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Selecting the Best Rat Trap: Snap, Live Catch & Electronic Rat Traps [UPDATED 2022] Buyer’s Guide

Rats are the worst! So in your war against rats, you’ve chosen traps instead of other methods such as poison baits. So let’s examine all the types, compare their effectiveness, select the best rat traps and clear up which one suits you best.

What is the best rat trap? It should be an electrical device that kills quickly and for sure. No blood. No squeaking. No mess. Enclosed traps are preferable for safety reasons. The captured rat has almost no chances to escape or drag the trap away. We advise you to use Rat Zapper Classic that kills rats in seconds with high-voltage shock.

Electronic Rodent Trap: photo

Why have we chosen it? This is a brand-name trap, produced by a well-established company founded in 2009. The device works automatically, with the indicator light blinking after each kill. Dead rodents will not be seen, nor will you have to touch them. The product is economical as one set of batteries is enough to kill 20 rats.

Most of the scientists agree that there are only two ways to eliminate rats that are truly effective: rat traps and poison baits. All poison baits work approximately equally. But different types of traps kill rodents differently, so let’s start with the types and their effectiveness.

3 Rat Traps

Effectiveness Scale: 1 being the least, 10 being the most effective.

1. Rat Zapper Trap
#1 best selling electronic trap for rats. Kills by 8,000-volt electric shock immediately. Effectiveness: 10

Rat Zapper Trap min: photo

Check the current price

2. Live Animal Cage Trap
Humane trapping without killing: rats can be released far from the house. Effectiveness: 5

Live Animal Cage Trap min: photo

Check the current price

3. Tomcat Rat Glue Trap (2-pack)
Cheap and non-toxic, but the death is lingering and rats may squeak loudly or free themselves. Effectiveness: 3

Tomcat Rat Glue Trap (2-pack) min: photo

Check the current price

Best rat traps you’ll find below in TOP-7 electronic rat traps.

Choosing the Best Rat Trap: Comparing the Effectiveness

There are many rat traps that are available on the market today: From the old-school snap to contemporary electronic rat traps. Let’s start from primitive and the cheapest — snap trap, and finish with the most effective ones — electronic traps. TOP-7 The Best Electronic Rat Traps you’ll find below.

How Do Rat Traps Work?

Snap Rat Trap: Everybody knows well these simple type of traps because our parents and granddads were forced to use them as there were no other traps on the market. The principle is simple: Change in pressure causes the bait and let it spring metal rod to snap a rat. In most cases, it only catches not kill a rodent. Snap traps might be wooden, plastic or metal. Be sure to keep your hands safe and from any sharp parts or spring-loaded trap mechanisms to save yourself from any injuries! Our verdict: Cheap but messy.

Interesting story: Our friend has told us about his trying to catch rats with the help of an ordinary trap. Once he saw how two rats were stealing the bait from the trap. One rat raised the trap’s cross-bar with the help of its teeth and returned it back after its rat-friend pulled out the bait. Rats are so cunning and adaptable that it is very hard to get rid of them. By their ability to survive they can be compared only with cockroaches.

That is why electronic traps which kill rats by electric shock immediately have become the best solution for many people. These units have a number of pros: safety, invisibility, and – which is more important – no carcasses, no smell.

Classic Rat Zapper: photo

Electronic Rat Traps: Bless the people who’ve invented such units! No blood. No squeaking. No mess! High voltage shock kills rats in seconds. The rat gets inside, completing the electric circuit with its body. There is no chance to escape. The electricity is running through its body for at least two minutes. There is no “resurrection” after impact. Easy to empty and clean. You haven’t to touch the corpses, just throw them into a trash can and clean up the tray using vinegar or dish detergent if it’s needed.

Live Catch Rat Trap: This is a trap that captures rats and keeps them trapped until you release them. It is a humane way because you don’t kill animals. You can free them into the wild, preferably from 200 to 300 feet from your home. If you really don’t want to kill rats and prefer to keep them away after the capture as soon as possible, the live rat trap is the right choice for you. Also, it’s a good solution if you have little kids in your house – you can teach them to deal carefully with any animals, even such harmful pests such rats and mice. 

Glue Rat Traps: Such traps (strips, boards or trays with natural or synthetic glue) are worse than Live Catch Rat Trap. Yes, they are cheap, but you’ll hear how the rodents are dying and squeaking.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Different Types of Rat Traps: The Comparison Chart

Type of trap Advantages / Disadvantages
Electronic Trap

Electronic Rat Trap min: photo

Zapper Ultra Rodent Trap min: photo

High voltage shock kills rats in seconds. No blood. No squeaking. No mess.
Some electronic traps are not waterproof. But there are models like Rodent Terminator which are waterproof, so you can use them outdoors.FIND THE BEST PRICE
Snap Trap

Snap E Mouse Trap min: photo

Cheap. Only catches not kills. Too small for fat rats. A rat can steal the bait from the trap and run away.
Live Catch Trap

Live Catch Rat Trap min: photo

Humane. Cheap. You have to take out and release a rat. The rat can steal the bait from the trap and run away.
Glue Trap

Tomcat Rat Traps min: photo

Cheap. You are urged to look and hear how they are dying. It may take some hours or even days before they die from dehydration and pain. А rat can free itself in an hour or two.

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TOP-7 Electronic Rat Traps

1. Rat Zapper RZC001-4 Classic Rat Trap | Best electronic rodent trap

It’s a #1 Bestseller Electronic Rodent Trap. Rat Zapper Classic trap is one of the most effective and the fastest electronic traps on the market. This opinion based on the customer reviews that are full of good words about it. Many people say that it catches more than 100 mice per battery change. And the result (first caught a mouse) is seen the next morning.

Of course, reviews differ because rats infestations differ too, but this unit has been tested by customers for many years and it has the trust of both of them.

Electronic Rodent Trap: photo

{youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3BGa8BbncM;t=0s}

Also, customers give some helpful tips for using:

  1. It’s not recommended to use this electronic trap outdoors without any waterproof accessory.
  2. If you put sunflower seeds in the trap, it will work well for chipmunks, and bird seed – for mice and rats. Someone uses bananas and avocado as bait for this trap – and it works oddly enough.
  3. You may use rechargeable batteries in this trap such as Eneloop NiMH batteries.
  4. This trap will work better if the rodent has wet feet: you have to place a wet sponge in front of the door – and check it.

Rat Zapper RZC001-4:  Check the current price

2. Rat Zapper RZU001-4 Ultra Rodent Trap | Best powerful (60 kills)

Rat Zapper Ultra Rodent Trap: photo

While the Classic Rat Zapper is designed for average-size rats, Ultra is capable of catching much larger rodents. Moreover, it is more powerful and can electrocute three times as many rats (60 kills) per set of batteries. The trap operates on 4 alkaline “D” batteries and comes with a larger chamber. A flashing light will let you know when there is a rodent inside the unit.

Rat Zapper RZU001-4:  Check the current price

3. Victor Electronic Rat Trap M241

Victor Electronic Rat Trap M240: photo

When this trap catches a rodent, you’ll see the green indicator light that flashes for up to 24 hours to signal that a rodent is in the trap. Victor Rat Trap M241 is highly economical: the manufacturer promises that it can kill about 50 animals per one set of batteries (by the way, batteries are not included). It kills rats, mice, squirrels, and other rodents. As to the customers’ experience first killed rat may appear during the first day or just within an hour of placing the trap in the infested area.

The manufacturer recommends to use peanut butter as bait for this trap – users of this trap agree with this tip, but also give their ones to use:

  • kitten kibble
  • bird-feeder suet
  • a combo of cheese + walnut pieces + kitten kibble + bacon bits

Different people have their own experience, but they note that these baits work on rodents effectively enough. The pros of this rat trap are that you don’t need to purchase poison baits and put them into because no one rat leaves this unit alive. By the way, the price of the Victor M240 is equal to the average price of a good poison bait bucket and works effectively – verified by a lot of customers.

Victor M241:  Check the current price

4. Victor M250S No Touch, No See Upgraded Indoor Electronic Mouse Trap

Victor M250S No Touch: photo

This electronic trap is small and created only for mice. Operates as a previous trap and its red LED light only flashes about every 7 seconds. So you have to look at the trap for 7 seconds to understand if the mouse or another rodent inside or not. After the 24-hour of rat’s capture, this light stops flashing – check the mouse trap more often!

First, don’t over bait thе trap because a big dose of peanut butter or other stuff can lead to the trap’ zapping the bait and de-activates then. Also, users think it’s better to use sunflower seed butter or dog food than peanut butter. Rodents’ tastes differ from humans.

You have to know that despite the fact that batteries last a very long time you need to replace them if you don’t find newly killed rodents for a long time. This can happen if your “uninvited visitors” are too big for the trap’ tunnel hole. The Victor company tells that this trap kills 100 mice per each per set of 4 AA batteries, but as to customers’ reviews, it turns out that this number is a little less – about 35 killed mice in fall and winter. It’s a big or a small capture?

Victor M250S: Check the current price

5. Hoont Electronic Rodent Trap | Clean and Humane Extermination of Mice, Rats, and Squirrels

Electronic Rodent Trap: photo

This Hoont rat trap is totally different from other traps mentioned in this review, as it can work in 2 modes: it can be powered either by an outlet or by 4D batteries. Thus, when using the trap in the house, you can save money. Moreover, it is considered to be one of the best-selling Electronic Rodent Traps, and this fact encouraged us to give you more details about it.

Hoont™ Electronic Rodent Trap is supplied in two pieces which are supposed to be assembled. The idea of its functioning is the same as for any other trap: the rodents are electrocuted once they touch metal plates covering the entire floor of the trap. The trap also has an indicator which gives either a red flash (this happens when a rodent is inside, don’t touch anything if you don’t want to get electrocuted!) or a green one (when the rodent is finally dead). There is also a sound signal available.

The Hoont trap even has ventilation. All in all, the design is thought thBestrough down to the tiniest detail. Does it kill rats and mice, though? We’ll turn to the customer feedback for the answer.

{youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7mViyElROI;t=0s}

According to the feedback, sometimes it happens very fast: within a day or an hour. Many also like the fact that “it’s easy-peasy” to take care of the trap: all you have to do is shake out a rat’s dead body, disassemble the trap in two parts, wipe it and re-use it!

Some of the customers are nevertheless unhappy. They claim that a rat gets electrocuted, but the charge is not lethal. It looks as if a sudden flash of light throws a rat several feet away from the trap! Other customers complain that the Hoont Trap has become a trough as there are less bait and no dead bodies. Whose opinion is more trustworthy? It’s up to you to decide. We recommend you to wear protective gloves regardless of the type of an electronic rat trap in order not to scare the rats off with your smell.

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Hoont:  Check the current price

6. Rodent Terminator – Electric Mouse and Rat Trap Kills | Waterproof Outdoor Electric Rat Trap

Rodent Terminator - Electric Mouse and Rat Trap: photoDo you need a waterproof electronic rat trap? Pay attention to the Rodent Terminator Trap. The manufacturer promises it works even in the rain. It takes 2 minutes to set up and then it’s ready to kill rats. By the way, you will never miss the moment of capture because trap can give sound and visual signals.

When it is triggered, it makes a sound for about 30 seconds similar to a smartphone in vibrate mode. If the plates of Rodent Terminator Trap get too dirty, it’ll give you a fault indication (red LED light). Some users think that getting an indication of a kill is big trouble because they don’t hear the sound indicator and need to have the ability to check blinking lights as a usual.

{youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ5r45ckVak;t=0s}

We recommend you that you use some different bait combos if it seems that the baits don’t work. For example, cracker with peanut butter, cat treats, peanuts, sunflower seeds or dog biscuits — choose the right one for your rats’ tastes. But don’t use a salted product (nuts & seeds), which makes total sense as it has to detect the presence of the rodent and a wet salted path can fool it. The salt also corrodes the metal plates.

The terminator is not cheap, but as customers think, is it worth it (in most cases). But you’d better not to wait for a quick win over rodents and be extremely patient. Rats are smart animals and they don’t like new things. Do you know that they may offer food (include poison baits) to younger rats at first to decide is it worth to eat it? So, it may take about a few days for the first rats’ killings.

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RodenTerminator:  Check the current price

7. Raticator The S-Plus Bluetooth Electronic Rat and Mouse Trap | Advanced Modern Technology notifies you on your smartphone when the trap is successful

Raticator S-Plus Rodent Zapper: photoLet’s start with the principle of operation. Raticator S-Plus e-trap uses infrared detection so it will activate only when a rodent is inside the trap. No peanut or other bait blocking again! Also, Raticator Max Trap is heavy enough with the batteries installed so the trap will not be moved by rats.

According to customers’ reviews, Raticator knows how to kill gophers too. But what about rats’ capture? Some customers are happy:  “Got this tonight and 2 hours later… BAM! Dumped him out, refilled with dry dog food, and 30 minutes later… Repeated the process and in less than an hour…  A huge rat. Repeated the process. It’s now 12:30 AM and I’m waiting for another kill!”. Make your conclusions about its efficiency yourself.

Many customers noted that there are some extra useful devices for of Raticator Max Zapper in hard-to-reach places such as attic, area under the house, in the RV, pool house, shed, etc. One is  “Rat Tale monitor”. It is available in a plastic mouse form with two blinking red lights instead of eyes that notify you when to empty your Raticator trap. It’s easy-to-use for customers who don’t want to check the trap every few hours.

This trap isn’t waterproof so you have to purchase an extra water resistant cover to use the trap outdoors. You also can take a useful tip from one clever man: “I cut the top off the cardboard box the zapper was shipped in, cut a viewing hole in the top over the location of the light on the zapper, and used plastic wrap to complete the ‘window”. 

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Raticator S-Plus:  Check the current price

Expert Opinion: Dr. Danielle Lee, Assistant Professor, University of Missouri

Dr. Danielle Lee: photoDr. Danielle Lee, Assistant Professor, University of Missouri

Dr. Danielle Lee is an Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri. Her research interests include the impact of ecology and evolutionary components on animal behavior, including examining the African giant pouched rats and behavioral differences of small rodents. Dr. Lee has received numerous awards and also works on The Urban Scientist blog devoted to urban ecology.

“Rat control is so important that here in the United States alone we spend over 300 million dollars on professional rodent eradication services. As private citizens, we spend over 25 million dollars on rodent control devices, such as traps, baits. This is a big business because they have always vexed us. In 2003, not far from here in Chicago, there was a monkeypox outbreak and culprit is the African giant pouched rat. And since then it has become illegal and you cannot bring pouched rats in the United States, except for very special circumstances… One of the reasons why rodents have been so successful around the world making a living, no matter how many millions of dollars we spend to kill them is because they are really very good at eating most anything. From an evolutionary point of view, rodents are always kind of making trade-offs and taking a risk: should I eat something new and it might be poison or should I keep finding the things to eat”.

Electronic Rat Traps Comparison Chart




1
Tomcat Rat Snap Trap, 1 Rat Size Trap – Reusable – Effectively Kill Rats – Ideal for Home and Farm Use


  • Reusable trap effectively kills rats and is easy to set by hand or foot
  • Interlocking teeth make escape virtually impossible
  • High impact plastic and rust resistant metals allow the rat trap to be re-used again and again
  • Removable bait cup lets you bait the trap without setting
  • Place snap trap perpendicular to a wall or other structure where rats are known to travel








2
Pest Control Rat Traps & Mouse Traps for Instant Kill Results, Set of 6 Large Reusable Snap Traps for Mice Chipmunks ‘N Squirrels, Humane Mouse traps for The House


  • Safe And Sanitary Pest Control – Free your home from unwanted pests and keep your household safe and sanitary with the best rat trap in the market. Boasting a smart, integrated bait cap feature that allows you to place your chosen rat attractant or bait to lure the mice in, as well as an extra sturdy, polystyrene construction that promises to last for years to come without losing its efficiency, you can finally get the rodent eradication results you have been asking for.
  • Set It And Forget It – Say goodbye to ineffective, pest control methods that leave dead, decomposing mice in your home structure. Place these mice killer traps alone or in pairs near baseboards, corners or in spaces, where rodents might hide and forget about them. Once the rodent triggers the trap, the high precision, stainless steel spring will hold it in place with 35% more force than other rat traps in the market, without breaking the skin, ensuring a mess free kill, every time.
  • Successfully Capture Rats – No Escape – Forget about false triggers, stolen bait and escaping mice. Kat Sense rat traps feature a powerful, highly responsive snap mechanism with a sensitive pedal and specially designed teeth to seize mice and rats every time. The improved, humane design ensures that rodents are killed fast and with as little pain as possible.
  • Easy To Use Multiple Times – Unlike traditional, wood traps that are difficult to set and tend to leave foul odors and blood stains, these rat traps are made of washable material for easy cleaning and removal of offensive odors from previous catches that can potentially alert mice to avoid the trap, making them a hygienic option for efficient rat removal again and again. The trap can be easily pressed to open over a garbage bin for quick and hands-free disposal.
  • Get It Risk-Free – Being so sure about the top quality and excellent performance of our rat traps, we are able to offer you a hassle-free return – complete satisfaction. In the unlikely event that these effective mice traps don’t meet or exceed your expectations, you can return them for a full refund of your purchase, in no time. Can you really afford to miss this offer?








3
OWLTRA OW-1 Electric Rat Trap, Instant Kill Rodent Zapper with Pet Safe Trigger, Black


  • The Humane Solution – Owltra is the humane solution for getting rid of large populations of rodents, as one set of 4 C batteries is enough to exterminate 60 rats. Featuring improved dual infrared sensors to protect kids and pets, Owltra ensures no false zaps. The no-escape design keeps the rodent in place while generating 6,000-9,000 of high-voltage shock for quick elimination.
  • No-Mess Disposal – With magnetic latches, you’ll never have to touch or see the rodent. Simply pull off the trap’s lid and empty the rodent in the trash. Owltra deactivates automatically when the the top is removed, allowing for safe and secure cleaning.
  • Pet-safe Dual Infrared Sensor – The chamber is designed with two infrared sensors, one at the entrance and one at the back. Owltra only activates when it detects a rodent inside the trap—preventing false zaps while protecting children and small pets.
  • Quick-Zap System – Our unique zap system guarantees 100% elimination without causing the rodent to suffer. It’s also a safer alternative to using poison and chemicals and can be placed anywhere inside your home or business.
  • Convenient Bait Area – Lure rodents in by placing a pea-sized amount of bait at the back of the trap. Simply lift open the bait door and use a toothpick or cotton swab to apply bait on the trap’s floor, opposite of the entrance. Baits high in protein, such as peanut butter, are recommended.
  • Power source type: Battery Powered








4
Goodnature A24 Rat Home Trapping Kit Without Counter Featuring A24 Rat & Mouse Trap Kit, Portable Trap, Stand, Automatic Lure Pump, CO2 Canister, and More


  • Please Read! Trapping rats can be difficult and no method is guaranteed to work immediately. It can take days or even weeks to find the right place for your trap. If you do not follow the instructions to set up your trapping area properly, you might not have success. Trapping rats is a lot like fishing — the world’s best fishing equipment doesn’t guarantee success.
  • The Home Trapping Kit contains a Goodnature A24 rat & mouse trap, A24 Trap Stand, Goodnature Automatic Lure Pump, 6 Lure Tasters, a Goodnature CO2 canister, and a Quick Start Guide.
  • Toxin-Free, Certified Humane, and Automatic: The A24 dispatches rodents without the use of nasty toxins, needless suffering or having to continuously check your traps, giving you constant control.
  • No-Hassle Returns Policy: We’re here to help you with any troubleshooting. If you’re still unhappy and want to return your trap, we have a hassle-free return policy.








5
RinneTraps – Flip N Slide Bucket Lid Mouse/Rat Trap |Humane or Lethal| |Trap Door Style| |Multi Catch |Auto Reset| |Indoor Outdoor| |No See Kill| |5 Gallon Bucket Compatible| Manufacturer| MADE IN USA


  • 🦅MADE IN USA- We are a very small family-owned manufacturing company which started out in our home garage. We now own a large warehouse where we manufacture and hand package our products. Support American Business
  • 🐶PET/CHILDREN FRIENDLY – Stop purchasing traditional Mouse/Rat traps which can harm your family pet or even worse… your children. Our Mouse/Rat trap is 100% safe and nontoxic.
  • 🔧MANUFACTURER – We are currently the only Manufacturer/Seller of the Flip N Slide on the market. Please be careful of other fraudulent listings pretending to sell our trap.
  • 🐀🐭Mice/Young Rats – Our trap has the unique capability to catch both mice and small to medium sized rats
  • ▶️📺As Seen on YouTube: Watch this trap in action CATCH OVER 40 MICE on popular YouTube channel “Shawn Woods Flip N Slide” (1 MILLION VIEWS)








6
2-Pack Mouse Traps, Small Animal Humane Live Rat Cage Traps for Indoor Use to Catch and Release Mice, Rats, Mouse and Small Rodents


  • 【Medium Sized Dimensions】- L: 10.6’ x W: 5.5’ x H: 4.5’. Great choice for catching rats, mouse and mice. PLEASE NOTE: It is not suitable for large rodents.
  • 【Extra Thick Wiring】 – The traps are made of thick and durable wire mesh to prevent animals from chewing or clawing, which is also reducing the risk of human-rodent contact.
  • 【Easy to Bait and Set】 – Simply raise the door and place baits on Pedal and attach the lever to the trigger bar to set.
  • 【High Sensitive 】- Once the mouse is going to this trap, the trigger is touched, the door will be auto-locked immediately and keep the critters in it.
  • 【Reliable & Reusable】- After an animal or rodent is caught, you can release them at any time, and the trap can be re-baited and used over and over again.








7
Large Powerful Rat Traps (4 Pack) – Kills Instantly with Powerful Steel Spring – Setup in Seconds – Wash & Reuse Over & Over – Hands Free Disposal – Rat Control Without Harmful Poisons or Chemicals


  • Largest Traps on the Market – eXuby’s rat traps are measured at 3.75” by 3” inches – 36% larger than standard mouse traps – With powerful springs and large open mouths they are designed to catch and kill rats instantly
  • Easily Set & Forget – Simply place bait cup in bottom of rat trap, place traps in suspect locations and press to set – With our lot of 4 traps you’re in full control of affected areas
  • Instant Kill – You don’t have to worry about stolen bait, false triggers and runaway pests – The powerful steel spring is highly responsive snapping down with lethal force quickly and humanely every time
  • Reusable and Hands-Free Disposal – This rat trap is washable and 100% reusable so you can eliminate any future pests – When disposing simply lift trap over trash and press to let it go without ever having to touch it
  • No Harmful Chemicals and Poisons are used with these rat traps – Safely place them around the house without the worry of cross-contamination or foul odors








8
Kensizer Small Animal Humane Live Cage Rat Mouse Chipmunk Rodent Voles Hamsters Trap That Work for Indoor and Outdoor, Trampa para Ratones, Catch and Release


  • Humane Live Animal Trap – After catching them, you can release them at any time. Product Size: 10.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches.
  • Light weight Aluminum Structure – Sturdy and Durable, the finest wire mesh won’t be bitten open by those small animals’ teeth. It’s not fit for big squirrel or opossum, since they can bite the trap broken and escape.
  • High sensitive trigger mechanism – Once the trigger is touched, the door will be auto-locked immediately and keep the critters in it.
  • Exclusive Patented Design – Innovative, efficient and easy to use, it’s widely recognized by the users.
  • Premium Customer Service – If it’s damaged in a half year, please show us the pictures and we will send you a replacement.








9
Victor rat Traps M326 (Pack of 4)


  • Expanded trigger for the highest catch rates
  • Easy to use thanks to its EASY-SET design
  • For clean and quick trapping
  • Can be used around kids and pets
  • Made in the U.S.A








10
Victor M144 Power Kill Rat Trap – 1 Pack


  • Powerful High Impact Kill Bar ensures a quick, humane kill
  • Simple to use set and release with just one click
  • Large bait trough for easy bait placement
  • Oversized trip pedal is easily activated for higher catch rates
  • Mounting holes allow for attachment to pipes, beams and other hard to access places where rats thrive





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Rat Trap’s Efficiency Outdoors

When you try to get rid of rats in the open air, such as the yard or any other place outside the home, you should choose a special waterproof rat trap. The selected rat trap should only kill rats but does not harm any other wildlife. Remember that rats carry many diseases, such as rabies, and it is important that you eliminate them before they hurt you or your family.

So you’d better pay attention to simple snap traps or electronic rat traps for outdoors using which we discussed above – or use electronic outdoor rodent repellers such as Yard Sentinel if you don’t want to deal with dead rat smell and corpses.

What Is the Difference Between Mouse and Rat Traps?

Rats are heavier, stronger and smarter than mice, so snap and glue traps won’t do for them. They can cooperate to steal the bait from a mechanical trap. Sticky traps can catch a young rat; mature individuals will be able to escape from it within an hour or two. That is why electronic traps are the best solution against rats.

At the same time, if mice have invaded a small flat, buying an expensive electronic trap, which undoubtedly has many advantages (described below), but is aimed at long-term use with multiple recharges, is pointless and is unprofitable if you only need to catch two or three rodents.

5 TIPS: How to choose the best rat bait for your trap

  1. Rats are neophobic – they are incredulous to new objects. So to dupe them – leave the trap unplugged for a few days. Let them get acquainted and feed here. And only in 2-3 days activate a killing rat trap –  they will come to have lunch as usual… but it will be their last repast.
  2. Did you know that contrary to popular belief, rats prefer fresh, high-quality foods and will reject spoiled or inferior food items when given a choice? Desley Whisson, Extension Vertebrate Pest Specialist, University of California claims: Rodent baits should be made from high-quality food materials, and baits which have become rancid or insect-infested should be discarded.
  3. To find out your rats bait preference, he advises putting 3 or 4 different nontoxic baits (peanut butter, seeds, cheese, walnut pieces, kitten kibble, bacon bits, etc.) in places you have seen rodents. That way in a few days you’ll find out which food rats prefer. As rats are suspicious of new objects and novel foods – be patient the adaptation may take three or four days.
  4. One guy from says that he uses Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum for a rat bait and “his rodents” like this stuff – can you imagine this about rats’ tastes?
  5. According to the University of Florida traps are effective usually when dealing with small numbers of rats or mice. When rats are plentiful or where unsanitary conditions exist with harborage, poisoned baits is an effective tool to use together with trapping. Read Best rat and mouse poison baits Review.

How to prevent rats?

There are a few important tips that you should use to make your home a less attractive place for rats. Some of the home remedies to get rid of rats are:

1. Place the garbage basket away from your home and keep it sealed.

2. Keep all edible things in closed containers and place them in the appropriate cupboards.

3. Keep monitoring the entry points of all the rats and seal them to block the entry of rats in the home.

4. Keep rats away from your house, garage or office with the help of electronic ultrasonic repellents. Choose the big set of proven units such as Ultrasonic Pest Repellers by Pest Venator. These devices can prevent a rat infestation and keep your rooms rodent-free.

Rat Repeller by Pest Venator: photo

But if it didn’t help you, you can contact professionals and ask them to provide services to get rid of rats in your house. You must explain your problem and ask them to professionals quote a price for the service you need to decide if you want to use any poisons to kill the rats, or just want to get rid of them manually. You can take suggestions from 2-3 experts and depend on their quotes you can decide who to entrust such a thing.

Electronic rodent repellers: Check the current price

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34 thoughts on “Selecting the Best Rat Trap: Snap, Live Catch & Electronic Rat Traps [UPDATED 2022] Buyer’s Guide”

  1. Please, tell me what to do. My Rat Zapper Classic Trap doesn’t work, it is constantly buzzing and blinking. Has it broken down completely or is there anything I can do?

    1. Uh-huh, been there, done that. It looks like the problem is the dirt inside the trap. If it is buzzing, then something leads to a short circuit between the metal electrode plates in the rear of the device. In most cases, you’ll find traces of food bait, the rodent’s fur or organic liquids there. Take out the batteries, dry the inside of the trap with a wet cloth or a paper towel, let it dry and try to turn on the device again (remember to wear rubber gloves). Make sure you monitor the cleanliness of your “rat killer” further on.

  2. I don’t use any sticky rat traps or poisons. I decided to eliminate them with electronic traps; I don’t want them to suffer from a slow and painful death.

  3. I have experience in using electronic traps. I bought two types of them, tested them and came to the conclusion that Victor is the best rat trap.

  4. I think the most effective electric rat trap for a country house in particular is Hoont Robust. I used it in my country houses and it worked trouble-free, and you only need to dispose of the dead bodies, so try it.

  5. Yeah, I agree with the previous opinion, an electronic rat trap is the best rat control product ever! Hopefully, they’ll never come back after such a defeat.

    1. Water is the main threat of such devices. Only Rodent Terminator Trap of all other traps described is claimed to be water-resistant, although you never know for sure. Any moisture inside the gadget will lead to problems, so either you shouldn’t use it outdoors at all or you should cover it securely (with a case or place it inside a waterproof container). The same applies to changes in temperature: in extreme heat or cold, the tap should theoretically work, but the battery will discharge very quickly. So you can go for it, if you are ready for spending additional money on batteries.

  6. I don’t know how to trap a rat in my private house. I read this review and now I am thinking of buying one of the traps… Can anyone share their experience in using them?

    1. No, not all of them do. Rat Zapper & Victor Mouse trap are powered by 4 AA batteries and Victor Rat Trap requires 4C batteries. You’ll need 4D batteries for any other traps, though.

  7. My house or more precisely, my attic is infested not only with the nasty rats, but also with the squirrels. Can some of these traps be used for killing squirrels?

    1. Unfortunately (or fortunately for you), yes, they can. You have to choose for that purpose a trap with a large entrance, such as Victor Rat Trap. After the installation you follow the standard scheme: you place the bait (fruit, nuts or seeds) inside and you wait for the electric discharge to do the trick.

  8. I can’t imagine any one thinking that The killing of rats not being humane (from this article) I understand if your meaning squirrels and such but not RATS!!
    they are the worst pest the nastiest -germs spreading- eat through your electrical wiring
    eat up your clothes and rats are mean, this is one varmint I wonder why God ever created
    I wish they were all gone.

    1. I don’t know about them being mean, but the real problem is that they are very smart, which is a problem when trying to get rid of them. Like you, I would be happy if I never saw another one, but I prefer humane means to kill them if possible. Years ago I was out in the barn and heard a tiny, high pitched scream. I went to where I had snap traps set and there was a baby rat that had its back broken by the trap; it was screaming in agony. I had to kill it with a hammer. I never want to repeat that!

  9. I have had several of the Victor Traps, the Classic and the Ultra, and when they work, they are awesome. The batteries do not last as long as advertised, and unfortunately you are always going to have false triggers, as bugs, dust, and moisture can make the plates arc. The other thing is they do stop working, no matter how well you try to maintain them, but Victor will replace them if you call them. They do have an excellent customer service department. Make sure to keep your proof of purchase in a safe place. If you buy online, just keep a record of the invoice or shipping info. If you live in a rural area, you can throw the dead rats out in an area where birds can see them and they will take care of the remains for you. (Rat-cycling!) Speaking of recycling, when the batteries no longer power the trap, they are still good for other things, like flashlights.

    1. Most likely it can’t as its entrance is not large enough so probably a kitten won’t fit inside. The same is true for the bait. Use sunflower seeds which attract mice effectively. A kitten will hardly eat them. It can attempt to get there out of curiously, but no one is immune from that. I haven’t heard anything about pets being electrocuted by electric traps, so I don’t think there is anything to worry about.

  10. Can I use victor electronic mouse trap together with another similar trap by another manufacturer? Will it scare off mice?

    1. No, it won’t repel traps, so you can easily combine two or even three types of electronic mouse traps. You can even put different kinds of bait there.

  11. Hey, I also use victor electronic rat trap. Why? Well, first of all, it is cheaper than hoont and others, which to my mind is the greatest advantage of this trap. Second, it’s effective (which is also another huge plus as with its help we’ve already trapped four rats). In general we are satisfied with this trap. Don’t hesitate to buy it.

    1. You can use victor brand traps, their performance is satisfying enough and they prove good value for money, as mentioned above. You can also test a rodent terminator trap which costs about $40 (not much cheaper than victor trap); its effectiveness is nearly the same. As for the expensive one, you can invest into Raticator Max. This trap uses infrared detection, i.e. it is only activated once the rodent is inside. You can also use live rat traps which are suitable for those who are not in favor of lethal methods.

    1. As far as I remember, an infrared sensor is not supposed to be there. If you are looking for this option, check out raticator max trap which has this sensor installed. Actually I think all of the large rat traps, electronic ones in particular, must be equipped with this option

    1. It is better not to leave a trap outdoors, if the moisture gets into the device – it will become defective.

  12. WildRatsAreNotPets

    Please don’t encourage people to live trap and release rodents. All you do is give someone else your problem. In my town we have a woman who allegedly has some sort of degree in “animal psychology” who has persuaded several dozen ignorant women to release trapped rats because they “have intricate social structures and families.” We now literally have rats being “set free” in every school yard in town.

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