Questions? 
Cockroaches vs. Beetles – Which one is in your home?What Surprising Things Can A Rat Chew Through?
Have you ever seen an “eye-boggling” rat?
The muscles controlling a rat’s jaws are very powerful, and anchored around the eye sockets, running behind the eyeballs. When a rat grinds his teeth, his eyeballs can vibrate in and out; this usually indicates pleasure and contentment.
Why do rats need such powerful jaw muscles?
Because their incisors never stop growing! Rats must gnaw (chew) on things constantly to wear their teeth down. If their teeth were allowed to grow unchecked, they would grow continuously in a spiral at an 86 degree angle, making it impossible for the rat to close its mouth or eat, resulting in death.
What do rats chew on to wear their teeth down?
Rats will chew on anything that is not harder than their teeth. The Mohs Scale, developed by German mineralogist Friedrich Moh in 1812, measures the hardness of gemstones and minerals based on their ability to scratch another gemstone or mineral. The scale ranks from 1 (softest, such as Talc) to 10 (hardest, such as Diamonds). Rat teeth rank about 5.5 on the Mohs Scale, harder than iron or copper. Human tooth enamel only ranks about 5 on the Mohs Scale. Because their teeth are so hard, rats are able to chew through most of the materials people use to keep them out, such as:
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Super strong teeth are not the only superpower like trait these rodents possess. Rats can fall 50 feet without injury; they can swim and tread water for 3 days without drowning; they can squeeze through openings the size of a quarter; they breed at an astonishing rate, rapidly populating any given area; and last but not least, their genes have mutated, making them immune to most rat poisons.
They may seem like an invincible opponent, but it is possible to keep rats out. The first and most important step in preventing a rat infestation is good sanitation. Removing food and water sources will go a long way when getting rid of rats. Store pet food and pantry goods in glass or metal containers and use a covered trash can. Keep things picked up and organized so there are fewer hiding places for rodents. Outside of the home, keep shrubbery and wood or compost piles away from the building.
The second step to get rid of rats is to block off entry points. Even though they can chew their way through almost anything, you don’t need to leave the door open for them. Use metal screens over chimney and dryer vents. Make sure the building’s foundation and roof soffits are well maintained. Keep window screens in good repair and install door sweeps if there is a gap under any exterior doors.
Lastly, protect property with a natural rodent repellent. Rats have poor eyesight, but an exceptional sense of smell. As a matter of fact, rats have been trained to sniff out landmines, drugs, and even to serve as rescue rats sniffing out survivors after disasters. Fresh Cab® Botanical Rodent Repellent uses essential oils that smell pleasant to humans but are offensive to rodents to deter rats and mice. Placing Fresh Cab pouches around your home, in your vehicles, and in your stored property will protect it against rats and mice.
A really good, informative read on rats and how simple and affordable Pest Control solutions can help you defend your home
I have my backyard paved with Kota stone. Some nocturnal cuts rectangular hole. Nothing seems to work incl rat poison.
How peculiar!
My mom has laminated plywood with Formica on each side of the wood standing vertical .each pc .of wood is 5/8 In. thick ×2 in addition to Formica totaling 1/16 inch thick . One small rat with body and tail equals length of 6 inches ,chewed through this material in 3 weeks , off and on. How is it possible ?
Rodents are impressive little nuisances!
I find that the best way of controlling them is with a shotgun. Makes a rather unfortunate mess though.
Well that’s what we’re here for, to preserve the good and prevent the rest! Thanks for reading Martin.
I had an old car that sat next to an out building at my place in Montana. I went to sell it and discovered that mice had been raiding the out side dog dish and hauling the food to that car for storage. I kid you not,they had hauled probably 75lbs to store there. Under the spare tire especially. I also have used fresh cab for about 3 years now in my pickup that sits unused for long periods of time. I have yet to see any mouse or rat sign in it. I am a firm believer. This site is very short and informative. Well done!
What can I use to get rid of rats without posining my dogs….a real problem
Our products are made with plant fibers and essential oils instead of harmful chemicals, so they shouldn’t pose any threat to your pets. Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent should keep the rats away. Make sure you are storing your dog food in a sealed container and there is no other accessible food in the area that may attract rats or other pests. Thanks for reading!
I went to a unit with a rat infestation they gnawed through a desk bottom draw, wardrobe, suit case, picture frame and in to a couch in the lounge room. It was feral and disgusting.
can a rat chew through metal
Hi, thanks for reading! I suppose it would depend on the type of metal. What type of situation are you dealing with?
Why do rats chew holes in bottom of hand lotion tubes but leave the lotion? And don’t chew pill bottles? Are there any home remedies to kill rats in the house? How to block incoming and ‘evict’ current residents?
Rats enjoy chewing or gnawing on different materials because their teeth never stop growing. The act of chewing files their teeth down to the preferred size, keeping them from getting too long. To keep rats out, we suggest a 3 step approach: 1. Clean up — remove clutter that offers gnawing materials and hiding places for rats. 2. Seal up — Seal any openings rats are using to get in such as gaps around doors and windows, uncovered dryer vents, etc… 3. Pouch up — Place a pouch of Fresh Cab anywhere you have seen rats, or signs of rats. The scent of Fresh Cab will repel rats. Thanks for reading!
Thanks for your comprehensive article, especially explaining the Moh’s scale.
I live above a bakery which is infested with rats. If I install a mesh of stainless around my windows, will it prevent rats from gnawing the mesh and entering my house? Stainless steel’s hardness is harder than that of mild steel and aluminum.
Else please suggest what material’s mesh I should use?
Thanks in advance
Stainless steel mesh or hardware cloth should help keep the rats out. We’d also suggest using a rodent repellent in your home to discourage the rats from entering. Thanks for reading!
will mice and rats chew plastic trash bags?
Hi Shirley,
Yes, mice and rats can easily chew through plastic trash bags. Keeping trash in a covered can with a tight fitting lid will help prevent this problem. Thanks for reading!
I have something under my jacuzzi tub in house sounds like chewing I hear it move.
How can I get rid of it?
It’s hard to know how to get rid of something if you don’t know what it is first. Look for signs of gnaw or chew marks, as well as any droppings or other clues about what is under your jacuzzi. You may need to call wildlife removal or a pest control professional. Once the intruder has been removed, use Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent pouches in the surrounding enclosed area to prevent pests from returning. Make sure any potential entry points are sealed shut so nothing gets back inside. Thanks for reading!
Is there any mesh stainless steal products I can purchase to cover items like tents, sleeping bags, camping equipment, etc., to prevent rats from gnawing through it?
Ed,
Unfortunately we don’t know of any specific products for what you’re describing, but you’ve got the right idea! Try checking your local Ace Hardware, they probably have some different options and the know-how to get it done.
Thanks for commenting!
This blog is very helpful, thank you for having it! I just noticed today I heard a rat (assuming one) scurrying around in the ceiling. How fast can the rat chew through my ceiling and what’s the best way to get rid of it without harming myself or my cats? There is a very small crawl space door at the opposite end of the house which is not easily accessible.
Thank you for any and all suggestions.
Hi Pam,
Thanks for stopping by! It’s hard to say how fast a rat could chew through something, but our Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent is definitely a safe solution to get rid of rats without harming your or your pets. Check out this video for some helpful usage tips:
Thanks for commenting!
I am having a problem with alot of rats. They were in the doghouse last year. We killed over 50 rats. They were under the floor. Now they are back. They have burrowed under my pool. My pool us made of the strongest material. I have noticed the water level going down. Do you think rats could chew through the bottom of the pool? I have a Splash Pool which has no liner.
Hi Annette,
So sorry to hear about your rodent situation! It’s hard to say if rats may have chewed through the bottom of the pool without being able to see if any damage done to pool. It sounds like Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent would definitely help prevent recurring infestations in your doghouse though. All of our products are pet-friendly and free from harmful chemicals. The repellent may work around the pool as well, but the effectiveness will diminish if the pouches get wet or are exposed to a lot of air flow such as when they are placed outdoors. Fresh Cab works best when used in enclosed areas.
Thanks for commenting!
I had a task of closing a pipe from rats getting into it from outside. Iron meshes didn’t work. If the mesh is too thick, I can’t bend it around the pipe (or fit it snugly inside the pipe). If it is thin, they chew through it in 2 weeks. Also, the mesh has to be cosely knit (no more than quarter inch gaps). Eventually no mesh worked.
I took a cylindrical steel container that my friend had gifted me as a spoons/forks holder (which had 1/4th inch holes in it) and fitted it snugly to the pipe using a rubber tubing. Now, that has stood the test for 2 months so far! But, I have to clean up the garbage inside it manually once every 2 weeks (because, the holes are too small). I am happy with the solution.
Hi Joe,
Rats can be very persistent and almost ingenious when it comes to getting inside. I’m glad you were able to find a solution that works for you!
Thanks for reading!
lmao i keep rats as pets
Hi Kensey!
Some rats make great pets! We’d love to hear more about yours 🙂
Thanks for reading!