Having a wise, adorable, mentor rat as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had back in the day sounds good. However, rats don’t seem to understand us when we tell them to leave. Although some people enjoy rats as cute, cuddly pets, the majority of us are not so fond of them. In fact, there are many diseases rats can spread to you and even your pets. As you can see, it’s important to keep them out of your house every way you can. But, can rats climb toilets? The answer to this urban legend as old as toilets may surprise you.
Can Rats Climb Toilets? (SPOILER ALERT: YES)
Yes, they can. According to the video seen above from National Geographic, it’s actually pretty easy for them to do so. Rats have underrated swimming capabilities and can hold their breath for up to 3 minutes. That’s long enough for them to swim from the sewer line into and up through your toilet. Furthermore, fitting in through tight spaces isn’t a problem for them. Some small rats can fit through holes the size of a quarter.
How Often Does This Happen?
Animal control experts say it rarely happens and is more likely in larger cities with big sewer systems. The good news? You’re not likely to see a rat during a late-night or home movie bathroom break. According to animal control experts, they say only 1 of a 1000 calls for rodents has been entering the home through a toilet. So rest easy, but always look before you sit!
What To Do If You Find a Rat in The Toilet?
We suggest if you find a rat in the toilet, shut the lid of the toilet and put something heavy on top of it. The rat may be able to pop open the lid of the toilet seat if there isn’t any weight on top of it. Fortunately, there are many qualified pest control professionals in the area to call if this happens. Call them and they should be able to get rid of your pesky problem.
If you have any other commercial plumbing issues that need fixing, take action, and contact Action Plumbing. Our expert team of commercial plumbers is there to get the job done quickly for you.