What can Rats Chew Through?

Need rat removal in your hometown? We service over 500 USA locations! Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020.

What can rats chew through? What can rats not chew through? These are probably the two most common questions that people with rat problems usually have to ask. Rats generally constitute a lot of nuisance in houses and farms, after gaining entrance through the house doors, garage door, open windows, broken pipes, small openings in any part of the house, and so on.



It baffles a lot of people to see the things that rats chew through sometimes. It is in actual fact very important to know the things rats can chew through, especially when you’re trying to combat a rat infestation because this factor will determine the materials that would be used to prevent or trap the small pests.

A lot of materials that are frequently employed in blocking rats can, unknown to many people, be chewed through by the sharp toothed rodents. They chew through such things as plastic, wood, water pipes, lead, wires, wool, leather, books, clothes, asbestos, concrete, metal and even brick! It should, however, be noted that the ability of rats to chew through metal and concrete depends on the thickness and types. For example, rats can only chew through soft metals, like aluminium, but they cannot chew through heavy metals. It can then be concluded that rats can chew through anything as long as the conditions are right for them!

Time is another factor that affects what rats are able to chew through. If a couple of rats were to descend on a piece of metal and gnaw at it for a very long time, they are likely to chew through it. Likewise, a greater number of rats combining efforts to gnaw at a solid material would increase their chances of chewing through. They would obviously require a much lesser time to chew through wooden structures. On the flip side, the longer the time it takes rats to chew on a particular spot, the greater the chances of a predator or human intruding on their activity.

The reason why rats are such determined chewers, is that they actually chew for survival. Like several other animals of the rodent family, they have characteristic strong incisors that grow all through their lives. The chewing habit is for them, a coping mechanism to file these incisors and keep them from growing out of hand – or mouth.

Go back to the Rat Removal page or read my guide for How to get rid of rats.

Do Rats Carry Rabies?
How Big Do Rats Get?
Do Rats Destroy Insulation In An Attic?
What can Rats Chew Through?
What Attracts Rats?
How To Get Rid Of Rats Outside?
Does Using Poison Cause Dead Rats In The House?
Do Rats Kill Mice?
Do Rats Jump? How High And How Far?
Humane Rat Traps

Select Your Animal

RaccoonsRaccoon Removal Information & How-To Tips

SquirrelsSquirrel Removal Information & How-To Tips

OpossumOpossum Removal Information & How-To Tips

SkunksSkunk Removal Information & How-To Tips

RatsRat Removal Information & How-To Tips

MiceMouse Removal Information & How-To Tips

MolesMole Removal Information & How-To Tips

GroundhogGroundhog Removal Information & How-To Tips

ArmadillosArmadillo Removal Information & How-To Tips

BeaverBeaver Removal Information & How-To Tips

FoxFox Removal Information & How-To Tips

CoyotesCoyote Removal Information & How-To Tips

BirdsBird Removal Information & How-To Tips

BatsBat Removal Information & How-To Tips

SnakesSnake Removal Information & How-To Tips

DeadDead Animal Removal Information & How-To Tips

OthersOther Wildlife Species Information & How-To Tips