In reply to Atley. Dear Atley, thank you for sharing your story with us. As passionate animal lovers, we can relate with your struggle to get rid of the rat. However, there are some important considerations. As you mentioned yourself, the rat is a wild animal. As such, there is an enormous risk of them being carriers of a disease that could be transferrable to humans, especially when the rat is moving freely around your room and leaving droppings. It is only natural for them to not be compelled to leave your room since it is cold outside and you provide them with water and nutrition. This way you are creating a comfortable and warm place where the rat can spend the winter. In normal situation, rat would find themselves some warm and comfortable place anywhere else. You surely don’t need to worry that the rat would freeze to death. Vast majority of wild animals including bears, foxes, raccoons, hamsters, cats and rats are successfully surviving winter every year in some shelter. Rats are natural survivors and omnivores, which means it is easy for them to find some food. If we could give you a recommendation, try to capture the rat and release it somewhere outside in the area with possible shelters, which in case of a rat is basically anywhere in the nature or city. If you would be worried, you can provide them with some food they could eat or store in their new shelter. Unfortunately, the risk of getting sick from the rat is just too big. Best of luck to you!