Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Flip

Original poster

My cat is terrorising mice! And me!

16 replies

sybilfaulty · 30/07/2013 08:33

Hello there

My 2 y old cat has just started bringing in mice. They squeak pitifully and then either hide under a cupboard or wait until my husband (or on a brave day my 8 year old) catches them and releases them into the garden.

I realise this is part of what cats do but is there anyway of discouraging it? I have had a stern word with her but to no avail I am not good with rodents but don't want them to suffer unnecessarily.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

GemmaTeller · 30/07/2013 08:43

I feel your pain, mine is a prolific hunter, he's always over on the farm field.
He comes back up the driveaway, DH shouts 'he's got something' and one of us has to run and shut the back door before he brings it in.

I've no idea how you stop them (next door neighbour said they used to have a problem with mice in their garden but our cat 'has sorted it')

cozietoesie · 30/07/2013 10:22

You're lucky its only mice, sybilfaulty. You should see what some other posters' cats bring in !

GemmaTeller · 30/07/2013 11:30

ah, yes, the mess that is an undead bird.............................

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 30/07/2013 12:49

Thanks so much. I can hear squeaking but the cat has wandered off so I hope that the mouse will see sense and try to make its getaway.

My elder DD (8) has named the mouse "little Ruth" and has written a letter to it explaining how the cat doesn't mean any harm. I rather think the cat does mean harm but is too slow off the blocks actually to catch the poor animal.

Dead birds / bits of - I don't think I could cope. I am already not liking the mouse. I need to man up. My 4 y old is fascinated by it all though. He put the last (dead) mouse out so I can see him rising to the occasion to protect his mother.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 30/07/2013 13:44

I think you should nominate the DDs as official house reps for things brought in by the cat. That's apart from any rats of course - I rather think you ought to deal with those yourself, I'm afraid.

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 30/07/2013 16:10

If a rat moves in, think I shall be moving out! I am terrified! We had one about 3 years ago which was pre cat - even the man from Rentokil thought it was one of the biggest he'd seen. Wibble.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 30/07/2013 17:04

Nah, you're OK. They would likely be dead - or nearly there. Cats don't usually play with rats - they deal with them fast.

cozietoesie · 30/07/2013 17:35

PS - and to be honest, rats are pretty uncommon. Cats prefer small scuttling things like mice, shrews etc.

Fluffycloudland77 · 30/07/2013 20:00

Vases make excellent mouse catchers if you can get it over the top of the mouse.

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 31/07/2013 09:10

Good tip, Fluffy thanks

No sign of Ruth this morning. I hope that she has escaped. However, there was a large poo in the middle of the sitting room floor today which the cat has never done before in the house. She hasn't had a tray for about 18 months and never missed when she did. What's that about then? I have a chipped cat flap so no one else can have got in (I hope - though the battery does need changing so perhaps the flap is letting in all and sundry)....

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 31/07/2013 11:30

Change the battery in any case if it needs it. I don't have one of those at the moment so perhaps other posters could advise on what their 'default fail' is.

cozietoesie · 31/07/2013 11:35

Ah - had a look see and it seems that it defaults to locked. If that's the case, she could have been caught inside with no tray and no way to get out.

Change the batteries and clean the offending spot carefully to avoid any lingering odour.

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 31/07/2013 11:50

Thanks Cozie. I knew you'd have the answer. Now to work out how to change it!

Poor cat. My fault.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 31/07/2013 12:00

No, no - that's just what I found on a look see. Your model may differ.

Easy to find out though - have you actually pushed it a time or two?

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 31/07/2013 12:08

It seemed to let her back in but then locked! Which would explain things, I suppose. Anyway, batteries now changed, floor cleaned and no sign of mouse. Fingers crossed all is back to normal.

Thanks for all the help and advice

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 31/07/2013 12:13

That's why I suggested pushing a time or two and not just once. When batteries are on the out, they can build up just enough charge (if not used for a bit) to allow one operation of whatever it is - and then they're knackered again. So if they were going, and she'd nipped in and out a couple of times, they could have finally failed and shut her in.

Sounds like they've only just really gone, though, if that's your first accident.

Well done - all sorted now, hopefully.

Flip