Bait Blox or Soft Bait should be stored at room temperature and replaced every 40-60 days in the bait stations because it contains food based ingredients. The bait could mold or sour in the hot or cold months (should be replaced every 30 days during the summer and winter) and may be less palatable to the rodents. If you have used fresh bait multiple times and are unable to locate and competing food sources but still see new rodent activity, then you may want to consider using a different bait. Just like people, rodents can prefer one food over another. Soft Baits such as First Strike have very high palatability and are great to rotate from hard to soft baits or vice versa.
We aren’t sure where you have seen this information. All decaying carcasses will smell though a rat is much larger than a mouse so the odor will be stronger and last longer if a rat dies. For this reason we do not recommend baiting inside with rodenticides like First Strike Soft Bait Rodenticide as you cannot control where a rodent is going to die. For rodents inside it is best to use snap traps and glueboards so you can control where they are going to die. You should also seal up all cracks and crevices outside that are allowing them access to inside.
We recommend contacting your veternarian immediately to discuss the effects your cat may have if they consumed any amount of First Strike Soft Bait Rodenticide.
Product Label WARNING:
TREATMENT FOR PET POISONING: If animal eats bait, call veterinarian at once.
NOTE TO PHYSICIAN OR VETERINARIAN: Contains the anticoagulant difethialone. If swallowed, this material may reduce the clotting ability of blood and cause bleeding. For humans or animals ingesting bait and/or showing obvious poisoning symptoms (bleeding or prolonged prothrombin times), give Vitamin K1 intramuscularly or orally. Also for pets, if needed, check prothrombin time every 3 days until values return to normal (up to 30 days). In severe cases, blood transfusions may be needed.
While First Strike Soft Bait Rodenticide could potentially kill pack rats (woodrats) if they ingested it, this bait is only labeled for use against Norway Rats, Roof Rats, and house mice. A great bait for woodrats which can also be used for burrow baiting is Contrac Bulk Pellets. Be sure to follow the label directions for safe and effective use.
