are cats really good at catching mice?

[shouldknowbetterbynow]

We have mouse issues in our house, I've been kidding myself that it's just one but tonight has proved otherwise. We are on our third type of trap/poison but to no avail so thinking about getting cats. It's not the only reason (we've had a much loved one before but had to deal with putting it down, I also know my boys would love them)but previous cat was rubbish when we had one before so what if I get a cat (or two) and they are equally rubbish? Is it a myth that they want nothing more than to nail Jerry?

I'm prepared to put up with carcasses (sp?) just to take back ownership of my crumbs....

Depends on the cat.

We had a mouser - next door's had a pinch-the-mouse-carcass-from-next-door's-patio-and-pass-it-off-as-one-you've-caught-er. My in-law's was a bird-er. Sorry.

Yes, ours catch loads of poor little fieldmice. They disembowel them and leave them for the milkman who must have a strong stomach!! Apparently there was a problem with mice in our house before we moved in. Then our trio arrived and it was "Hasta la vista Mice!" Cats love to hunt, however well they are fed. I suppose if one was really overweight then running might be an issue.............

Some are, some aren't.

I used to share a flat with two cats, one of whome was completely incompetent at everything - she was the most un-catlike cat imaginable. She even managed to be allergic to fleas...

Yes. And also excellent at catching rare birds like Chaffinches, which really made us popular with the bird spotting neighbours.

Even cats which don't catch mice tend to keep them out of your home though. Just by being there.

Talking of incompetence in cats, my 8m cats have lived here for 3 months and get lost every single time they are out of sight of the house. They follow us and other people down the road and never. but never. find their way back again. They have to be found and collected, often late at night. I have never met cats with absolutely no sense of direction before. It's like a cat dyspraxia.

but they can catch mice, now and then.

Someone asked recently if people's cats were still catching furries now and I said, no, mine didn't seem to, but...

my lab puppy has just come in from the garden complete with a small pink tail, two pink feet and a grey furry bottom protruding from his mouth. He's way too slow (and stupid!) to catch it on his own so he's hoovering up the cat's leftovers again

Gave him his Bonio as usual so he dropped the shrew, ate the Bonio, then went back to the shrew. At least we know Bonios are preferred to furries now

And yes, we're rural, surrounded by fields and never had mice.

Oh, and if you're within 2 hours of North Wales there are two highly trained mousers desperately in need of a home - see the other thread!

We live next to a woodland, and do periodically get mice in the attic (where the cat can't go). However we are pretty sure our cat catches at least one mouse a day, and sometimes more.

In addition at various times of year he has also caught rabbits, squirrels, slow worms and voles. He only occasionally catches birds. He has a bell on his collar, which may or may not inhibit his activities!

I am sure we would have mice in the main part of the house if it wasn't for him. He does occasionally present our dogs with "gifts" but though seemingly grateful they don't seem sure what to do with them!

Some are good, some are not.

My cat is a useless mouser. Next door's moggy is excellent at catching mice (although she much prefers squirrels and the koi carp from a few doors down).

My only cat who was a good mouser would catch them outside and lose them inside, thus creating the mouse problem in the first place!

None of my male cats have been any good at hunting.

ours is useless

we had a mouse sneak in through a hole and I found him eating the food from the cat's bowl

LOL at mouse with attitude, Tommy

Definitely agree that it depends on the cat.
If you got a cat from a rescue centre, they will help you choose a cat that is right for you and should be able to find a good mouse catcher too. There are so many abandoned cats out there that I would urge you to consider getting one from a rescue centre. They also come all vaccinated and wormed with full health check which is a bonus.
Better than a kitten - they can be as destructive as the pesky mice!

mine ar AMAZING

they catch one a day atm, rats too

I think the best hunters are two siblings, they seem to egg each other on

our old singleton cat was rubbish

fwiw - ours are two tabby girls, v young (am sure they are only prolific hunters when they are young-ish)

I never have to fear rummaging around under the sink, I love it!

depends. my last cat was a brilliant hunter. I need to get another cat as the field mice have moved back in. The cat rescue have recommended 2 siblings as they do encourage each other.

Depends on the cat I have two one is good hunter and often brings home such lovely gifts for me inc a half dead rat once and a live bird.

The other brings in live insects and releases them (think huge moths and spiders) eek.

ah, interesting, Ingles - thought
that was the case

I think the sibling thing overrides the gender issue - growing up we had two Siamese brothers who were amazing hunters, whlst every single cat I have had has been rubbish

our old one was scared of mice, one used to eat from his bowl

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore, ours have added to their repetoire by skinning mice, bt leaving their head fur intact

then they lay them on the front door mat usually

they gave one to dd as a good luck for her ballet exam Monday am in fact!

My cat is an excellent mouser. She catches them and brings them home to play with them!
When she is caught with one or she gets bored with it then it's left up to me to catch the bugger (DH has usually sought refuge upstairs screaming like a big girl ). Thankfully she has only brought mice home, I dont't know what I would do if she brought a Rat...call rentokil probably and join DH in the girly screaming upstairs

ewwww! I used to have to phone my Grandad to come and remove their offerings but it has happened that often I am immune to it now. Although I am still not happy about huge moths being released into the living room and would rather not have anymore live birds.

It was like a mad house that day. DD1 is on the chair screaming "please don't hurt the lovely birdie" and I am competing with two cats and a dog to see who can catch it first (t'was me fortunately, lovely birdie was realeased unharmed back into the wild DD1 was not scarred for life) I'd rather have mice I think

Thanks so much all, sounds like there is no easy answer here. As the mice are here anyway, bringing them in wouldn't make much difference so I guess it's whether I prefer the dismembered ones to the live ones.
I'm too far away to take the Welsh cats but will definately check out the rescue centres if we get some. No sightings today so far, I am ashamed of being a woos about the little things!

One of ours is a little minx and brings in a lot of fieldmice and occasional bird . She is a lovely pet though, if a bit highly strung. The older, fatter one is hopeless. (they are mum and daughter).

Yes suggest try a rescue centre for a "hunter". You could try playing with the cats wit a toy on a string and see which are the most vicious!

My cats catch birds, mice, rats, frogs, alsorts.

BUT they do not often leave them in one bit. Unfortunatly we often have the guts left all over the floor