AIBU?
Best mouser cat
friesandchais · 21/09/2022 21:28
Hello
So I'm petrified of mice and when we moved into this house 10 years ago who we blocked all hole to stop then entering, long story short every so often maybe once or 2 assay they find a way in then we again block any holes check the house and eventually they. But it a cycle and keeps happening. Me and dh and dc are all scared and hate knowing they maybe in the house. Everyone is telling me to get a cat to solve the problem. My friend told me she got a cat and she's now never had a problem since. I would want it to be a indoor cat. I know not all cats are mousers. But what are the best mousers? We really like British short hair cats, are they good, are they good around children? Female or male is better? Will a kitten be a mouser too? And can you train them to be Mousers?
This will be our first pet.
Violettaa · 21/09/2022 21:30
Im my experience, having a cat around means you have decapitated or half- dead mice around, in addition to the live ones.
HairyMothballs · 21/09/2022 21:32
Please do NOT get a cat just to try to solve a mouse problem.
I've had MANY cats over the past 42 years of being married. Only ONE ever killed anything.
It would be morally wrong to get a cat unless you really love cats and know how to look after one for 19 years (my old boy now is 19)
FuzzyPuffling · 21/09/2022 21:32
We have two cats, litter mates. One is an excellent mouser and speedy killer, the other likes to present us, infrequently thank goodness, with a live one.
newmum0604 · 21/09/2022 21:32
Yeah our Burmese is great at catching them and leaving them round the house dead or alive so not sure that would help you
GiantCheeseMonster · 21/09/2022 21:33
Haha. That’s hilarious. I have three cats. Two are lazy with no interest in catching anything. The third is extremely enthusiastic. She’s female, and a tortoiseshell - anecdotally they are said to be excellent mousers and she fits the stereotype. But since we’ve had her we’ve had many more mice in the house. She brings in live ones and lets them run run round, dead ones and leaves them lying around untouched, and occasionally just a mouse head or liver under my dining table. Honestly, if you have a mouse phobia, get some CBT. Do not, whatever you do, get a cat.
CheshireDing · 21/09/2022 21:33
Our moggie is a great mouser, unfortunately
my friends moggie only brings in leaves and empty crisp packets
pot luck really !
Boxowine · 21/09/2022 21:34
You need two. Sometimes one will only feel like playing with mice but if you have another cat they will sometimes get competitive and really start racking up the body count.
Three is even better. That's when they start circling their prey. Just like a nature documentary. Most entertaining.
You should also think about building a crow feeding station for disposing of the bodies.
smartiecake · 21/09/2022 21:34
Most young cats will probably chase a mouse. Any moggie will do! Our 15 year old fat old boy ignores the birds but hates the squirrels in the garden and still tries to catch these. He has caught a few mice in the past.
However, cats like to play with their prey and will maim and injure them, think broken legs so can't run away. So you may still have mice to deal with although they may well be dead or severely injured.
The joys of cats! They will catch them but you still have deal with the aftermath
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 21/09/2022 21:35
Our cat is a good mouser and we did get her as a kitten when we had a couple of mice in the house. It started as a joke. People saying you need a cat but then a man a work was looking for homes for his cat's kittens and we decided to get one. It was not because of the mice problem it was because dd loved cats and we thought she would be a good addition to the family. She only started catching mice aged about 5 though and we have had her bring a couple in before. Plus birds. And she has left a lot of half chewed ones on the lawn so be aware of that as well
Pinkpeony2 · 21/09/2022 21:36
My cat is an excellent hunter. Brings live mice into the garden all the time. She lets them go, watches them move then grabs them again and plays with them for hours. Eventually usually eats half and leaves the other half on the lawn. Occasionally the whole thing is gone.
She did start bringing them in at first but has now wised up to the fact that if they come in, she and the mouse will soon be parted so keeps them outside now.
i have to say, she can sniff out a mouse from a far distance so if there was one in the house even if it was hiding, you would know about it as she would be rooted to the spot nearest it.
My cat is a moggie and under 2 but has been a killer since we first let her out.
GiantCheeseMonster · 21/09/2022 21:37
Oh, and don’t bank on a cat being an indoor cat. Most cats want to go out. Mine would have found a way to escape, for sure. Even now if the cat flap is locked for any reason they yarl constantly until it’s opened. The only cats which really can be expected to like being indoor cats are some pedigrees like Ragdolls, and they’re unlikely to be mousers as they’ve been bred to be very placid and docile so the instinct to hunt is weaker.
Fluffycloudland77 · 21/09/2022 21:37
Tortoiseshells. Usually dainty little cats with high kill rates. Lots of character too.
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 21/09/2022 21:38
You will have to cope with half dead rodent presents instead!!
A cat doesn't guarantee your problem will be fixed, depends on the cat, my grandparent's cat used to sit and watch move run past it 🙄
newtb · 21/09/2022 21:38
Depends on the cat. Had a moggie that never hunted, had a Maine Coon that was still hunting, and catching mice at 20.
TheVanguardSix · 21/09/2022 21:39
Both of my cats are total psychopathic mouse murderers. It’s brutal actually.
I did not get them because I needed mousers, but master mousers I got:
Ginger tom and a black and white tuxedo.
Mabelstearooms · 21/09/2022 21:40
Do you like cats? Would you care for a properly look after a cat? They are domestic pets and a long term commitment, not just vermin exterminators. Put some mouse traps down.
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 21/09/2022 21:42
TheVanguardSix · 21/09/2022 21:39
Both of my cats are total psychopathic mouse murderers. It’s brutal actually.
I did not get them because I needed mousers, but master mousers I got:
Ginger tom and a black and white tuxedo.
Mine is too, birds too !
Pyewhacket · 21/09/2022 21:43
The best mousers are the yard cats at the stables but they aren't pets. They look mean and nasty and they are.
FlyingFlamingo · 21/09/2022 21:46
I’ve lived in my current house for nearly 20 years.
I have never once seen a rodent (other than when we had a hamster) inside the house.…
…until last summer that is. When the cat caught a baby rat outside, brought it into the kitchen, released it and took herself back off outside 
coldfeetmama · 21/09/2022 21:50
You can borrow mine , she's an excellent mouse catcher
I've taken a long time to become the same .. as all she does is bring them in .. make that whiney " look what I've brought you mum " noise then let's them run riot
I have spent hours and hours chasing searching listening catching loads of the buggars to get them out safely
I even had one crawl and hide within my bloody Laura Ashley curtains
Not the solution OP
SingingSands · 21/09/2022 21:53
If you want a pet cat, adopt a cat. If you want rid of your mice, call an exterminator!
SallyWD · 21/09/2022 21:54
There are pros and cons to this plan! First of all, yes they can solve mouse problems in the house. We moved in a year ago and there were mice in the house. Apparently the previous owners had struggled for years with mice. Our cat soon put a stop to that! The mouse problem was resolved quickly!
On the other hand our cat does bring in mice from outside as gifts! Often they're alive because he likes to show us before he tries to kill them. So on many occasions I've had to catch the mice and release them outside! Sometimes they're dead - I'm no longer squeamish about this now but I was at first. The worst thing is when they're half dead. That's horrible to deal with. However it's not all the time. He goes through phases - his record was 8 mice in a week. Then he can go several months without catching any.
elf1985 · 21/09/2022 21:56
My father in law once told us a ridiculous anecdote about how cats with 'm' markings on their foreheads are the best mousers. Thought he was full of crap. So far he was only bloody right! I'll post a pic of my 1 year old, she is a serial killer, barely have to feed her as she feeds herself.
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