Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Best mouser cat

142 replies

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
LtJudyHopps · 21/09/2022 21:57

British blues are lovely but not the brightest. They’re best being indoor cats but from my experience so dopey they’d probably let a mouse run rings around them.

Funnily enough when we got a kitten we had more mice at first as they smelt the cat food and started finding their way in to get to it… She’s a tabby and not brought anything in yet thank god apart from literal rubbish and leaves…

elf1985 · 21/09/2022 21:58

This is penny our second m cat

elf1985 · 21/09/2022 21:58

This is penny

Best mouser cat
Reallyreallyborednow · 21/09/2022 21:59

Yep the chasing a live mouse around at 2am is not fun.

mine likes to find mice, shout loudly that she’s “caught” a mouse, when in reality it’s running around happy as Larry while she sits there looking smug.

mine is indoor, we’re rural in an old house so have a mouse problem. The cat has done nothing except make it more obvious.

the terrier, on the other hand, will hunt those buggers down. He knows where they all are and woe betide them if they poke out even a whisker…

Original poster
friesandchais · 21/09/2022 22:00

@HairyMothballs definitely not the only reason we do love cats and my kids have been asking for one for ages. I just want them to keep
The mice away, hopefully they don't come in the house with the smell

OP posts:
Original poster
friesandchais · 21/09/2022 22:01

Everyone saying cats bringing them in, but I'm
Hoping to have an indoor cat, does that help

OP posts:
5zeds · 21/09/2022 22:01

Female tabby’s but get a pair they will be much happier.

tillytoodles1 · 21/09/2022 22:02

I've had cats that have been excellent at catching mice and rats. The only problem was that they brought them home all the time, occasionally half chewed but quite often still alive just to show us how clever they were.

Faircastle · 21/09/2022 22:02

We have had several. They tend to fall into one of two ''cat"egories:

  1. Rubbish hunters who can't catch anything unless it's already dead.
  2. Expert hunters who find live mice outdoors and bring them indoors and release them - still alive and uninjured - to play with later (i.e. for the humans to catch, rescue and release when the cat is distracted by something else).
Fundays12 · 21/09/2022 22:03

There isn't a best breed as such.Farm cats tend to hunt well but are not and cannot be kept as indoor cats. I had a farm cat and omg she had impeccable mousing skills. However most of my other cats occasionally hunt. One wouldn't have even considered it. I once watched a large bird walk up to him, steal his sausage from the front of his paw and fly of. He was far to lazy and comfortable to move to stop it. Cats are only a good option if you actually like them..

FingersofFish · 21/09/2022 22:04

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.

Thus. never had a mouse problem until current fingercat arrived. She likes to keep them as playthings so doesn't tend to kill them....

Original poster
friesandchais · 21/09/2022 22:06

@Mabelstearooms I do like cats and it would definitely be a forever cat and sort of our family . I grew up around cats at my grandparents house

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 21/09/2022 22:06

Not all cats would be happy living indoors only. No type or breed of cat would be a guaranteed mouser.

HeckyPeck · 21/09/2022 22:09

I would try a rescue centre as they will have cats that are indoor only for various reasons.

Most cats would prefer the choice to go outside, so that way you could have an indoor without feeling guilty about it.

GiantCheeseMonster · 21/09/2022 22:09

I said it up thread but will reiterate. My cats would be miserable as indoor cats. They need access to outside and make it very clear that they are not happy if they are kept in. It’s not a case of “if they’ve not had it they won’t miss it” - cats that can see out and want to get there will 100% escape one day. They’re fast and they will dash through an open door. You cannot predict which cats will be happy as indoor cats.

Also, mice don’t give a shit about the smell of cats. That won’t stop them coming in. They’re more attracted to the smell of food.

nottodaytomorrow · 21/09/2022 22:10

Get a kitten from a farm litter! Its bred into them their generations are born and live in a barn and their mouse and ratting instinct is second to none.

Isausernameavailable · 21/09/2022 22:11

You could offer an outside home to a feral cat if you have outbuildings or somewhere high up, warm and dry for it.

If you get a mouser, get a female, they do the hunting (and a male for her to hunt for). You will get live mice brought in though, my old girl used to put them in her feed bowl. Not injured, just wet and terrified. Poor little things.

GiantCheeseMonster · 21/09/2022 22:12

nottodaytomorrow · 21/09/2022 22:10

Get a kitten from a farm litter! Its bred into them their generations are born and live in a barn and their mouse and ratting instinct is second to none.

The OP is hoping for an indoor cat. A farm kitten is never going to be happy being kept indoors.

AreYouAFeminist · 21/09/2022 22:12

I've an all black cat who is a prolific hunter, amazing at killing bluebottles too.

What's particularly gross is when they eat every bit apart from the intestines or liver. I reckon they don't taste nice to them. Minging!

AloysiusBear · 21/09/2022 22:13

My younger cat keeps our house mouse/rat/shrew/vole/frog/spider free.

Ime if its a mouser you want get a female moggy, of no pedigree whatsoever.

inappropriateraspberry · 21/09/2022 22:13

Get a kitten from a farm. Farm cats are usually great mousers. Our cats catch mice and rabbits outside but don't bring them in. They eat pretty much the whole animal, all that's left are some guts and maybe a rabbit's tail/back end.

Georgeskitchen · 21/09/2022 22:14

2 of my regular moggies have been prolific predators.My current one is a huge muscular all-black male (neutered) he would have your house cleared of anything that moves within 24 hours 🤣

Thomasina79 · 21/09/2022 22:20

Our cat is a good mouser, unfortunately he brings them in from outside and plays with them on the carpet, still alive! Sadly he also caught a couple of birds until they ganged up against him (yes really) and warned one another when he was coming. Cats are hunting animals and will hunt everything. (Including my feet when he is on the bed and I am under the covers). By the way I think it would be cruel not to let a cat outside and you should not get one if that is your intention. Ours loves to be outside, luckily we have a cat flap.

nottodaytomorrow · 21/09/2022 22:20

inappropriateraspberry · 21/09/2022 22:13

Get a kitten from a farm. Farm cats are usually great mousers. Our cats catch mice and rabbits outside but don't bring them in. They eat pretty much the whole animal, all that's left are some guts and maybe a rabbit's tail/back end.

Agreed! Our farm kitten is the sweetest baby inside but literally turns feral the moment his nose goes through the kitty door! Its amazing.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 21/09/2022 22:21

So you fancy dead, decapitated, mouse with a side dish of warm entrails in your slippers at 6am? Or regurgitated mouse at around 11pm?

mousetraps and good food hygiene and building maintenance are less messy!!
get a cat because you want one, not for their potential mousing abilities. Not all cats will hunt and sadly they don’t come with a degree in killing them cleanly and quietly.
What would you do if the cat your adopted won’t hunt mice down and decides to be best buddies with them?

Swipe left for the next trending thread