Cats, mice and poison?

[Belgianchocolates]

Well we've got a kitten of about 7 months old. 2 days ago a mouse seems to have made a home for itself behind the washer and dryer. It's in the laundry room where the cat doesn't really go and the cat is locked in the lounge in the night as otherwise she wakes DS at 5.30. So now I'm very tempted to put some poison out, but I'm worried that the cat might catch the poisened mouse. Any ideas about what to do with this situation?

It is pretty unusual for a cat to be able to eat enough mice with enough poison in to affect them, but not impossible. I would though suggest using mouse traps instead just to be on the safe side. You can get the type that snaps over and kills them, or the live capture ones where you can go and release the mouse somewhere else. Make sure that the cat can not get to it though and trap a paw or tail if is it the killing type as these would break small bones - not to mention little kiddy fingers. The live catch ones are much safer for little fingers if you are not able to hide them away from your DS - but less reliable at catching them in my opinion and you still have a live mouse to deal with which does not suit everyone.

Thank you. I was just thinking about getting a trap too. It's behind the washer and the dryer where my dc's can't get really. They're nearly 4 & 6 so a bit too big to get inbetween the gap.

I wouldn't take the risk of putting poison down when you have a child and a cat. Go for the trap, as BG says, or call your vet and see what s/he suggests.

I was also thinking too.....have you ever caught a whiff of a decomposing mouse - not so good to eat poison then die behind your washing machine and smell the place out

there is poison that is safe to use around other pets and children - it's even endorsed by the Barn Owl Trust.

It's called Eradimouse - have a google for it. I've not found it stocked in shops but got some for rats a while ago online.
It basically works by blocking up some part of their digestive system which affects their ability to absorb liquids, and it then kind of mummifies them (so they don't stink).

EradiMouse

Thanks for that geekgirl. That actually looks great. I like the thought of an environmentally friendly mouse poison very much. We get mice every autumn when the weather gets cold. We thought a cat would help, but no. I'll have to stock up in that stuff as I know we'll use it for sure!

My next door neighbour has a bird aviary in his garden. He regularly has a problems with rats and mice digging up underneath to eat the dropped bird food. My cat became very seriously ill last year due to eating a poisoned mouse - I saw her bring it into the garden and play with it and eat some of it - I managed to retrieve the mouse, bag it and hand it to the Pest Control Officer that was responsible for laying the poison in the first place.

He was able to confirm that it was indeed a poisoned mouse due to the colour of the poison in its mouth (being purple) which is what he put down underneath the aviary. I took the matter up with the Pest Control Dept and they told me that whilst it is 'pet friendly' poison it has to have some strength to it in order to kill vermin. He told me that even if the cat were to sniff at a poisoned mouse it could make the cat unwell and in my case it almost killed her.

I would strongly recommend that you use a trap - they are quick, effective and much safer to use if you've got other animals in the house - especially such a young cat with a far lower immunity level.