How can I pick a good mouser?! HELP

[bytheby]

Hi,

I think I am convinced that we should get a cat (or 2!).

I really, really want it to be a good mouser if at all possible. Is there anything I can do to help this be the case? Fed up of hearing scampering about in the night!

Husband really wants a main coon - any thoughts?

Thank you!

p.s. had a previous thread on whether we should get a cat here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/4389059-should-we-get-a-cat

Big ears usually denote a good mouser. Or a cat with big ears…it’s hard to tell.

My cat brings in mice, always, always alive. We often don't realise he's brought one in until it's died and started decomposing, in a hastily-built nest of chewed whatever. And then begins the Great mousehunt and de-smell process.

If you have vermin, get traps.

If you want a cat, get a cat. You may end up with additional vermin on top of the ones you are hoping to eradicate

My rescue was an absolute beast at hunting for about 6 months, a shrew or a bird a day. Then one day he obviously decided it was too much hassle and hasn't touched a thing since. Absolutely no rhyme or reason, you get the cat you get

I have two cats who are both voracious predators. One was a rescued stray, I thought she'd be a rubbish hunter because she's tiny and only has one eye. Nope, she's relentless. She kills and eats, so just leaves us parcels of guts around.
The other cat we had from a kitten, he also hunts everything but tends to present it rather than eating it. And if it's a bird (or rabbit or squirrel😟) he just brings them in and releases them live in the house.
My friend has two Maine coons and they are the biggest, dopiest, softest cats ever. Useless at hunting but very cuddly. They need an inordinate amount of daily grooming.

Our best mousers were one with a feral mother and a part-Burmese with a feral father and a bullying streak 🤣

@bytheby

I don't care what the cat looks like - a black cat is fine :)

Can you have a cat that is a great hunter but also cuddly or do they tend to be one or the other?

Grateful to all of you cat counsellors out there

Yes!! All of mine are fairly good mousers and extremely affectionate. The problem with that is, if you're sick or stressed or pregnant or have just really pleased them that day you get a mouse to cheer you up 🤣