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Live mouse gifts....

15 replies

AliCanTea · 09/12/2018 22:45

Hi all. We recently fitted a catflap as we won't be able to keep opening doors for our two cats once baby arrives in the spring. We had avoided getting one so far partly because both cats are pretty good hunters and we preferred to keep 'presents' on the patio. When we fitted it we had made peace with coming down to the occasional dead mouse in the living room (such is cat ownership) and obviously it's much better for the kitties to be able to come and go as they please. However, they have been bringing in live mice which they chase behind furniture and then lose.... We have had three so far and just can't find them, dead or alive. Some of our furniture we can't pull out and I have a feeling injured mice are escaping behind there and dying.... which is obviously not ideal. Any advice at all? I could make the catflap one way but it's so cold out at the moment.

OP posts:
Icequeen01 · 09/12/2018 22:54

My two ginger boys are nightmares for this. I can't tell you how many times we have been watching tv and a mouse runs across the living room floor! Luckily I'm not scared of mice so it doesn't freak me out - unlike my 6' 1" DH who is petrified!

I invested in a humane trap from Amazon, I think it was less than £10 but it's been great. I just close the door of the room where the mouse is. The trap is set with a tiny bit of chocolate which mice go crazy for and usually within a couple of hours the mouse is caught and I return it to the garden.

AliCanTea · 09/12/2018 22:59

That sounds good! I had wondered about humane traps but had heard they were useless... Sounds like they're worth a try after all.

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Icequeen01 · 09/12/2018 23:02

I had heard the same but honestly it has caught every live mouse I have had in the house. Sometimes I set it overnight but I find I end up getting up in the middle of the night as I don't like the thought of it being trapped all night!

GetOffTheTableMabel · 09/12/2018 23:06

Oh thank goodness.
I clicked on this, feeling horrified, thinking you were going to discuss getting a live mouse or two as a Christmas gift to your cats.
I am a bit thick sometimes.

ShinyRuby · 09/12/2018 23:11

@GetofTheTableMable
Same!! I thought it might be some sort of gift you could buyConfused Think it's getting a bit late for me, better go to bed!

AliCanTea · 09/12/2018 23:56

Lol hadn't thought of it that way! Sorry for giving you a fright.

Thanks icequeen I'll give it a go. Thankfully we actually found tonight's mouse in the end. Was a baby shrew!

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TheGirlOnTheLanding · 10/12/2018 08:03

Luckily (?) ours loudly announces how clever he is when he brings in a live one, so we can get out of bed and rescue it (Pringles tubes very handy for this - other brands of crisps in tubes are also available.) Maybe if we invest in a humane trap we could ignore the racket and pull the duvet over our heads?

kaitlinktm · 10/12/2018 18:22

I wish they could invent a cat flap which could sense not only that it's your cat's microchip but also if he has anything in his mouth, and then not let him in - surely that can't be too hard for the boffins.

Ski37 · 10/12/2018 20:09

Kaitlinktm I would definitely invest in a cat flap that could do that 😂😂😂
Like TheGirlOnTheLanding my cat also loudly anounces it when he is very proud of himself and has managed to catch something !!!
Thankfully the cold weather makes him more likely to curl up on my feet than go out killing small furries but he’s still a hunter..... yesterday I found a half eaten pigeon in my garden .... and DCat was suspiciously not hungry for once!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/12/2018 11:31

I wish they could invent a cat flap which could sense not only that it's your cat's microchip but also if he has anything in his mouth, and then not let him in - surely that can't be too hard for the boffins

I can imagine a robotic voice saying "DROP IT!! DROP IT!!!"

kaitlinktm · 11/12/2018 12:20

Well my cat for one wouldn't take a blind bit of notice! Grin

BlackCatSleeping · 11/12/2018 12:24

I clicked on this, feeling horrified, thinking you were going to discuss getting a live mouse or two as a Christmas gift to your cats.

I thought that too!

KickBishopBrennanUpTheArse · 11/12/2018 12:50

I'd love a cat flap that could do that. Mine has developed a fondness for earthworms Envy She brings me at least one a day.

WhoGivesADamnForAFlakeyBandit · 11/12/2018 13:14

Perhaps a cat flap they have to meow to open - meow with an empty mouth, that is.

Ours have tried this but they can't bring something into the house without shouting HEY LOOK WHAT I HAVE HERE so that we all immediately run to see who ran them over - only to find one of them has a leaf. A small leaf.

Perhaps a remote camera release thing so you can view them before you release the cat flap catch?

Abbifa · 11/12/2018 13:30

Glad I saw this post as I have just rehomed a 5 year old female cat. No cat flap as yet as need a microchip cat flap to stop neighbours cats coming in and they are a bit expensive, but once I have one fitted the live mice presents have been a concern, especially with my toddler running around. Will invest in a humane trap too just in case

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