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The sounds rats make
- Scratching and scampering — the most common sound, usually heard from the loft, walls or under floors as rats move along runs.
- Thumping — rats are heavy, and you may hear them jump or drop between joists.
- Gnawing — a steady, rasping chewing sound on timber, pipes or cables.
- Squeaking — from fighting, or from young in a nest.
- Dragging or rolling — nesting material or food being moved.
When you hear them
Rats are mostly active at night, so the sounds are usually loudest in the evening and early morning, when the house is quiet. In autumn, as rats move indoors, activity often becomes noticeable for the first time. Hearing noise in the daytime doesn’t rule out rats, but is more often squirrels or birds.
Rats in walls, ceilings or the loft?
- The loft: heavier scampering and thumping directly overhead. See loft rat removal.
- Wall voids: scratching that seems to move up and down inside the wall, often near kitchens, bathrooms and pipes.
- Ceilings and floors: noise that follows joists, sometimes from a shared wall or roof space with next door.
Noise in a wall doesn’t always mean the rats are in your property. If it seems to come from a party wall, see our guide to rats coming from next door.
Is it rats, mice, squirrels, birds or pipes?
- Mice — lighter, faster scratching. See rats vs mice.
- Squirrels — often daytime activity, noisy at dawn and dusk, sometimes with heavy thumping.
- Birds — light fluttering near eaves and soffits, often in spring.
- Pipes and timbers — ticking, creaking or knocking as they expand and contract with heat. This usually follows heating cycles, not a pattern of movement.
Look for other evidence: droppings, gnaw marks, greasy smears along beams, and a musty smell. Sound alone can mislead.
What to do if you hear rats
- Note when and where. Time of night, location, and how often. This helps a technician.
- Check safely for droppings, gnawing and entry points. Wear gloves and a mask in a loft.
- Secure food and pet food, and deal with outdoor food sources.
- Don’t block holes yet. Sealing with rats inside traps them in the property.
- Get it checked. Noise usually means the problem is established.
What if a rat dies in the wall?
If a rat dies in a wall or under floorboards, it can produce a strong smell for a week or two while it decomposes. A technician can locate it and advise whether to open up the space. Treating rats properly, and following up, reduces the risk of this happening.
Rat noise questions
What do rats sound like in the attic?
Heavy scratching, scampering and thumping, mostly at night, sometimes with gnawing or squeaking. Rats are heavier than mice, so the sound is more pronounced.
Why do I hear scratching in the walls at night?
Rats and mice are nocturnal, so they’re most active when the house is quiet. Scratching inside a wall usually means they’re moving along a run or nesting in a cavity.
Will rats in the walls go away on their own?
Rarely. Rats stay while there is food, warmth and shelter, and they breed quickly. It’s better to deal with them early.
How loud are rats in walls?
It depends on the wall and how many rats there are. Individual rats can be heard as scratching and thumping, and a larger group is much louder.
This site connects households and businesses in the Newark-on-Trent area with an independent local rat-control technician. We are not the servicing contractor and do not carry out treatment ourselves. See our terms & disclosure.