Chicago Lost Its Rat Crown, But Illinois Has Another Problem

Chicago and rats go hand in hand. Don't believe me? The Windy City spent ten years in the #1 spot as America's rattiest city. That's a pretty impressive run, although I'm guessing "America's Rattiest City" isn't something you'll find on the Welcome to Chicago sign.

That all ended last year when Los Angeles knocked Chicago off its throne.

Chicago Ranks Second on Orkin's 2026 Rattiest Cities List

Orkin's newly released list of America's rattiest cities has Chicago sitting at No. 2 for the second straight year, behind back-to-back champion Los Angeles. New York finished third.

If you don't live in Chicago and see this list and think, "Pfft, of course Chicago," you might want to hold that thought, because another Illinois city made the list, and it's moving in the wrong direction.

A rat standing on its hind legs looking up — Photo by Nikolett Emmert on Unsplash

Springfield, Illinois Climbs Eight Spots in Rat Rankings

That's because Springfield jumped eight spots from 2025 to #29 in 2026. Wisconsin wanted to get in on the action too, as Milwaukee ranked #18.

In case you're wondering, Orkin says they based their list on new residential rodent treatments, not an actual rat census. Imagine an Orkin rep interviewing rats: "Excuse me, Chicago-based rat, how long have you been living in this alley?"

Can Chicago Reclaim Its Title as America's Rattiest City?

Whether Chicago will ever take back its crown as America's rat capital remains in question, but for now, it looks like the Second City is living up to its name in more ways than one.

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Why do cats have whiskers? Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? And answers to 47 other kitty questions:

Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? Why do they have whiskers? Cats, and their undeniably adorable babies known as kittens, are mysterious creatures. Their larger relatives, after all, are some of the most mystical and lethal animals on the planet. Many questions related to domestic felines, however, have perfectly logical answers. Here’s a look at some of the most common questions related to kittens and cats, and the answers cat lovers are looking for.

Gallery Credit: Andrew Lisa