Fact-checked against 1 source · Updated 3 November 2026Short answer: not reliably. A cat may catch a young or small rat and make others more cautious, but many cats won’t take on an adult brown rat, and the rest of a colony can carry on nesting and breeding.
On this page
Can a cat catch a rat?
A cat can catch a young or small rat, and a cat that roams the garden may make rats more cautious. But an adult brown rat is a bigger animal than most people picture — the BPCA gives around 0.5kg and about 23cm long without the tail — and many cats won’t take one on. In a real infestation, a cat may pick off the odd weak or young rat while the rest of the colony carries on, nesting and breeding somewhere the cat can’t reach, such as a loft, wall cavity or drain.
What about dogs?
Some breeds were bred specifically for this: terriers such as the Jack Russell, Patterdale and rat terrier have a genuine working history as ratters, and an actively worked terrier can be effective against rats in the open. An ordinary pet dog living in the house is a different matter — barking at a rat in the garden isn't the same as controlling a colony, and a dog that does catch or corner a rat risks a bite, since rats can carry infections that make a bite worth treating properly.
Do rats avoid houses with pets?
Rats are cautious animals, so a pet in the garden may make them less bold about when and where they show themselves — but that isn’t the same as removing them. A pet doesn’t seal the gap under the shed, clear the food source in the compost heap, or stop rats nesting next door and crossing your garden at night while the dog’s asleep indoors.
The real risk: rat poison and pets
If poison bait is used anywhere nearby — by you, a neighbour, or a previous tenant — pets are at genuine risk two ways: eating bait directly, or secondary poisoning from catching and eating a rat that has already taken bait. This is the actual pet-safety issue to worry about, not whether the cat is "doing its job." A competent technician uses secured, tamper-resistant stations and will tell you exactly where they're placed. See our full guide to rat poison and pet safety if you're dealing with an active infestation.
What actually gets rid of rats
The BPCA (British Pest Control Association) describes professional rat control as confirming the entry points and finding the nest, then recommending proofing and the right treatment — a pet doesn’t do any of these on its own. If you've got an ongoing problem rather than an occasional sighting, see how professional rat control works or go straight to garden rat control and rat proofing.
Pets and rats: quick questions
Will getting a cat solve my rat problem?
Unlikely on its own. A cat may catch the occasional young or small rat and make rats more cautious, but it won't clear an established colony or seal the entry points they're using.
Are rat terriers actually good at catching rats?
Working terriers bred and trained for it can be effective in the open, but this is different from an ordinary pet dog simply living in a house with a rat problem nearby.
Can my pet get sick from a rat?
Yes — through a bite, through contact with droppings or urine, or through secondary poisoning if they eat a rat that has taken bait. Keep pets away from burrows, dead rats, and any bait stations that aren't professionally secured.
Do rats stay away permanently if I have pets?
No. Pets can make rats more cautious about when and where they're seen, but they don't remove food sources, shelter or entry points, so rats often simply adapt around them rather than leaving.
Need help now? See pest control in Newark-on-Trent, where we connect you with an independent local technician.
Sources and further reading
Facts on this page were checked against the sources above on 14 October 2026. Laws, prices and council services change, so check the current position before relying on them.
This site connects households and businesses in the Newark-on-Trent area with an independent local rat-control technician. We are not the servicing contractor and do not carry out treatment ourselves. See our terms & disclosure.