taco seasoning, 1 small can Rotel, and half of a big block of Velveeta. Of course, you can vary it to the amount you need to serve.

the people who lived here before us had a rabbit that got out of the hutch and they couldn't get it back in, so it lived in our yard.  One nice warm evening I took our house cat out with me while I was outside.  I looked away for a minute and in the blink of an eye, the male rabbit was...um...having nonconsensual relations with my poor, terrified female cat.  I could not believe my eyes. Needless to say, my cat stayed in the house after that.  

My 16-year-old daughter was also smoking on and off since last summer.  When her dad actually caught her red-handed, she was grounded indefinitely - no phone or computer and no friends.  She had exercise-induced asthma as a child and I thought I had drilled it into her from little on up how stoopid (censor wouldn't let me spell it right)   smoking would be.  Not to mention that my parents both smoked and mom has severe asthma and dad has the start of emphysema as well as many other health problems. 

Anyway, she started again and finally, I went through her purse and found 2 packs of cigarettes, which I took and she was grounded from seeing the boyfriend, which was far worse than the phone, I think.  She threw a fit because her older brother also smoked in high school, but he was already 18, so not much we could really do about it.  She's only 17.  Plus the fact that she just started oral contraceptives and her doctor told her right to her face no smoking. 

But, I think we are on the right track at the moment.  Good luck to you because this sure isn't fun.

No, I would not make them go - Not all people are meant to be the Norman Rockwell grandma.  Why should you subject your children to that?  Let her take them for an afternoon or even a whole day if she has something fun planned, then get them before bedtime.  I have two grown sons, 31 and 33 years.  My older son used to love to go to grandma's house.  My younger son hated it.  All kids are different.  Let them choose.  JMHO.

What I am wanting from someone is an hour each morning (M-F) to do:
1) Make 2 beds (changing sheets 2 times a week)
2) Vacuum 1000 sqft (with about 300 of it not carpet - sweep)
3) Unload dishes from dishwasher/load any dirty ones
4) Swish the toilet down and wipe down the bathroom sink/mirror
5) Drop any trash at the trash bin as they leave

My questions:
1) Do you think this is reasonable to be done in an hour?

2) I am thinking of offering $15 an hour...Too much? Too little?

Thanks

I have a 13 yr daughter, 14 and 16 yr boys.  I'm terrified to let her out of the house.  Already she goes to the movies with girlfriends and skating and things but I'm dreading her becoming 16.  For 2 reasons.  The main reason is that I remember myself at 16 and in no way, shape or form do I want her doing ANYTHING I did then!  I'm going to probably have to be on some major Xanax or something! lol.  I know she's a good girl and everything but so was I....or so everyone thought.  The number 2 reason is because of all the freaks that are out there these days.  Yeah they were there when I was growing up but now a days you can't turn on the tv, read the newspaper, open a magazine or anything without hearing about some young girl being kidnapped, raped, murdered, etc...It freakin terrifies me to death! 

On the other hand, I have some relief because her older brother is very protective and he watches her like a hawk.  It's kind of funny in a way, cuz he'll even tell her she has to go change if she's wearing shorts or skirt that are too short and such.  Boys are afraid to go out with her because of him!  lol.  He's not a bully.  He just won't take anyone hurting his little sister. His freinds are even protective of her.   Not too mention her dad.  He's a big boy with a loud mouth and her friends are afraid of him.  He's not mean or anything.  He just lets them know from the git go not to be messin with her!  And she has a step-dad who's protective too.    Poor thing.  She's never going to get married! 

Anyways, back to the curfew (sorry I got off the subject! lol).  As of right now, her curfew at 16 is going to be 11 pm with exceptions depending on the situation.  Things like school dances, football games, etc. structured events, she'll have to come home as soon as they are over.  But things like going out with freinds just for the heck of it.....11 pm.  Unless, of course, her brother is with her!  It's just that at that age is when things start, drinking, sex, smoking, etc.  You can say they won't, you raised them right, and all that but....there's just so much temptation and curiosity and peer pressure. And I partied with all types of kids at that age.  The popular kids, nerds, stoners, jocks, you name it.  They all partied. (some of the best parties were at the homes of kids from the catholic school!) I'm not saying that I don't/won't trust her.....cuz I do but....I don't know....I just know how it is and I worry.