would a cat really help to get rid of MICE

[mummag]

hi we have a mouse, for the second time now. Have three young kids and i am very fed up bout it being in my house. Hunted it the other night but didnt catch it (god knows what i would have done with it). question is would a cat solve this problem as i really hate putting poison down....any ideas wise women of mumsnet.

SoupKitten1 caught his first mouse last night! We've been infested with them several times before but I've not seen any sign of them since getting the cat in March.

I'm not sure whether he got this one from indoors or out though [panic]

My cat never caught anything. Apart from some battered spam that she pulled from someone's dustbin. And that was only because she was inspired by watching some lions on TV.

New kitten seems more of a prospect. Judging by the mess she's made of my hand

At this time of year we get at least 1 rodent left on the patio every day. Never the whole body though,, only bums and heads.

My mum has 2 cats who only ever bring in mice from outside! She had a mouse problem in the kitchen and had to resort to those plug-in beeping things that repel mice. They worked better than the cats!

my cat brings mice in

It does depend very much on the personality of the cat, and of course you have no way of knowing if they're mouse killers or not when you get the cat.

We've had a cat that would bring a mouse in to the house and treat it as a pet - picking it up in its mouth quite gently and carrying the mouse around, then putting it down and watching it for a bit. Would never actually kill or eat it. Another cat just sees them as food.

Two of mine would have that mouse in minutes! I have had several others who would have given it short shrift. I've only had one that's useless with prey.