To ask for a solution to the cat and mouse problem?

[Stellaroses]

This issue comes up almost daily and is driving us mad.
We have 2 cats. The younger one (2) catches mice regularly (2-3 times a week, sometimes more) and either leaves the corpses on the kitchen floor, or worse, releases the live mouse in the kitchen to live under the units and leave droppings in our lower kitchen drawers.
DH is driven absolutely mad cleaning up after the cats/mice and suspecting one is loose under the washer etc. We have traps under the units but they only catch them occasionally.
I am sick of hearing about it and he’s annoyed because I’m not the one who clears it up/gets rid of mice. I work FT and he is retired, so it’s usually the case that this all happens when I’m in work, but if I am home I obviously help catch the mouse.
He is angry because I won’t consider locking the cats out of the house at night. They are currently locked in the kitchen because that’s where the cat flap is. I can’t bear the thought of them in the freezing cold or going off wandering further because the flap is locked.
If it makes any difference, the cats were both DH’s idea. Both our children are a bit obsessed with the cats, adore them and treat them like kings!
They have both had collars with bells in the past but hasn’t made much difference, and the younger one especially always loses hers after max 3 days.
Is there some other solution I haven’t thought of?

You can also get cat flaps that are adjustable to let them in but not out - we put ours on 'in-only' about 4pm in winter. Then once they are all in, we fully lock the catflap.

You will need litter trays overnight though. Like you say, when you go away, it means they can still go in and out.

Humane mouse traps?
You could keep them primed and in the locations escapees head to? Check them frequently as it's cruel to the mouse otherwise.

Personally I prefer a cat flap so mine can easily get back indoors but if you're having an issue with mice it's one alternative.

@Stellaroses

It had not occured to us to lock them IN! Thanks

It could work if you are prepared to put up with the protests. One of mine serially broke the cat flap to get out, so be prepared for that. And they will still catch prey during the day.

However you said there's no way you are going back to a litter tray, and you'd have to have one if you shut them in.

Also - if you keep them in at night they will hunt in the day, IME. And that means birds, which are worse to deal with than mice. Seriously - play with your cats. A lot. It works.

Mine bring mice in during the day too...

Far more cruel to lock them in! They are nocturnal animals, shown by their hunting at night. I'd lock them out, you can get lockable cat flaps that have little open/closed sign for the cat to see. Have some shelter somewhere in the garden but they soon learn to come in before the flap gets locked if its going to be cold.

Lock the cat flap. No need to get rid of it.
Get one of those children's beach fishing nets to catch the mice live. Been there done that.

Cats are NOT nocturnal animals, they are crepuscular - most active at dusk and dawn, which is also when their prey is most active.

The best solution is to lock them in at night, I cannot imagine locking my cats outside We do this and have a Sureflap Connect cat flap, you can set a curfew via the app so it keeps them in after a certain time then doesn't let them out until morning.

If they're used to going out at night, just keep in mind it will take a bit of adjusting for them. Mine are now trained that night time means "big sleep" time, so they stay asleep on our bed all night until the catflap opens in the morning. It did take a bit of time for them to get used to it though.

It won't completely stop the mousing but should help to curb it.

Well my dcat obviously hasn't read he is supposed to be nocturnal.
He sleep 10 pm - 6am under dd's duvet..
For 10 years.