5 Best Rat Repellents – Effective Protection Against Rodents

We've researched and ranked the best rat repellents, analyzed their pros and cons to help you make the right choice
By
Phyllis McMahon
Phyllis McMahon
Research Writer
Phyllis teaches English Literature at a local college and loves writing in her free time. She’s also a great cook – her British beef Wellington is something the best res read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Chas Kempf
Chas Kempf
Expert Consultant
Chas works in a professional pest control company and knows all the nuances of this job. Also, he’s a fantastic tennis player and loves to organize BBQ parties for his fam read more
Last updated: August 20, 2023
MenaceToPests is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here

Rats reproduce very quickly. Can you imagine that a single pair of rats can have over 600 offspring in one year! This makes them potentially hazardous pests to have around your home. Fortunately, rat repellents provide an effective solution for protecting against these nasty rodents.

We have researched a dozen of options and chose the [product_number] best rat repellents the market offers today. The Tomcat Rodent Repellent proved to be the most effective and became our Editor’s Choice. We’ve included different types of rat repellents, such as ultrasonic deterrents, sprays, and even scented packs. All of these products are quite safe for use around kids and pets. They are also easy to use, and all of them have proven to be effective. Let’s dive in!

Quick Summary

  • Editor’s Choice: Tomcat Rodent Repellent
    "The essential oils used in this spray, create a powerful, long-lasting barrier that will keep mice and rats away. Can be used both indoors and outdoors thanks to its rain-resistant properties"
  • "This repellent uses peppermint essential oils, which is safe for families with pets. Can be used indoors as well as outdoors. All you need to do is spray it around the areas that need protection"
  • "A nifty little device that will keep rats away from your car thanks to its dual-LED strobe lights and high-frequency sounds it emits"
  • "This spray uses plant-based formula, which is safe for use around kids and pets. A pleasant scent that won’t drive you crazy is also a plus"
  • "These scented packs use plant-based essential oils and can cover up to 120 sq. ft. Will protect you from rats for up to three months"

Top 5 Rat Repellents Review 2024

?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7775 people in the past 30 days
9.8
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.5
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.3
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.8
1
Editor’s Choice

Tomcat Rodent Repellent

Features
  • Type: spray
  • Usage: indoors and outdoors
  • Volume: 14 oz./24 oz./ 1 gal./ 2 lb.
  • Coverage area: where it is used

More features: 30 days effect, no stink,  essential oils formula, rain-resistant formula

We made Tomcat Rodent Repellent our Editor’s Pick since we found it to be the safest and most effective option. When using it you can be sure that your home or business is free of these pesky rodents. The spray effectively repels not only mice but also mice, gophers and some other unwanted guests. This is a proprietary mix of natural essential oils. Its special base forms an invisible barrier that is offensive to pests. What is more, the active ingredients used in the Tomcat spray are absolutely harmless to people, plants, birds and bigger animals. You can use it indoors as well as outdoors. It comes with a rain-resistant formula and lasts up to 30 days.

The Tomcat Rodent Repellent Ready-to-Use is often compared to the Tomcat Rodent Repellent Granule. But the predecessor is designed for outdoor use only and has a much smaller coverage area than the newer. If you want to rodent repellant with a wide coverage of up to 2,550 square feet, this is an ideal choice.

    What are our favorite features?
  • Quite versatile due to the for sizes and different forms
  • It is rain- resistant and lasts long
  • No unpleasant odor
  • The wand makes it quite convenient to use
  • Can be used safely around kids and pets
  • User-friendly application
    What could be better?
  • It may sometimes leave stains on some surfaces
Also Product Ranking:
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 9687 people in the past 30 days
9.7
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.4
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.5
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.3
9.7
Features
  • Type: spray
  • Usage: indoor/outdoor
  • Volume: 128 fl.oz.
  • Coverage area: where it is used

More features: eco-friendly, peppermint essential oil formula

Our second pick, the Natural Armor Mice & Rat Repellent is an eco-friendly and safe way to keep the harmful rodents away. It can easily be used around children and pets, both indoors and outdoors. All you need to do is spray it in the areas you need to protect and its scent will get the job done. This 128 fl. oz. bottle can provide enough coverage for regular-sized homes and businesses. This is a good solution for protecting your property and it saves you a lot of trouble dealing with rats and mice.

While the Tomcat Repellent, our Editor’s Choice, has been a favorite among pest control professionals, it suffered from one major drawback: stains. The Natural Armor Mice & Rat Repellent solves this problem by not leaving any behind where you spray and doubles as an air freshener! This makes its perfect for those who don’t want their floors or furniture stained while getting rid of rodents.

    What makes it special?
  • Pet-safe
  • Leaves no stains on surfaces
  • Works great not only for houses, but also for basements, garages and garden
    What cons did we find?
  • Could last a bit longer
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4923 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.0
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.9
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.1
9.3
Features
  • Type: ultrasonic
  • Usage: vehicles/indoors
  • Dimensions: 3.15 x 1.02 x 3.94 inches
  • Coverage area: not specified

More features: dual-LED strobe lights, 3 AA alkaline batteries last up to 45 days, 25,000 – 55,000 Hz ultrasonic frequency, energy saving

The Loraffe Under Hood Animal Repeller is the best pick for protecting your car. It’s a high-tech solution that scares pests away by emitting a sound that is inaudible to human ear and that won’t irritate bigger pets. Variable frequencies used by this ultrasonic device and the two LED strobe lights deter pesky animals very effectively. You can use the Loraffe repeller in any areas of your car whether it is the trunk, passenger compartment or driver compartment. You will absolutely have no trouble installing or using it. One more handy feature on the device is a low-power alarm which will let you know when the battery is running low.

While the Loraffe Plug-in has a longer running time than the Under Hood repeller with a 45-day battery, the latter stands out by being the best choice for cars. With its portable size and wireless design, you can easily keep pests away from your car. This isn’t possible with the plug-in model. The Loraffe Under Hood also comes with fluctuating ultrasonic sounds that keep pests away.

    Why is it special?
  • Ultrasonic waves combined with dual LED strobe lights provide an efficient pest protection
  • Long-lasting effect of up to 45 days
  • Saves energy
  • Wireless connection
  • Mounts very easily
  • Can be used in plenty of areas, not only in your car
    What are the flaws?
  • Doesn’t include batteries
  • It is not water-resistant
Also Product Ranking:
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 9708 people in the past 30 days
9.5
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.1
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.1
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.5
Features
  • Type: spray
  • Usage: indoors/vehicles
  • Volume: 20 oz.
  • Coverage area: where it is used

More features: plant-based formula, safe for kids and pets, pleasant scent

Another plant-based rodent repellent, which is pet- and kids-safe. It has a nice scent that will not irritate you. It also proved very effective for deterring different kinds of rodents wherever you sprayed it. It works great not only for your house but also your car or a garage. To use it, just spray it in the needed area and rest assured rats stay away for a long time. That’s as simple as that!

The Harris Rodent Repellent is another plant-based choice like the Grandpa Gus’s model, although it’s an ideal choice for those who don’t want to use the liquid. The Fresh Cab can last for up to 30 days, giving it more staying power than the Grandpa Gus’s. This also means you don’t get the sticky residue that is often found when you use Grandpa Gus’s.

    What makes it special?
  • Pet-safe
  • Safe for kids
  • Plant-based
  • Budget-friendly
  • No irritating smell
  • US-made product
    What cons did we find?
  • Volume is too small
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6605 people in the past 30 days
9.4
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.0
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.2
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.9
9.4
Features
  • Type: scent packs
  • Usage: indoors/vehicle
  • Volume: 60 cubic inch.
  • Coverage area: 120 sq.ft.

More features: plant-based essential oils, 90-day protection, eco-friendly

The ShengKou Rodent Repellent Packs also use plant-based formula with essential oils, which makes them absolutely safe for pets and children. Their effects is quite long-lasting, it guarantees three months of protection from rodent pests. They are quite versatile and can be used in your car or indoors. The manufacturer claims that a pack covers up to 120 sq. ft. area. These repellent packs are quite effective, you will not be disappointed!

Since the ShengKou Rodent Repellent Packs and the Harris Rodent Repellents both are plant-based products and use essential oils, they are both safe for use around pets and children. However, the ShengKou packs boats a longer lasting effect of up to 3 months, while the Harris repellent only lasts up to 1 month.  Also, being scented packs, the ShengKou repellent is eco-friendly in comparison with Harris repellent, which is a liquid and needs to be sprayed. Also, the scent of spray repellents tends to irritate people more often.

    What makes it stand out?
  • The effects lasts very long
  • Incredibly easy to use
  • Environmentally-friendly
  • Safe for use around pets and children
  • Plant-based formula
  • Versatile use
  • Cheap price
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • The smell seems to be strong for some people

Things to Consider

If you want to keep your home, garage or a car rat-free, rat repellents come in most handy. They come in plenty of forms and surely you will need some help to decide which works best particularly for you. You will have to choose between ultrasonic repellents, sprays, scent packs and a few more options. Their effectiveness will vary in different conditions, and you need to consider that. Some of them prove effective for larger areas, whereas other types will prove great for smaller areas. One more thing to consider is the safety of use, which is the key factor for families with children and pets.

Types of Rat Repellents

5 Best Rat Repellents – Effective Protection Against Rodents
Ultrasonic repellers are the safest option, while spray ones give a pleasant scent, and finally, repellent packs are convenient to use, you may place them wherever you need them.

There are a few types of ultrasonic repellers to consider. The most popular ones are ultrasonic repellents, sonic devices, sprays and scent packs.

Ultrasonic devices are considered to be the safest of all since they do not use any harmful chemicals. They work by emitting high-frequency sound waves that irritate rats but are inaudible to humans. The sonic devices that also work by emitting sound waves that are harmless for humans and pets. You can place them both indoors and outdoors.

Sprays typically come with plant-based formula and use natural essential oils or some other scented liquids that are effective in keeping rats away.

As for the scent packs, they contain various fragrances or pheromones that irritate rats and make them stay away from your property.

Effectiveness

It goes without saying that you must consider how effective the repellent is at keeping rats away from your property. Some repellents are quite powerful and can save the whole house from rat invasion, other products are not that powerful and work best for smaller areas.

How effective the rat repellent is depends on the type of it and its specific application.

On the whole, if you want to protect the whole house, we recommend using ultrasonic or sonic repellents. These devices work by creating a barrier that cannon be crossed by rats, thus you can be sure that these rodents won’t get in through small openings or cracks in the walls or floors.

Products that utilize scents and tastes will not prove as effective at keeping your house safe from rats, but they can protect some specific areas like cupboards, cabinets or drawers.

Coverage area

Coverage area is one more key factor you should pay attention to when picking the best product for repelling rats. As mentioned above, there are some repellents designed for use in small spaces and there are some that can protect your whole house or a vehicle.

To define the minimum coverage area, you need to decided which area needs protection the most and where you are going to apply the repellent.

For one room protection, you can go for a small volume repellent. For whole house or office protection, you should get for more powerful product with larger coverage area.

To improve the efficiency and coverage area, we also recommend using a trap. We’ve compiled the list of the best outdoor rat traps of you want to protect your garden or yard as well.

Safety

Safety of use is a crucial consideration for choosing a rat repellent. Some of them contain strong chemicals that are harmful to people and pets. So, if you are a family with kids and pets, go for a repellent that contains harmless ingredients. Luckily, nowadays manufacturers produce plenty of products that are pet- and kids-safe. So, you don’t have to risk their health in order to get rid of rats.

Price

The last factor to take into account when taking your pick is the price of the repellent. They are typically very affordable, so you don’t have to worry about them fitting your budget.

At the same time bear in mind thar pricier products do not guarantee high quality and effectiveness.

Why Use Rat Repellents

We can definitely say that there are plenty of reasons to use a rat repellent to protect your house, office or a specific area in a room.

First of all, remember that rats can carry dangerous diseases that can be transmitted to humans. So, you’d better stay away from them and do not let them invade your property. Also, these harmful rodents can damage the property. They can gnaw on your food, floors, walls, wires, etc. Rats can damage even concrete steel structures. So, consider deterring them in order to avoid serious damage.

Mice, as well as rats, can do quite a lot of harm. To get rid of mice and prevent them from entering your home, you’d better get one of the best mouse repellents or one of the best mouse poisons.

FAQ

Are rat repellents safe for kids and pets?

Most rat repellents produced these days tend to be safe for use around pets and children. But only if you use them as directed. So, read the instructions carefully before applying your rat repellent. Remember to keep these products away from children’s reach, since they can easily be ingested or inhaled.

Do rat repellents work?

Yes, they actually do work against those pesky rodents. Just make sure you buy one that will help solve the specific problem. You need to bear in mind that different kinds and amounts of repellent have different coverage and efficiency.

What is the best type of rat repellents?

To answer this question, we need to know your specific needs. Do you want to protect the entire house from the pests? Then we recommend to acquire an ultrasonic or a sonic device for repelling rats and other small pests. If you need to protect just a small area like your kitchen cabinet or pantry, then scented repellents are your best bet.

Secondly, you need to consider the area you need it to cover and how safe it is for use. Decide on where you are going to use it and how safe the repellent you choose is for use around pets and children.

Our verdict

Our top pick, the Tomcat Rodent Repellent, is very safe and effective against rats and other smaller pests. There will not be any unwanted visitors at your home whatsoever. This rat repellent’s formula is based on essential oils and drives the nasty rodents as far away as possible. What’s more, it doesn’t contain harmful chemicals, which makes it absolutely safe to use.

The second product we chose, the Natural Armor Mice & Rat Repellent uses a strong peppermint oil formula. You can apply it outdoors as well as inside your house. It comes in 128 fl.oz. package, so it will be enough for you to use in your house or an office it for a year.

Finally, comes our third choice, the Loraffe Under Hood Animal Repeller. This is a small electronic device that emits sound at the frequency of 25,000 to 55,000 Hz. This is quite enough to repel pests? But at the same time, it doesn’t harm humans or their pets. The dual-LED strobe lights provide extra deterrent effects.

References

1.
Controlling the Rat
The two best ways to remove rats are traps or poison. The use of either requires caution!
2.
Rats and mice - Canada.ca
Government of Canada information on pests: what they are, what they can do, and pest control tip
9,8
Total Score
Tomcat Rodent Repellent - Editor’s Choice
Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

X