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Original poster

I think there’s a mouse in the Christmas presents

36 replies

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 19/12/2025 08:37

We’ve never had mice in the house to my knowledge (except on occasion when Dcat brought them in and quickly despatched them) but our Dcat died just a few weeks ago 😢 and this week DH thought he heard scrabbling in the cupboard in our bedroom at night. He emptied the cupboard last night, cleaned and hoovered it all, and sure enough, there were what looked like a few mouse droppings in the corner, so I’ve ordered traps and peppermint oil which should hopefully arrive soon, and he’s blocked off what he thinks might be the access point from the roof space. I was lying in bed this morning, probably half listening for telltale noises, and I’m convinced I heard something under the bed - where the Christmas the presents are 😱 that I was planning on wrapping this morning 😱😱😱. I hope I’m just being paranoid but I can feel my blood pressure increasing in readiness for a jump scare. As long as all it’s helped itself to are the chocolate oranges it’s not a major disaster but if it’s nibbled (or peed) on anything else I won’t be able to get replacements in time.

On the plus side, DH is now on board with getting another cat soon after Christmas.

OP posts:
upinaballoon · 19/12/2025 16:15

Fitzcarraldo353 · 19/12/2025 08:45

Argh. We had three mice running around downstairs last week. Bloody nightmare. Found them living in the fireplace (we don't use our fire). Thankfully no presents were under the tree yet! Got rid of them and think we've sorted how they got in.

Did you kill them?

upinaballoon · 19/12/2025 16:31

Are rats the ones who thump about a lot in the loft? Mice are the ones who do little wee-wees everywhere they go. Mice got into the kitchen drawers and nibbled at grandma's wooden spoon. Had to be immersed in Dettol for a month.

TFImBackIn · 19/12/2025 16:35

I have used poison, not traps. B&Q sell big tubs of the poison pellets and once those are down I've never seen a mouse again.

Separatedcoercive · 19/12/2025 16:38

We had a little field mouse once. He (I say he as it was only ever one so I assumed boy😂) he got in from a bag of hay we had for the guinea pigs. At 10-1030 pm each night he would come out and run around .
We tried EVERYTHING to catch / kill him (at first I was desperate to just get rid) but he evaded all traps and poison. One night I was watching a film with some snacks and he ran out so I threw a bit of popcorn at him and he stopped and ate it. Then I gave him some chocolate 😂
After that he came out for snacks pretty much every night for about 6 months then we just never saw him again. Till we moved some furniture it the hall and he was under it dead 😭 never seen a mouse since ! I sort of miss him , he wasn’t tame enough to get near really but he would run out and just sit waiting for a snack it was really cute

Original poster
TheGirlOnTheLanding · 19/12/2025 17:03

@SeparatedcoerciveI love wild animals in the wild but I'm much less keen on them peeing and pooing in my wardrobe and under the bed so cute as that sounds, this one (or two or more) needs to be evicted asap.

I pulled everything out from under the bed - Mousey has had a nibble of several chocolate coins, a third of a chocolate orange (as well as the box it was in) and the spine of one of the books, but no evidence of any other damage. Everything has been moved to a high shelf and two humane traps are now set, one under the bed and one in the wardrobe (baited with some of the remaining chocolate - seemed a shame to waste it). We'll see if those work. And either way, in the New Year, we are bound for the cat rescue in the hope that'll see it/them off.

OP posts:
Separatedcoercive · 19/12/2025 17:20

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 19/12/2025 17:03

@SeparatedcoerciveI love wild animals in the wild but I'm much less keen on them peeing and pooing in my wardrobe and under the bed so cute as that sounds, this one (or two or more) needs to be evicted asap.

I pulled everything out from under the bed - Mousey has had a nibble of several chocolate coins, a third of a chocolate orange (as well as the box it was in) and the spine of one of the books, but no evidence of any other damage. Everything has been moved to a high shelf and two humane traps are now set, one under the bed and one in the wardrobe (baited with some of the remaining chocolate - seemed a shame to waste it). We'll see if those work. And either way, in the New Year, we are bound for the cat rescue in the hope that'll see it/them off.

Yes I understand that’s exactly how I felt initially and I tried really hard to get rid of it for weeks (no idea how it managed to avoid every trap and all the poison !)

Iamthemoom · 19/12/2025 17:32

It’s definitely the universe telling you to get a new cat. Sorry you lost Dcat OP. (We lost our eldest recently too). It’s heartbreaking but a new set of paws really does heal the heart. I hope you have a new friend soon to keep the mice away and cuddle in your lap on cold winter nights. 🐾❤️

Original poster
TheGirlOnTheLanding · 19/12/2025 17:35

Thank you @Iamthemoom We miss him terribly. And not just for his excellent mousing! I am sorry you've lost your eldest too.

OP posts:
NortyElf · 19/12/2025 18:00

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 19/12/2025 08:48

I’m very much hoping we’ve caught it early and it’s a single pioneer rather than a whole family @Fitzcarraldo353Bit cheeky of yours to set up home in plain sight!

Edited

Have you seen mouse droppings?

Singinghollybob · 19/12/2025 18:08

I'd stay away from poison unless you can be sure you'll find it, if it dies in the house.
Our house currently stinks due to a mouse we think that has died somewhere in the wall, and we cant get to it. Just got to wait it out til it decomposes til the smell goes. Apparently it can take a few weeks...
We havent used any poison or anything, it's just died by itself, but all I'm saying is, knowing how much a decomposing mouse smells, make sure it's not gping to be trapped anywhere if you do use poison.

jessycake · 19/12/2025 18:30

If you used humane traps release them a long way away , unless you know you have blocked their access.

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