[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I recently got the Tomcat rat & mouse killer child & dog resistant, disposable station for use in a shed where we have issues with mice, especially in the fall and winter. I’m in central PA. We use the shed to store patio and other items during the winter, along with bird feed, seed, and other yard care items. While I tried to seal the shed as well as I could and ensure that any food sources (e.g., bird seed and feed) are properly sealed/stored, I still end up finding mouse droppings and bedding each spring when I take patio furniture, etc. back out. I tried humane mouse traps (placing them along areas where I know, based on scat) that mice travel. Despite baiting them with some tasty treats, the traps didn’t work. It was time to move to more drastic measures. While I haven’t placed it in the shed yet (it’s not quite time for fall storage here in central PA, it’s getting close), I’m looking forward to seeing just how effective this thing is.
Some points to note. Obviously, when handling this station, use disposable gloves and wash your hands with soap and water after handling. Also, this is not a trap. Nowhere that I saw does the station’s label indicate that it’s a trap. This is a bait station that contains 0.01% bromethalin… a lethal nerve agent… and, it is NOT humane. If you’re looking for humane, look elsewhere. I tried humane methods. They didn’t work. While I don’t like the approach this station uses, I’m forced to use it at this point, as all other measures have failed and the mice (not an infestation, but a nuisance just the same) are chewing holes in my shed’s floorboards. The time for playing nice is over. Would I use this approach in any living space? Not, unless absolutely necessary. You have to understand, the chemical slowly kills the rodent. That means that it ingests the chemical, walks away, and dies. Where it dies remains to be seen. Hopefully you can reach the dead rodent before it decomposes. Otherwise, you potentially have a whole other set of problems. For use outside, in a shed, where there are no cracks or crevices in which to crawl… yes, I’ll chance finding a dead mouse where I might not otherwise expect to find it. Also, while the chemical concentration is enough to kill mice, rats, and other rodents, it is not nearly enough to kill cats and dogs (or people)… although they could get mildly sick from the dosage, according to trusted sites. Do the research on this chemical (using medical/trusted chemical sites) if you’re worried. FWIW, the station is sturdily built. It would be very difficult for any large animal (or person) to get into the housing without mechanical means.
Worth purchasing? That remains to be seen. Based on reviews on other sites (with 10s of thousands of reviews indicating that this device works as designed), the Tomcat Rat & Mouse Killer Child & Dog Resistant, Disposable Station appears to be safe (for non-rodents) and effective. While I wish humane methods would’ve worked, they didn’t. It’s time for other measures. Based on all that I’ve read about the effectiveness of the chemical (and the concentration) used in the station, and how well I can personally tell you that the station is built (ensuring that nothing gets into the station other than what it was designed to allow), I’m going to give it a four-star rating. You’ll see lower ratings provided by a few. However, read the ratings closely. The lower ratings are generally offered because the station doesn’t offer a professional-grade chemical and/or because it uses an inhumane lethal nerve agent. A) Consumers can’t legally get professional grade chemicals… for very legitimate reasons. B) the chemical and concentration used will do its intended job. And, C), you have to go into this purchase knowing that the method of killing the rodent isn’t humane. Based on my very thorough research, this station will work for my use case, which is why I’m giving it a solid four-star rating.