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Original poster

Sad situation with mouse

94 replies

CloudyYellow · 21/01/2026 22:03

Found a mouse in an empty plant pot in the house. I am an animal lover but don't want a mouse living in my house. If I release it into the garden it will die of cold.
Any suggestions?

OP posts:
Itiswhysofew · 21/01/2026 23:25

I had a mouse in my bedroom a few weeks ago. Little bugger's gone now. I've seen them just stroll in during the winterGrin

MildlyAnnoyed · 21/01/2026 23:25

If you release it in the garden it’ll find its way back in the house. You have to take it quite some distance away.

Mirrorx · 21/01/2026 23:22

You need to treat it as a pest and act accordingly. If you've got one mouse there will be more.

5128gap · 21/01/2026 23:22

Get a windmill, a teeny tiny pair of clogs and book him on the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry.

HelenaWilson · 21/01/2026 23:21

Not sure if this will help after the eviction but we spray our loft with EFA International Mouse and Rat Repellent Spray Peppermint or Cinnamon Oil Spray

Or you can buy peppermint oil capsules from Holland & Barrett (and other places I suppose) and squirt them around anywhere you think a mouse might be getting in.

TappyGilmore · 21/01/2026 23:16

I’d probably show my cat and ask what she thinks we should do. She might have some good ideas.

But since you don’t have a cat, I’d just put it outside.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 21/01/2026 23:14

I don't get why this is a big deal. Catch the mouse, put it outside. Move on

Purplebunnie · 21/01/2026 23:12

Not sure if this will help after the eviction but we spray our loft with EFA International Mouse and Rat Repellent Spray Peppermint or Cinnamon Oil Spray (Amazon) sorry can't seem to link it.

Whatever was up there throwing raves has gone. DH regularly resprays the loft and it has been silent all this winter. I thought one creature was going to burst through the walls above our bed, bloody noisy little bastards

I hope it should be okay in your living spaces

LaBarucci · 21/01/2026 23:12

HelenaWilson · 21/01/2026 23:08

will fill any potential entry points over the weekend.

Use something like wire wool or Brillo pads to fill holes. They can't chew through those. And fill all gaps and holes even if you think they're too small for a mouse to get through.

@HelenaWilson It is amazing what mice can slip through. Their bones are very flexible. I've seen a mouse flatten itself and disappear down a silt in the bathroom flooring, only millimetres wide.

HelenaWilson · 21/01/2026 23:08

will fill any potential entry points over the weekend.

Use something like wire wool or Brillo pads to fill holes. They can't chew through those. And fill all gaps and holes even if you think they're too small for a mouse to get through.

ExpectZeroContext · 21/01/2026 23:08

If you want it to die of cold just use some rat poison and it will get the job done all the same.

Twinkletwinkly · 21/01/2026 23:06

Tootjaskoot · 21/01/2026 22:07

Could you transfer the plant pot and the mouse to a box in the garden and insulate it with some blankets/ newspaper etc?

That’s going above and beyond providing a newspaper for the mouse.

Sad situation with mouse
HostaCentral · 21/01/2026 23:03

If you live in a city with no cat and you have a mouse you need mouse traps. Not humane ones. But instant kill snap traps. You say your kitchen is gutted, well then it has come from outside. Just chuck it back out.

Gingercar · 21/01/2026 23:02

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DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 21/01/2026 23:00

Depends what sort of mouse it is. If it’s a house mouse it’s vermin and you should kill it.

I’d be furious if I thought a well-meaning neighbour was releasing rats or mice that could invade other people’s houses.

growingsidewaysnotup · 21/01/2026 22:59

Just put it outside. Mice don’t die of the cold. If they did, we’d not have mice.

Original poster
CloudyYellow · 21/01/2026 22:57

No cat so think there will be more.

OP posts:
FancyCatSlave · 21/01/2026 22:56

CloudyYellow · 21/01/2026 22:52

Unfortunately no car and live in a city. Worried there will be more.

I have given it something to eat and some bedding. Will take it to a park tomorrow.

There’s 2 options, it was brought in from outside (in/on something if you have no cat) in which case you have one mouse or you have mice (plural) living and breeding in your house.

We had mice in our house when we moved in as it had been empty. We now have outdoor mice that the cats bring in occasionally.

Outside mice are fine, indoor mice are a PITA.

Original poster
CloudyYellow · 21/01/2026 22:53

Kitchen has been gutted so no cupboards so will fill any potential entry points over the weekend.

OP posts:
Hundslappadrifa · 21/01/2026 22:53

I caught one in my house and relocated it to the greenhouse. Told it never to come back and it didn’t :)

Original poster
CloudyYellow · 21/01/2026 22:52

Unfortunately no car and live in a city. Worried there will be more.

I have given it something to eat and some bedding. Will take it to a park tomorrow.

OP posts:
NorthXNorthWest · 21/01/2026 22:51

If there is one. There is likely more. Check for poo - look like black grain of rice.

whatcanthematterbe81 · 21/01/2026 22:47

Motomum23 · 21/01/2026 22:19

Take it a few miles away and let it loose. I had a rat finding its way into my kitchen (it ate through fresh concrete to find a way back in and then through my oven vent... I caught it in a humane trap and drove it a good few miles away - hopefully it won't come back!)

Who’s driving a few miles away at 10pm 😂

whatcanthematterbe81 · 21/01/2026 22:46

A fox or cat will get it before it dies from the cold

Kimura · 21/01/2026 22:44

I knew an old lady who had a similar problem - she'd tried everything, and ended up having to swallow the mouse.

Although it wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her, so she subsequently needed to swallow a cat to deal with the mouse, and some time later she swallowed a dog to remedy the whole cat situation.

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