- LAST UPDATED: January 4, 2024
There are myriad ways to remove rats, and one of the most efficient ones is to purchase the best rat traps a homeowner can get their hands on.
I suggest using the following: this comparison list shows rat traps types and sizes. For additional information, just look at the links provided next to each product’s title.
Our Recommended Top 9 Best Rat Traps Comparison Table
| PREVIEW | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our #1 Rated  | Tomcat Easy-to-Use Rat Snap Trap
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Best Budget  | Victor Wooden Metal Pedal Rat Trap
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Our #2 Rated  | Tomcat Glue Traps Rat Size
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People's Choice  | Catchmaster Baited Rat Glue Traps with Professional Strength
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Our #3 Rated  | Victor Electronic Rat Trap
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 | Rat Zapper High-Voltage Shock Rat Trap
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 | Havahart Live Animal Traps
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 | Rodent Trap Glue
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 | Rolling Log Bucket Rat Trap
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What are the Best Rat Traps in 2024? – Expert Buyer’s Guide
Rats are not just scary and creepy, they can cause huge damage to your property. These rodents have a strong jaw to chew not only through fabrics but also through plastic covered cables and wall coverings.
Wonder how to get rid of canny rats in your yard or interiors? Now you can effectively keep these creatures at bay with the help of the best rat trap. Whether you are after snap traps or are looking for electronic rat traps, you can find just what you are searching for in this article.
And if you don’t want to kill rats, I suggest using live traps. This way or another, with our help you will trap rats without having to hire an expensive exterminator.
Top 4 Tips on How to Catch a Rat
Rats are often a problem not only in rural communities where people store or grow their food but also in urban areas. While the best rat poison is dangerous to use, using rat traps is an effective way to exterminate a rat problem. Even if you are not a professional in trapping destructive rats, many easy-to-operate rat traps will help you to resolve your rat problem.
Here is how to successfully catch the rat in your house and backyard:
STEP 1. Choose the Trap
First, you are to select between live traps and killing traps for rats. If you prefer live traps, note that they should be large enough so that the rat fits inside.
When it comes to killing traps, you may consider the following options:
- Snap traps,
- Poisonous glue traps,
- Electronic rodent traps.
STEP 2. Determine Rat Trap Placement
So what is the best location for the trap? As far as pesky rats prefer traveling along wires and walls and tend to use the same pathways, the best place for the trap – lethal or humane – is against a closest-to-the-damage wall.
Signs of damage include:
- Tooth marks on wood;
- Rat droppings;
- Rat tracks;
- Chewed wires;
- Holes in packaging or food;
- Grease marks on surfaces.
Place rat traps in places where you have seen the most rat damage or where these rodents frequent.
STEP 3. Bait the Trap
The best rat bait and its proper positioning are important steps of a successful rat capture. Rats will avoid a trap carrying the human scent. To avoid transferring human scent, I recommend wearing gloves when you bait traps.
The bait should be positioned in a way that will provoke a canny rodent to fully enter it. When it comes to bait selection, dried fruit, peanut butter or gumdrops will be great for both the roof rat and the Norwegian rat.
Rats are careful when they explore their environment. That's why you need to let them get used to the baited traps before you set them. Place the rat traps in an area where you have seen rat poop or other signs that they're there. Add bait or another attractant, following the manufacturer's instructions. Once you've seen that they're visiting it, add more bait and set it.
After rat removal, keep these rodents away by using natural ultrasonic repellents.
STEP 4. Set the Trap
Now it’s time to set the trap. Set the product by following its special instructions. Once the critter is trapped, it’s essential to remove it timely.
Rat Traps that Work: Safe and Successful Trapping
No one wants to deal with rats. But with the help of a variety of weapons, you can effectively battle them.
If you want to make the process of rat trapping efficient and safe, take a look at the following trapping options:
Snap Traps
These popular traps are regarded to be the most effective options for those who want to remove rats in attic or walls.
Here are the most popular rat traps you can buy:
1. Tomcat – Best Easy-to-Use Rat Snap Trap (Editor’s Choice)
Tomcat Snap Trap is a safe, effective, and working option to remove pesky rats. The trap has many benefits, like the one when you don’t have to worry about getting your fingers caught. The trap has an aggressive and powerful design that captures and kills rats. You can set Tomcat by hand or foot.
How to Use
- Identify the area of animal activity.
- Move bait cup from the bottom of Tomcat trap. Place food – gumdrops/peanut butter or Tomcat Rat Attractant – in the bait and re-insert.
- Set Tomcat by compressing top portion to the bottom till it clicks into place.
- Position the rat trap perpendicular to the place – a wall or structure – where pesky critters like to travel.
The snap trap doesn’t require poisons and is safe to use around pets. It is durable and reusable – each rat trap can be reused.
How often to apply: In case the rat is not trapped in two or three days, place the trap in the location where pest rodent activity is suspected.
Where to Use
The best way to catch a canny rat is to place the trap where rats travel – 25-100 ft. location between their nest and food source.
2. Victor Original – Best Budget Rat Trap
Victor is an original wood-based snap trap that provides instant rat control. Due to its super quality and effectiveness, the trap has become the top-selling trap in the world.
How to Use
Trapping is known as more human pest control than poisoning. Place Victor rat traps where rodents travel. When setting the trap properly can quickly kill the rat.
When baiting Victor or any other snap traps, don’t use more bait. I suggest pressing a small amount of it into the bait pedal. Remember, the more bait used, the easier it is for rats to remove it without disturbing snap traps.
You may need more traps when trapping pesky critters.
Glue Traps
Glue traps are one of the most common methods of rat trapping. They consist of a board or tray covered in a sticky adhesive, which rats walk across and become stuck too.
The best part is you don’t have to touch the rat corpses. They’ll stay there until someone comes to dispose of them.
3. Tomcat Glue Traps Rat Size – Best Choices for a Large Number of Rats
Tomcat is an excellent sticky trap that has a super hold formula. Therefore, it gives superior rat catch and keeps, specially formulated for successful rodent control.
The glue formulation has the perfect balance between immediate grip and stretchable hold, which makes it a great option for catching rodents that are too quick to get caught on other types of traps. It also features Eugenol for enhanced stickiness and is pesticide-free, meaning you can use this rat trap without worrying about harming people or pets who come into contact with it.
Benefits
- Tomcat trap don’t snap on hands, therefore, can be placed in a wider variety of places.
- What’s more, they are pesticide-free, non-toxic design.
- Capture rats quickly and effectively.
How to Use
- Open Tomcat package.
- Separate traps.
- Place Tomcat traps in areas where rats have been seen or suspected.
- Peanut butter, hazelnut spread, or chocolate can be used as bait.
- Check traps at least once a day, and dispose of any rats captured by disposing of trap and dead rats in the trash.
- Tomcat traps are effective in trapping multiple rats of all sizes.
- The traps use a high-quality, industrial strength adhesive that is safe for use around people and pets.
- The traps can be used indoors or outdoors and will work in any climate.
- They are easy to set and dispose of.
- Rats can become trap-smart and avoid them.
- They may not be effective in large or open areas.
- The rats may be able to free themselves from the traps.
4. Catchmaster Glue Traps
Catchmaster Rat Glue Boards provides effective pest control with no baiting or setting. The product is a great low-cost alternative to rat control products. The trap requires no setting – just set up and catch.
Ideal for: areas like kitchen or garage.
Benefits
- Catchmaster can be used to release rats safely from the trap with a bit of oil.
- With Catchmaster, you can save money on rat control and fight your rodent infestation at an economical price.
Professional Electronic Traps
If you’re looking for a humane way to catch rats, professional electronic traps are a great option. Electronic traps have a box system similar to nonlethal traps, but they also contain a live charge inside.
These traps work by emitting an electric shock that kills the rodent instantly. They’re easy to use and very effective. In fact, they’re often considered the best rat traps available.
5. Victor Electronic Rat Trap – Best Electrocution Clean and Humane Trap
The Victor Electronic Rat Trap is a humane way to catch rats without harming them. The trap kills the rat instantly with a high-voltage shock, and it requires four “C” batteries (not included). This trap can be used indoors, and it has a removable kill chamber, which makes it easy to bait and clean.
I recommend this product because of its ease of use, effectiveness in catching rats, and its environmentally friendly design.
The Victor Trap is easy to bait and set, and it cleanly kills the rat without leaving any mess behind. The trap can be used indoors only, making it a versatile option for those who have trouble with rats entering their home.
- Eradicate rats quickly and humanely.
- No mess left behind.
- Easy to bait and set.
- You can feel good about using a humane trap that doesn’t harm the rat.
How Does It Work
Victor M241 is an electronic rat trap that kills rats in moments, as humanely and quickly as possible. The trap works by emitting an electric shock, which kills a rodent with virtually no pain to the animal and absolutely no mess.
It’s activated when a rodent touches the stainless steel plates. This rat trap will kill up to 50 rats when the batteries are fully charged. The electric trap reduces rat escapes and offers a 90% rat kill rate.
It is recommended to bait this electronic rat trap with peanut butter. When the critter is in the trap, a green kill indicator gives a signal for up to 24 hours.
Perfect for: factories, homes, commercial kitchens, warehouses.
- The Victor Rat Trap works well to catch rats quickly without contact or injury.
- The trap is also environmentally friendly, as it doesn’t use any poisons that may harm people or pets who come into contact with the device.
- This option is safe for households where children play, as well as those who have pets.
- This product may not be as effective in areas where there are many rats or where they are particularly quick.
- Additionally, the trap requires batteries for power, which may need to be replaced on occasion.
- Lastly, the high-voltage shock may not be humane for all rats – some might suffer before dying.
6. Rat Zapper Electronic Rat Trap
I don’t know about you, but I hate rats. They’re just so darn dirty and disease-ridden. And they seem to have a knack for getting into places where they’re not wanted. So when I heard about the Rat Zapper Electronic Rat Trap, I was intrigued.
I’ve tried it out myself, and it works like a charm (pun intended). If you’re looking for an easy way to get rid of those pesky rats, I highly recommend the Rat Zapper.
Just be sure to keep it away from children and pets, as the shock is pretty powerful. Other than that, it’s a great little rat trap!
How Does It Work
The Rat Zapper Trap is an effective tool in your rodent control arsenal. The trap is ideal for trapping and killing larger rats. It’s more human than current snap traps.
This product is designed to kill rats with an 8,000-volt high-voltage shock and is capable of killing rats within minutes. It can purportedly kill up to 20 rats on a single set of 4 ‘AA’ batteries. And it only takes one rodent per setting to activate the trap.
Perfect for: garages, basements, attics and sheds.
How to Use
- Insert batteries.
- Bait trap – with peanut butter – along the back wall of the product.
- Place trap parallel to the wall.
- Flip the switch to on.
- Dump dead rat into the trash.
- Efficiently and humanely eliminate rats.
- No mess or blood left behind.
- Get rid of pesky creatures with ease.
- Size of trap: not very big and can’t kill a lot of rats at once.
- Potential to accidentally turn it on: should be handled with care around flammable items or others that might get shocked by accident.
- This product is not for outdoor use.
Live Traps for Humane Control
Unlike sticky or poisonous rat traps for bothersome rodents, live traps enable homeowners to capture rats efficiently and humanely from their property.
Live Traps usually come in different sizes and are not only great for catching canny rats but can also help you to remove smaller critters such as mice, voles, and squirrels.
I suggest the following most secure traps on the market: Havahart Humane Live Traps.
7. Havahart Live Animal Traps – Best Humane Traps
- Havahart One-Door Animal Trap (X-Small) – a human tool for removal of rats from your yard or home. The trap ensures safe and quick trapping. The product is simple-to-operate even if you are not a professional trapper.
- Havahart One-Door Animal Trap (Easy Set)
Trapping pesky rats have never been easier than with this excellent Set option. The trap is set in 1 simple step – easy and fast. The rodent can be released with the help of a lever while you stand away from the trap.
- Havahart Two-Door Animal Trap (Easy Set) – humane trap that can be set in one simple step. Two trap doors can be easily set. The trapper doesn’t have to put his hands near either trap opening.
- Havahart Two-Door Animal Trap (Small) – designed by experts for the most efficient rodent capture. The trap is strong, simple to use, and safe for you and a rat.
Top 2 Homemade Traps that Work
There are various products to catch pesky rats. However, you can make a homemade trap that will be as effective as the one you buy.
Let’s see what you can do:
8. Catchmaster Bulk Rodent Glue for Sticky Traps
Glue traps are popular because of their low profile. They may be placed flush against the cabinet or wall, where pesky rats like to travel. Making an effective sticky trap cuts down on your pest control costs and provides you with a safe alternative to chemicals and poisons.
A sticky trap is made with the help of a special adhesive which is applied to the cardboard, board, or plastic tray. And glue with a pleasant-to-rats flavor is used to the center of the trap.
No doubt, the best way to catch a canny animal with a sticky trap is by putting some bait – bacon or peanut butter – inside a circle of the trap. Rats will have to cross the tape to get the food and will be captured.
Catching rodents on such sticky tapes is very convenient. However, it’s not recommended to put sticky traps outside because of humidity, dust, or other natural conditions that can lead glue into an improper state.
9. Rolling Log – Bucket Rat Trap
The bucket trap is a great way to catch multiple rats in your home. The rolling log will help you catch creatures that are too quick for other traps. You can kill or release them, whichever you prefer. For making this, all you need is an old 5-gallon bucket, a rolling log, some bait, and water! Follow these instructions to get started:
- Drill 2 holes on opposite sides of the bucket.
- Pour about 4-6 inches of water in the bucket.
- Put bait on a rolling log and a little vegetable oil or spray on the ends and place in the slots.
I suggest using peanut butter or dried fruits as bait for this trap. When the rat runs out to get the bait, the rolling log will spin, and the job is done.
Where to Buy a Trap
These days you can order different traps online. Most homeowners prefer to buy traps from Amazon or Walmart that have a wide variety of effective pest control rat traps for successful rat removal. Fast delivery, low prices, and quality service are significant benefits of these retailers.
If you want to get the best rat trap, you need to visit the following:
No doubt, all the traps work in different ways. Your task is to pick up the one that will help you to fight annoying rats.
Some people prefer to choose rat exterminator companies when they have to deal with a rat infestation. However, not everyone can afford this option. Buying special traps is often the way out. You can decide to snap traps with an effective trigger system or purchase live and electric traps for a safe and humane method of pest control. It’s up to you what to prefer.
Contents
- 1 Our Recommended Top 9 Best Rat Traps Comparison Table
- 2 What are the Best Rat Traps in 2024? – Expert Buyer’s Guide
- 3 Top 4 Tips on How to Catch a Rat
- 4 Rat Traps that Work: Safe and Successful Trapping
- 5 Snap Traps
- 6 Glue Traps
- 7 Professional Electronic Traps
- 8 Live Traps for Humane Control
- 9 Top 2 Homemade Traps that Work
- 10 Where to Buy a Trap
