A rat infestation can be devastating in many ways. The damage they can cause to electrical wiring and plumbing can be extensive. They can also cause serious damage if they get into your car's engine. Rats can ruin items in your home or business, damage walls, and much more. Rats are also known for their ability to spread disease — which can cause serious illness or even fatality.

There's no time to waste when it comes to getting your rat problem under control. Below you will find more information about the various trapping methods for catching rats. We compare rat trap methods and take a closer look at the pros and cons of each:

Snap Traps

Pros:
Inexpensive
Often reusable

Cons:
Can often injure yourself while setting.
Rat is not always killed quickly or even at all.

Durability:
Reusable, but will start to wear out after repeated use.

Summary:
Although they are affordable, snap traps are very inaccurate and often cause rats to limp away wounded or die of starvation caught in the trap. Also, have you ever gotten your hand stuck in one setting it up? Ouch!

Glue Traps

Pros:
Cheap
Easy to set up
Easy disposal

Cons:
Single use
Inhumane — inflicting unnecessary torture.
Harmful to non-targeted animals.

Durability:
Single use

Summary:
Glue traps are the most inhumane rat control trap on the market. The purpose of these traps is to inflict a slow death on the rodent. Think twice before using this extremely inhumane rat control method. 

Electric Traps

Pros:
Kills quickly
Easy to set up

Cons:
Single kill only
Inhumane
Indoor use only
Not waterproof
Cruel death by electrocution.

Durability:
Quality varies a lot with price.
Not all brands are reliable.

Summary
Many electric traps market themselves as humane, but anyone who has been shocked in the past, knows what it feels like to have your body pulsating with electricity.

Drowning Buckets

Pros:
Cheap
Can make yourself
Multi-kill

Cons:
Cruel and inhumane
Water must be changed frequently due to smell.
Extremely unsanitary
Cruel death by drowning

Durability:
Mostly a DIY method, but some kits are available on the market.
Depends on the brand.

Summary:
Drowning buckets can be effective, but they are extremely unsanitary and outright filthy. Just ask anyone's dog who has gotten into a drowning bucket. Not to mention, this method is very inhumane.

Rodenticides

Pros:
Effective
Works on multiple rats.

Cons:
Inhumane
Poses a larger threat to ecosystem through secondary poisoning.
Toxic to all humans and animals.
Cruel Death

Durability:
Will last a few uses.

Summary:
Can be reused, but will start to wear out after repeated use and become less effective.

Goodnature™ A24 Trap

Pros:
Quick Kill
Toxin-free
Automatically resets
Easy to install

Cons:
Higher start-up cost

Durability:
Waterproof and built to last in rugged conditions.
Operates in almost all climates.

Summary:
The A24 trap is a quick-kill rat control device that is self- resetting and toxin-free. While the A24 is higher on the cost scale -- the constant control, durability, and ease of use make it a preferable rat control method.