To think we'll just get more mice?

[Itsgettingbetter]

Intermittent mouse problem in our kitchen, have even found droppings in our stove

DS is an only child and would like cat. Would like one, but will it only bring more in? The presence of mice really upsets me and don't want to make things worse!

bump

Having a cat would most likely get rid of the mice not attract them...personally I don't like cats but ok lived in a flat once in the middle of nowhere and we used to get field mice in the house all the time. We got 2 cats (brothers) and it stopped. Apart from the dead ones the cats would bring in lol

You need to figure out how the mice are getting In and sort that first. If the cat was a hunter it would likely only bring one mouse in so that unlikely cause an infestation unless it happened to be a pregnant mouse. They can also bring in rats which would be far worse! Or you could have a lazy cat like one of ours, the only thing he has ever caught is a leaf......

Don’t think you’ll get more mice; only the occasional dead one that the cat brings in.

Poor you, OP, I’m terrified of mice. When we had them we found all the possible entry points and taped over them, which helped a lot. Putting poison down apparently doesn’t help much, it just acts as bait, so I’d do the taping and get a cat or two if I were you.

Get a cat and it will hunt them, but my experience is that some cats tend to bring them in alive and then play with then in the house. The mice then hide under things like the fridge. I then have to put down traps.

By the way do not use cheese on the traps, I like dried fruit smeared with nutella for baiting traps. It is nice and sticky and I have caught a few mice with my sticky brew.

I'm terrified of mice and have a cat. He's brought me a leaf, a crisp packet and "I found THIS cat mama, it my FRIEND"
as he brings another cat home and sits adoringly watching it eat his food
No mice, however he won't even catch spiders, runs away shrieking I got a faulty one

Oh, God... do cats really bring rats in?!

The mice cats bring in are usually dead. Or just about to be.

Get a cat.

We live in the country. In a Victorian house. We had mice. We got a cat. We don't got mice.

Occasionally, usually in winter, we will hear that mice have moved into the closed attic space. We then (metaphorically!) throw the cat up there and leave the access hatch open for a day or two.

We don't got mice again.

Nutella and fruit is messy. Haribo Gummy Bears work well.

We've had mice in our loft I actually think the presence of the cat dissuaded them from getting into the rest of the house (they came down in the walls but didn't actually seem to come out into the house). The cat has never brought in mice either. I hated having the mice (the sound of them scutterling aaaaah!) so got a professional to get rid of them he said usually cats put the mice off making a home in someone's house.(He recommended letting the cat into the loft sometimes so she'd leave her smell).

Oh, God... do cats really bring rats in?! shock

We had one that dropped a live snake right in the middle of the lounge carpet at my aunt's 40th.

No, get the cat. As above, the nice a cat brings in are dead or about to be.

Oh, and bait the traps with raisins and chocolate buttons.

Our cat has caught the odd mouse but ours plays with them and then gets bored. He has brought us, feathers, earth worms, a live toad, a whole intact bird's egg and saunters through the backdoor with a number of other people's cats. I love him, but he is a shit hunter. He also comes in from outside to use the litter tray.

Thanks for yours replies. That's my concern, about cats bringing them - or rats! - in from outside. Is it inevitable?

Don't, whatever you do, get a useless dog particularly one who is supposedly bred for killing mice/rats. It doesn't work,,mice taunt the afore said stupid dog and then you have to get a man in who will charge you lots of money to get rid of said mice that the dog is supposed to hunt and kill. Not that I got my dog solely to kill mice, but the mice moved in-- and the ridiculous terrier-- dog cried and ran away. Not bitter at all. Not at all.

Is it inevitable?

No.

You set the catflap to out only so it has to ask to come in. If it has brought presents, you don't let it in.

My cat regularly brings in live mice, releases them in the kitchen and plays with them until they run under the washing machine, where she can’t reach.
Once she brought a massive wood pigeon indoors, which flew round the sitting room crapping merrily until I got it out the door.
My previous cat brought a live rat in, which leapt for my throat as I tried to chase it outside. I ducked and it went flying over my shoulder.
I’ve lost count of the number of mice I’ve had to beat to death with a heavy candlestick. I once had to despatch an injured frog. Its eye flew out and stuck to the wall.
Don’t get a cat unless you have a very strong stomach for such activities, OP!

We had two cats who didn't really bring much in, but last year one died so we got two males from the same litter. My god they are little, furry, heartless killing machines! Since they have been allowed out, we have had: countless mice and voles, three birds, a dead frog, a cooked sausage and the latest was a bunny with half its face and one ear missing. I love them but I really wish they were a bit shitter at hunting!

I've not had a mouse/rodent problem but while reading this thread I was imagining what it would be like to be home when suddenly the cat is tearing about after a mouse... what if it was night time and the cat ran under the bed?!!! Still, in the case of mice I'd feel relieved that there was a committed hunter about!

I am a crazy cat lady. You will get some live mice bought in but they are unlikely to cause an infestation and you can normally get rid of them. The mice in your house should pack their bags and move out once they smell the cat. Mine are more bothered about birds to be honest and feathers though my big tom cat is a dreadful hunter and bought back a pair of ladies knickers one day....luckily none of my neighbours turned up asking for their knickers back as I don't know how I would have explained that my cat obviously likes women's underwear

Does it depend on the cat then?

I have had cats for 53 years. Never bought a car in !
I have also never had a cat flap. I let them in/out when they ask . Can therefore check what they have in their gobs and deny entry if I don't approve of the offering !

@Itsgettingbetter definitely. Mine is a rescue stray male who thinks he is living his best life when cuddling me, or under the duvet, or spying out the blinds at the neighbours
I have seen him wave his paw at a spider and then fall back asleep and wait for me to catch it

Fuck me if they bought a car in I would be well impressed!!

I meant mouse - of course..

You will get some live mice bought in

If I couldn't possibly deal with more mice, then is it best to give up on the cat idea?