Mouse in the house

[knittingdad]

Fished a mouse out of the bath this morning for my fellow lodger to have a shower, only to be told that our landlady (who is away this week) had put a mouse-trap in the food cupboard while I was away last week, after finding some of her food had been nibbled.

Rushing today to buy some containers to keep my non-tinned food in - stuff like pasta, dried nuts and fruit, rice, etc, which is currently in soft plastic packaging and oats, tea bags, etc, which is in cardboard boxes.

I'm wondering whether I should replace my food just in case, or just check the packets carefully for signs of nibbles before decanting them into more secure containers. What would you do?

Had a bit of a panic about it this morning because there are masses of a few poppy seeds from a recent loaf of bread in the cupboard and when I saw them I was jumping to conclusions about mice gambolling all over my food.

You mean mice in the house? :)

Can you borrow a cat?

Also make sure you get as many holes fully covered as well.

As for the food, if you cook it properly, it should be fine, even with nibbles. If it doesn't show signs, then it's more than fine.

Okay, that's reassuring. I suppose my remaining concern is for the food that isn't being cooked - I've been eating the oats as Bircher muesli, for example.

The house has a cat, but he's one-eyed and ancient. Maybe I'll suggest a kitten to the landlady.

It is usually obvious when a mouse has been at things so, if you have a careful look at the packaging, you should be able to tell. I would ckear-up the poppy seeds and other crumbs, as they are just the sort of things they would like.

tidy away the cat's bowl and wipe up all spillages and crumbs, which the mice will be eating.

Mice constantly dribble wee as they climb over your food, so I would throw it out.

Put lots of little mouse baits in places where pets and children cannot reach them, inside cupboards, behind the cooker and fridge, under the sink, against walls. I use small red flower-pot saucers. Replenish daily until they stay full.

There is never "one mouse"