Aw, rats! KC is one of the rattiest US cities, according to new study
For the second year in a row, Kansas City won’t be in the top 20 for an annual study regarding U.S. cities with the most rats. But it does inch closer this time around.
Orkin, an American pest control company, released its annual report for the “Top 50 Rattiest Cities.” The company determined the rankings by tracking new rodent services in owner-occupied U.S. residences from Aug. 20, 2024, to Aug. 21, 2025.
Kansas City moved up in the 2025 rankings by nine spots, jumping from 45 to 36.
Despite the jump in rankings, the placement is reasonable for KC’s size, according to John Myers, a technical director at Gunter Pest and Lawn, a local pest control company.
“If you’re talking about population density, the rats are going to be kind of equivalent to that, because we’re providing the environment that’s sustaining them,” he said. Kansas City’s population was 516,032 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census.
Myers also said that other factors play a role in an area’s rat population, such as commercial settings.
Rat problems around KC
Gunter Pest & Lawn has been exterminating Kansas City rodents since 1950. According to its website, 3,825 residential homes were treated for pest control in 2019. Most rats find their ways into homes during high heat and freezing cold, according to Myers.
“August is super hot in Kansas City, so when there’s extreme heat, no water sources, they’ll (rats) look to make entry. Extreme cold temperatures, they’re aggressively looking to get inside,” he said. “Extreme weather affects rodents just like it does people.”
Areas with heavy foot traffic can be the main parts of the city that are susceptible to rodents. Malls, for example, could be a food source for rodents due to the amount of retail shops and restaurants in those areas.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup expected to bring 650,000 people to the area, Myers said that this could lead to an increase in rat movement, which could lead to more assistance from pest control companies.
“Hotels are going to be sold out, restaurants are going to be booked in advance. No one wants something blasted all over the internet that they got a problem,” Myers said. “I think that there will definitely be an uptick in commercial services, especially on those types of accounts.”
The Kansas City Health Department told The Star in an email that residents dealing with infestations can reach out to health services at 816-513-6048 if they believe conditions in their home may pose a health or safety risk.
“Staff work with homeowners and property owners to identify and prevent issues related to sanitation, structural entry points, and environmental conditions that can impact household health. For rental properties, concerns are addressed through the Healthy Homes rental program in coordination with property owners,” the KC Health Department said in an email.
The five rattiest cities in 2025, according to Orkin
1. Los Angeles
2. Chicago
3. New York
4. San Francisco
5. Hartford, Conn.
The five least ratty cities in 2025, according to Orkin
46. Eau Claire, Wis.
47. Richmond, Va.
48. Burlington, Vt.
49. Albany, N.Y.
50. Buffalo, N.Y.
This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
