Wood, rubber or plastic sheeting are useless because mice can chew through them when they come across them. A mixture of caulking compounds and steel wool are good seal compounds because it is impossible for mice to gnaw through them.Click to see full answer. Also question is, what can a rat not chew through?They chew through such things as plastic, wood, water pipes, lead, wires, wool, leather, books, clothes, asbestos, concrete, metal and even brick! It should, however, be noted that the ability of rats to chew through metal and concrete depends on the thickness and types.Likewise, what size hole can a rat get through? A mouse can get through a small, 6-7 mm hole (about the diameter of a normal-sized pen) and a rat can get through a 20 mm hole. They can also jump several decimetres at a time. Consequently, can rats chew through silicone? Mice are rodents, and can chew, so you want to seal the holes and gaps shut with steel mesh, or screw in metal flashing. I also like to use a sealant that blocks off air flow – such as silicone caulk or polyurethane, so that mice can’t smell the former entry hole and try to chew their way in.What do rats hate?Because of their highly developed sense of smell, rats are very susceptible to certain odors. Peppermint oil, castor oil and citronella oil all drive rats away. Use cotton balls soaked in these oils, or just spread a little oil around where the rats are staying, and they’ll leave for less pungent climes.