Can Rats Come Up the Toilet? How to Keep Rodents Out of Your Pipes

It’s an absolute nightmare of a situation: You walk into the bathroom and find a rat swimming around inside your toilet bowl. Although it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself dealing with this problem, it still is possible. Rats can travel far in sewers and pipes in search of food and shelter, and sometimes this journey leads them to a toilet bowl. Discover why rats can come up the toilet and what you should do if you ever find yourself face-to-face with one in your bathroom.

Can Rats Come Up the Toilet?

The short answer is yes. Rats can wiggle through tight spaces, and when they’re determined, that can include your pipes and toilet.

Rats are amazing swimmers and are attracted to areas with food. They also have a keen sense of smell, so they can sniff out where they should go to find a meal, even from the sewer. They smell the yummy scraps that you dump down your sink and can eventually end up near your toilet pipes.

Once there, the U-bend of a toilet creates a tiny pocket of air, giving the rat a chance to catch its breath and make its way through that last foot or so of piping. Since they are such strong swimmers, toilet pipes are usually not a huge obstacle for them.

This may feel like a big city issue, but sewer rats live anywhere there are sewer pipes. City centers do tend to have bigger rat populations, though, making it more likely you would see a rat in your toilet in these areas.

What Should I Do If a Rat Comes Up Through My Toilet?

Brandon Bradshaw, owner of Eco Elite Pest Control in Kent, WA, says he gets one or two calls a year for rats in toilets.

If you see a rat coming up through the toilet, try to stay calm and move quickly. Bradshaw says to put something heavy on the toilet lid fast, encouraging the rat to go back toward the sewer pipes. From there, call a local pest or rodent control pro to help you, and in the meantime, try to keep the rat from escaping your bathroom.

How to Keep Rats Away

Once you tackle your own rodent problem, call the city or the company that handles your sewer system. According to Bradshaw, they should be able to bait the sewers in your area to control the rat populations. You can also have a plumber near you install a one-way flap to prevent a rat from coming up through your toilet again.

The good news is this is a very rare occurrence. You’d be much better off taking steps to prevent rats or mice from entering your home through other means.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

If simple deterrents and preventative measures don’t work to keep rats away, we don’t recommend attempting to exterminate the animals yourself. Since rats can carry diseases, according to the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's best to hire a professional rat exterminator to handle the job safely. If you see rats with any signs of illness, definitely call a pro.  

How Much Does Rat Removal Cost?

A professional rat exterminator costs between $176 and $580 but typically averages around $378. The price depends on various factors, such as the size of your home and whether or not you have a serious infestation. Costs also tend to be higher in cities than in urban areas.

If you are an animal lover, you can opt for live trapping the rat and releasing it back outside. This typically costs about $50 per rat, so it won't be too pricey if it's just one. It's vital to deal with the issue early before the infestation gets worse.