Would this be cruel?

[revelsandrose]

Last night ds was in bed and told me he could hear a funny noise, it was something scrabbling about in the loft it's still there this morning.

Would it be cruel to put the cat up there to scare the creature away? Dh says I can't as the cat would be scared. She is affectionately known as 'the killer' because she is always leaving rats/mice/birds of all descriptions in the back garden, so I've no doubt she can hold her own.

I don't even expect her to kill the creature (as that would require removal), just scare it off and make it find another home. I think she would be fine as long as dh stays up there with her. Am I mean?

Yes, the fibreglass insulation will cut her paws & get onto her chest causing breathing problems.

I can't go into the loft without getting it in my lungs.

Oh I didn't think about that, she used to sleep upstairs and we didn't have a problem, I've heard just the smell of cats can put mice etc off.

I stopped her from doing this as ds bed was always full of hair, might have to allow her again, hope she will stay on a blanket? See if that scares it off x

You mean - you DON'T let the cat sleep on beds at night???

Joking aside, letting the cat upstairs may well discourage whatever is in your loft depending on what it is (squirrels don't seem to be afraid of anything ), but as a pp said don't put him/her in the loft.

You could try asking puss to 'provide a sample' and pop that in the loft - the smell might deter the critter.

Oh that's a good idea yetanother although luckily I don't often come across her poo! Although if I ever do it's absolutely revolting and I don't think anything could stand that!!!