Description
Our verdict: The rat trap we’d pick for homes with children, dogs or cats. The snap trap is locked inside a tough box, so nothing but a rat can reach it, and the pull-cord release means you never have to touch the rat. It costs more than bare snap traps, but it removes both secondary poisoning and the risk of pets or children catching a paw or finger.
Best for: homes with pets or children, gardens, sheds and lofts | Pack: 2 boxes | Poison: none
What is the Pest X Pro Shadow Rat Trap Box?
The Shadow is a professional-style rat trap station: a powerful snap trap sealed inside a lockable, weatherproof box. Rats go in through the entry hole to reach the bait. Children, pets and non-target wildlife can’t reach the trap mechanism.
The standout feature is the red release cord. Pull it and the rat drops straight into a bin bag, so you never touch or even see it. Because it kills mechanically and contains no poison, there’s no risk of a poisoned rat being eaten by your cat or a passing owl.
How to set it up for best results
Rats are wary of new objects. That’s the main reason traps fail in the first week, so take your time over the first few days.
- Find the runs. Look for droppings, gnaw marks and greasy rub marks along walls, fences and loft joists.
- Place the boxes flat against a wall on the run, with the entrance facing the direction the rats travel.
- Bait without setting it for 2–3 days. A pea-sized blob of peanut butter or chocolate spread works well. Once the bait is being taken, the rats trust the box.
- Set the trap and re-bait it the same way.
- Check it at least once a day. Use the release cord to empty it into a bin bag, then reset.
Pros and cons
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Who should pick something else?
- On a tight budget and no pets? NOPE! Rat Snap Traps (4-pack) or the 6-pack heavy-duty rat traps cover more runs for less.
- Large or established infestation? A rodenticide such as Pest Expert Formula B+ in a locked bait station can reach more rats, but it carries a secondary poisoning risk.
Compare every option in our rat trap guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pest X Pro Shadow safe with dogs and cats?
The snap mechanism is sealed inside the box, so pets can’t reach it, and there’s no poison, so they can’t be poisoned by eating a dead rat. As with any trap, put it where pets aren’t likely to tamper with the box.
What’s the best bait for the Pest X Pro rat trap?
A small amount of peanut butter, chocolate spread or nut paste. Use the same bait during the unset pre-baiting days so the rats are used to it.
Can I use it outdoors?
Yes. It’s weatherproof and designed for gardens, sheds, garages and around bins as well as indoors.
Why isn’t it catching anything?
Usually it’s placement or impatience. Make sure it’s flat against a wall on an active run, and pre-bait it unset for a few days. If you still get nothing after a week, move it to where the freshest droppings are.
Related guides
- The rat traps worth buying
- Rats in the loft: what it actually costs
- One mouse never stays one mouse: the traps that actually work
Manufacturer details and safety information
- Brand: Pest X Pro
- Model: Shadow Professional Rat Trap Box
- Pack: 2 trap boxes
- Type: Enclosed snap trap with pull-cord release, no poison
- Use: Indoors and outdoors, weatherproof
- Check traps at least once a day and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
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