Parow is an older working suburb built around Voortrekker Road, with shops, flats, family homes and an industrial area all close together. Rats, cockroaches and stored product pests are steady work here.
Rats in Parow: Voortrekker Road, railway and Industria
Rats and mice are Parow's top pest problem. Norway rats nest in the stormwater channels and along the railway reserve, and they move into the shops and food outlets on Voortrekker Road and the homes behind them. Parow Industria's warehouses and the open land around the industrial zone need ongoing bait programmes to keep numbers down. In the residential streets, roof rats get into the older roofs of mid-century homes.
We bait outside in lockable stations, trap in roofs, and seal gaps in older roofs and floors. For businesses we set up regular monitoring with a written report after each visit.
Parow sits on flat to gently rising ground below the Tygerberg hills, with hot summers and wet winters. Stormwater channels and railway reserves run through the area. Open land near the industrial zones provides cover for rodents.
Which rat is in your Parow home?
Brown rat
Rattus norvegicus- Norway rat
- Sewer rat
- Family Muridae
- Body
- Heavy and thickset
- Nose
- Blunt and rounded
- Ears
- Small, furry, close to head
- Tail
- Shorter than its body
- Weight
- 250 to 500 g
- Droppings
- Up to 2 cm, blunt ends
- Burrow holes along walls, under paving and sheds
- Greasy rub marks low down along skirting and walls
- Gnawed bins, compost heaps and pet food bags
- Coming up through drains and broken sewer pipes
Black rat
Rattus rattus- Roof rat
- Ship rat
- Family Muridae
- Body
- Slim and agile
- Nose
- Pointed
- Ears
- Large, thin, almost bare
- Tail
- Longer than its body
- Weight
- 150 to 250 g
- Droppings
- About 1.2 cm, pointed
- Scratching and running in the ceiling at night
- Droppings in the roof space, cupboards and on beams
- Chewed cables, insulation and ceiling boards
- Running along fences, power lines and tree branches
ActiveBusierPeak, as rats move indoors in the cold, wet winter
From the technician
Rats are neophobic, which means they avoid new things. A trap that has not been touched for a few days is not a failure; it often works after they get used to it.
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
What happens when we come out
First we identify the rat and track its route, because a roof rat problem is solved at the roof line and a Norway rat problem at ground level and in the drains. In the roof and inside the house we prefer heavy-duty snap traps, so there is no smell from a rat dying in the ceiling. Outdoors we use lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations, positioned along runs and fixed so they cannot be moved, and we do a bait risk assessment where pets, children or owls are around. Then we proof: steel mesh over vents, sealing gaps around pipes and cables, and advice on trimming branches. Burrows are treated and collapsed after the colony is dealt with.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our rat control service works.
Prevention that actually works
- Do not leave building rubble or wood piles against the house for months.
- Keep compost in a closed bin and do not add meat or cooked food.
- Pick up fallen fruit, avocados and pet food every evening.
- Trim back trees and creepers at least a metre from the roof, because roof rats jump from them.
- Fit drain covers and check that old drain pipes are not broken underground.
How much will it cost?
Price depends on the size of the property, which rat species you have and how many entry points need proofing. A roof rat problem with lots of overhanging trees takes more proofing work than a single burrow in the garden. Follow-up visits are part of most rat jobs and are included in the free quote.
Rat calls peak in Cape Town's rainy winter months, when burrows flood and rats head for dry roof spaces. Roof rats are busy again in late summer and autumn when fruit trees are loaded.
Rat Control questions from Parow
Why are rats common around Voortrekker Road in Parow?
The shops, food outlets and stormwater channels give rats plenty of food and shelter. Keeping bins sealed and gaps closed reduces how often they move into nearby buildings.
Are rats dangerous to my children?
Rats can bite and spread disease through urine and droppings, so it is worth dealing with them quickly.
Do you run rat control programmes for businesses in Parow Industria?
Yes. We set up regular monitoring with lockable bait stations and a written report after each visit, which helps with health and safety audits.
How do I know if it is rats or mice?
Rat droppings are much larger, roughly raisin-sized, and rats are noisier. Send a photo of the droppings on WhatsApp and we will tell you.
Will poison make the rats smell in the ceiling?
It can, which is why we prefer traps in the roof and keep bait in outside stations.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes, our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
