To get a cat because we have a recurring rodent problem?

[gigi556]

We live in a Victorian terrace. We moved in 4 years ago. For the first 9 months we never saw a mouse BUT we had a much loved Yorkshire Terrier. Sadly, she passed away. Since then (so for the past 3 years!) we get mice coming into the house constantly. We've tried everything:
Snap traps
Glue traps
Humane traps
Electric traps
Poison (they don't eat it!)
Sealing holes
Those plug in things that make noise

We do manage to eventually trap them and then don't have an issue for a month or two and then they come back. We even had rats in the floor at one point. We don't think they ever came in the house but it was unnerving and we think (hope) they've gone now. We never did manage to trap the rats.

We try to have traps around all the time now and we are constantly on alert as to whether we have a current rodent problem.

I've been considering getting a cat for the last year as it's the only thing we haven't tried. Is this an insane reason to get a cat (or two)? I'm at my wits end. Am I trading one headache for another?

I've never had cats and I'm not even sure if I like them 😬 I was a bit traumatized by my elderly dog's final year and I've been put off the responsibility of having a pet. I'm really torn. I don't desperately want a pet. In fact, I think I'd prefer not... BUT I also really want to stop CONSTANTLY worrying about mice.

Cats bring them injured to you though and leave skull or inner organs as presents for you.

My cats used to bring them in - usually dead occasionally alive.

I remember saying the same, as we had rats running along the back of our gardens all along the street. I said it to my cat owner friend and she laughed and said if they aren't in the house, a cat would just bring them in! You'd be better with another terrier, if poss.

After 4 years of mice and huge amounts of money spent on pest control, traps, poison, mesh covers for airbricks, mason jars and Tupperware to store any and all food, plug in deterrents, peppermint oil all over the house... and never ending hoovering and sweeping to ensure the little buggers had no crumbs... we ended up getting a cat! The straw that broke the camel’s back was finding fresh mouse droppings in my baby’s cot

It turns out the mice were getting in under the house (1910 semi) from next door. Our neighbours have a huge problem that they won’t or can’t address.

Haven’t seen a single mouse since our gorgeous boy arrived! He was 9 months old from cats protection. He’s adorable, loving, sweet, funny, and a ruthless killer of rodents. Best decision ever. I am not a cat person, but I love him to bits and he more than earns his keep. I would never have got a pet if it wasn’t for the mice. But now my gorgeous boy, who has such a good life here, is happily snoozing on my knee, and we are rodent free! Do it!

If they keep coming back there’s a gap somewhere they’re getting in. Mice can get in through very small holes. You could speak to the council, they can send somebody out to look for places where they might be getting in. You can get mesh rodent covers that go over the drain vent things in the walls.

It's a bit like having children so that you have someone to take care of you in your old age - there are no guarantees that, that will work.

Worked for us. Now I just have cat problems-I have two and one of them costs me a fortune at a vet and they have taken to weeing everywhere. Still preferable to the mice in the house and rats in the garden though.

halcyondays In a terrace it’s most likely they’ll be getting in under the floor. Unless everyone in the terrace uses pest control at the same time it’s like fighting a loosing battle.

If you do get a cat, and I think you should because they're amazing creatures, get an older kitten or better yet a cat who has some history that a rescuer could tell you about - my first cat could not have been less interested in catching anything at all, but the second one....... my god 🤣 a mouse wouldn't have dared come near the house!

Only my experience, but ginger toms (neutered, of course) tend to be both incredibly affectionate and suitable for your purpose!

Please don't use glue traps anyone ffs.

We have a recurring rodent problem BECAUSE we have cats. The bastards keep bringing them in and letting them go.

Our cats have always kept the mice away from the home but have brought dead/alive ones in for us. We've even not had an issue when the flat opposite us had mice. In our current house a Victorian terrace, the neighbour had a rat! But we had no problem at all. So they're great for mice.

However yiu have to think of it as a pat and love it. So if you're not sure you like them spend a bit of time with some cats first. You can learn everything you need to know online about weing a cat parent.

You need to look for holes all around your house. Mice can get in a hole that is a bic pen size. Then make sure your down pipes have stoppers on them that allow water out but rodents out. Good luck.

My cat cries if he sees a spider
I saw him trying to swat a moth once, he kind of waved his paw at it then went to sleep. Make sure you get one that catches things

No mice until we got a cat. For 3/4 of the year (ie not winter) she brings in at least one live mouse per day, plays with it for a while and then goes to sleep. Have had to set traps for the mice she brings in

Our cat brings in live mice and leaves them. We didn't have any mice until we got the cat 😒

For people suggesting we fill all holes.... ITS A VICTORIAN TERRACE. There are holes everywhere and they can run between the houses. It's a nightmare.

We suspect they get in from outside somewhere and go into under the void in the kitchen and then into the walls and floorboards.

Our house had mice when we moved in, our cat soon moved them all back out again.

A cat has saved my sanity. We have a big Victorian house in the middle of a renovation and at one point there were mice wondering past us dragging bags of crisps from our cupboards not in the least bit phased by us.

They constantly got on the counters as every morning there was droppings. I think on 1 day we caught 3 in snap traps and another family of 3 (1 large 2 small) in the humane trap.

We needed up getting a cat which we were told was a girl (DD would only accept a female) and then we found out she was a he. He is called Daisy. Daisy is a fantastic mouse killer. We have ended up with 3 more cats since then (like I said, large house and still had to get a female in case DD noticed) and ended up getting a female kitten but going back for her sister and brother as they were covered in fleas in an awful house and I couldn’t bare to see them like that.

In terms of mice, we never see them inside the house. Very occasionally all the cats will suddenly stop and look at the floor but they lay there for house on the hunt. Outside (Daisy is our only outdoor cat) there is a mouse on our doorstep 2-3 times a week dead so he/she is quite the hunter.

As a pet I was never exactly enamoured by cats before. I hated the idea of a litter tray, cat hair and the responsibility but we got Daisy after we lost our dog and also to help with the mouse issue and it was the best thing I ever did. They don’t need hardly anything from you apart from daily clean food and water and the odd cuddle. I also managed to buy a litter tray on amazon that looks like a large flower pot with fake flowers on top so it doesn’t look so awful. I was afraid of smells but a decent litter and staying on top of it really helps.

If I were you I would seriously consider getting the cat. I know how awful it is to have a rodent problem. We used to open the dishwasher and find them inside 🤢. It is so nice to not have to scrub every inch of the house every day.

I have been asking all my cat friends about them and researching what they are like etc.

We had all kinds of pets growing up but my mother is allergic to cats so we never had one. I had a dog from puppyhood who as I said passed away. It was a big responsibility and I've felt like since I had my son (who is now 3) that I couldn't handle caring for him and pet and the house etc etc. But now he's older and easier maybe it wouldn't be too bad. It's such a tough decision and I just feel like we will never know if it's the right decision unless we just do it? Idk. The mice are pushing me over the edge. DH is also 50/50.

OMG @Maddiemademe that sounds horrendous!!!! That's definitely worse than our problem!

Will you still care for the cat if it turns out to be a rubbish mouser? Every cat is different and some cats are just not very effective hunters. A cat is also a 20+ plus commitment unless you a adopt a senior.

My local rescue has working cats that need to be provided with shelter, water and food, but are not keen on human contact. They are usually rehomed to farms, etc and are usually effective mousers which is why the farmers chose to have them.

An average house cat will need love and attention on top of having their physical needs met.

You could try getting a semi-feral/ working although they don’t usually come inside the house and do their mousing on the grounds and they are more suited to a rural setting.

Have you tried getting a professional pest control company in? I think this is what I would be doing in your situation.

If you are still keen on the cat idea then perhaps talk to your local rescue or shelter.

I have three cats, previously four. I would get a ‘present’ maybe once a month which isn’t a lot when you consider I had 4 cats. We did have a rat problem in the garden and cats were useless. They only got brought in mice and shrews. They would often bring then into house. I found one on my bed and under the Xmas three once. I had a few live ones too.

Would you consider a ferret / polecat ? they are very good mousers and can fit into spaces that a cat wont .
I had 2 and often took them to friends houses to get rid of the mice and rats , they caught and killed them and also the smell of the polecats put the mice off coming back for a while.
( I earnt good beer money doing it )

IME female cats are better mousers. We had rats around and plenty of squirrels. Now we have blossom on trees and a few more strawberries etc. They've never caught a rat or squirrel but enjoy the chase.

Mice, however - never seen one before and there are times she brings in two a day, and those are the ones we see.

Didn’t work that well for me, although my cat was good at catching and killing them they didn’t see to care as they kept coming in, took ages for it to stop, well over a year.

My mum said cats are good at catching spiders and flies but mine isn’t interested in them so they are not all the same, you might get one that doesn’t bother with mice.