WATCH: Irish woman describes nightmare of living with cat-sized 'rats on steroids'

An Irish woman has spoken out about the "nightmare" of living with cat-sized rats in her Kerry home. 

Vanessa Molloy spoke to Newstalk's Lunchtime Live about the infestation which has plagued her for years. 

She said, "It's just a nightmare, it's constant. Every year they seem to come back and they're just getting bigger and stronger. They're actually like rats that are on steroids. Somebody passed that comment as a joke but it is kind of like that when you look at them. 

"I went away for a week on holiday and while I was gone they got into the house. I haven't slept in days. We don't eat food from here because I know the health hazard this carries from doing bioscience, my mother won't eat any food from the house. 

"If this is happening to us not far out of the town, this could leak into the shops.

"There's not a word for what we're going through." 

"The whole time they've gotten in I've packed every hole, I even have nets on the windows." 

Vanessa’s telling me #lunchtimelivent about the ‘rats the size of cats’ that are in and out of her house in Kerry @LunchtimeLiveNT @NewstalkFM pic.twitter.com/9rlJy7zRnS

— Andrea Gilligan (@andreagilligan) September 20, 2023

According to Vanessa, between 8 and 10 of the rats have gotten into her home despite measures she's taken to prevent their entry. 

"I probably would get a good job at Pest Control at this stage. I've got cameras, I've set them up, and people didn't believe me until I had to go to the newspapers to show people how big these things are." 

Pest Control reportedly first came to the house three months ago, despite the issue going on since 2021, however Vanessa says it's not enough. 

She said, "I need somebody from the Council to come over. Pest Control can't keep on top of it, I can't keep on top of it, I need someone to come and check and make sure there's no holes in the house. 

"The dogs are terrified. I've done everything, I've plugged in ultra sonic sound things inside my kitchen. 

"I cannot get a council man to come here and go into the attic, there's lots of droppings up there. It doesn't matter what I put down. They're just running around." 

She continued: "This is the rats' house, it's not my house. They're in the hot presses, all over our clothes, I have two towels on the door and that's it. I've been washing everything for three years." 

Vanessa, who is a full time carer, says her mother's nerves are "completely shot" due to the infestation.  

She said, "She's terrified and so embarrassed. We're very very clean; our house is painted, we have a nice garden. She's embarrassed." 

Vanessa, who says half her money "has gone into buying plastic boxes" to keep her personal belongings safe, has also spent money on expensive traps including glue traps, rat traps, and mouse traps. 

"I've done it all," she said. 

According to Vanessa, the Council has been unresponsive in regards to her situation. 

"Anytime I call them they say Pest Control will deal with it, but throwing traps and poison at them is not working. 

"I want to be able to put up a Christmas tree this year and be sure they won't get back in when I kill them again." 

Kerry County Council responded to a request for comment by host Andrea Gilligan by stating they "don't comment on individual cases".