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SPOT A RAT

Mum issues grim warning after discovering RAT were living under back car seat & almost chewed through kids’ seat belts

WHEN Rachelle White spotted yellow foam littering her children's car seats earlier this month, she immediately knew that something wasn't right.

For the best part of a week, the mum couldn't understand what was causing the foul smell in her car - but as busy mum-of-two, it wasn't at the forefront of her mind.

The yellow foam on her kids' car seats were the first sign that something wasn't right
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The yellow foam on her kids' car seats were the first sign that something wasn't rightCredit: 7news

Speaking to , the Canberra-based mum explained how she hadn't used her car a few days at the start of May when her two children had fallen ill.

But after spotting the foam from the inside of the kids' car seats everywhere, the mum also discovered other bits of unexplained rubbish on the floor - including a brand of lolly she'd never purchased before.

It was in that moment that the single mum realised she had a RAT living in her car and she'd been breathing in the smell of its urine and faeces.

"You hear these horror stories and now I’m becoming one," Rachelle said.

The rat had made a tunnel to the boot in her back seat
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The rat had made a tunnel to the boot in her back seatCredit: 7news
The rodent also started chewing through her kids' seat belts
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The rodent also started chewing through her kids' seat beltsCredit: 7news

Naturally, the mum went into panic mode and turned the car upside down looking for the intruder.

In the process, she stripped the car seats - which were drenched in urine - and discovered a tunnel the rodent had made in the back seat which led to the boot.

On further investigation, Rachelle found the rat had helpfully pooed all over the spare tire in her boot - but more alarmingly, it had also started chewing through her kids' seat belts.

After giving the car the thorough deep clean, the mum thought she'd dealt with the unwanted intruder - that is, until her daughter heard it squeaking when they were running errands recently.

The mum stripped the car seats and gave them a thorough wash
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The mum stripped the car seats and gave them a thorough washCredit: 7news
The animal droppings confirmed Rachelle was dealing with a rat
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The animal droppings confirmed Rachelle was dealing with a ratCredit: 7news

Unsurprisingly, Rachelle has now hired a pest control expert to sort her rat problem.

"If they can’t find it I’m selling the car," the mum said. "If they can’t find it I’m selling the car!"

However, the mum isn't sure where she picked up the rat and warned other parents to be aware of the dangers as rats can allegedly fit into spaces which are half their body size.

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