A UK town is on alert for the presence of "cat-sized" rats.

BarcelonaResidents of Normanby, a town in the east of the United Kingdom, have been warning for some time that they are living with rats "the size of cats." Specifically, a pest control worker captured a 56-centimeter-long rat inside a home at the end of July, and after authorities responded to the residents' concerns, Normanby councilors have confirmed the worst: this is not an isolated case.

The deep-rooted presence of these large rodents in this town is not only evident when they are seen running through the town's streets, but also by the holes they make in gardens and sidewalks, which they secretly use. Brian Sowerby, a pest control worker in Newton Aycliffe, told the BBC that he had never seen rats of that size before and that the increase in the number of these specimens may be caused by urban development: "When old sewers are dug up, the rats come to the surface and have to flee somewhere." New residential areas are being built in the town, and sewage works are also underway. Some chara users have been quick to point out that the 56-centimetre rat could be the largest ever captured in the UK.

Beyond urban management, Sowerby also points out that the warmer climate, lack of predators, and the loss of fear of humans may be favoring the proliferation of rats of extraordinary size in alleys, garbage, urban vegetation, and even inside homes. In fact, pest control experts in the United Kingdom have warned that in recent years the population and size of these rodents have increased globally.

Until now, the Normanby municipal service only covered pest control for public properties, so pest protection for buildings was the responsibility of individuals. But the problem goes beyond specific cases. In fact, David Taylor, one of the town's councilors, warns that the situation "will get worse" if it continues to be ignored. He also points to the existence of illegal dumping sites and the large number of takeaway restaurants as possible factors that may help explain the problem. Sowerby and Taylor are calling for the cooperation of local government, health services, water companies, and property developers to address what is already a health problem.