Do we have a mouse problem?

[spinbaby]

Last night, our four-month-old kitten caught a baby mouse in the living room. I confiscated the mouse and put it outside. This morning, kitten caught ANOTHER baby mouse.

Do we have a nest of them? How did that happen in a household with five cats?

[Heidi]

1. Hi, spinbaby. When I was a kid, we were living in a rented house

while our new house was being built, and my mom moved a heavy, Mediterannean coffee table to find a nest of tiny, pink baby mice. Even adult mice are really good at squeezing into places that even the most accomplished hunting cat can't reach.

You may very well have a mouse nest somewhere in the house. Sorry. :hug:

ETA: I wouldn't call it a problem, really, if you can find the nest, capture the mice and move 'em outdoors. Good luck! :hi:

[spinbaby]

2. That's what I'm afraid of

We have an old house with lots of nooks and crannies.

And knowing my devious cats, they could very well be raising mice in the basement for their own amusement.

[Heidi]

3. Hahahahaha! That would be very catlike, wouldn't it?

I hope you can find the mice and get them outside without taking more drastic measures. :hug:

[Bragi]

4. You may have a mouse problem

I'd guess that a mouse entered your house from outside so as to birth her litter, and she is holed up somewhere the cats cannot get to.

I suspect your cats will eventually deal with the problem, but if they don't, I'd suggest putting warfarin around the house in places your cats cannot get to.

My experience (I own a country property, so I have lots of experience with this) is that massive deposits of mouse poison (like warfarin) is the only reliable way of getting rid of mice long-term.

As for "confiscating" mice and putting them outside, you might as well just give them a good meal and cable TV since they'll be back.

- B

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. The cats will take care of the situation.

I had a mouse infestation a few years ago, but within a few weeks they were all gone. Eaten, most likely, since I found the odd tail and a few unidentifiable bits here and there. Don't poison them; if there's poison in their systems and a cat catches and eats them the cat will be poisoned, too.

[Bragi]

6. I stand corrected

You're right. Don't put down poison if you have cats. I don't have cats, so I forgot that point.

- B

[Midlodemocrat]

7. Yup. You have a mouse problem.

The way to break the pattern is to set up traps where they are coming in. Once you catch or kill 2 or three, they'll go elsewhere.

[madeline_con]

8. They may be rats.

Even if they're small. I wouldn't use poison, the cats might ingest it if they eat one of the critters. Also the little guys might die somewhere that can't be reached, and the stench is horrendous!

We have used snap traps and the glue kind. Our dog hears them screaming with the glue traps, so we know we've caught one. If you're quiet aqt night when they start to wander, you c an hear the trapos snap, and get them out ASAP.

Good luck, either way.

[spinbaby]

12. Not rats

Definitely not rats (shudder). They were too tiny and cute to be rats. I put them outside in the ornamental grass and, because I felt bad about putting them out, left them with kitty kibble and a saucer of water.

[Brigid]

9. You do not have a mouse problem.

However, you do have a "lazy cat" problem. :evilgrin:

[orleans]

10. maybe the kitten just has a certain way with mousies

and they come at her beck and call

[realisticphish]

11. my cat

caught nothing for 5 months, then 6 within 2 weeks. That was a 2 months ago, and nothing since then :shrug:


you probably just have a nest that has matured enough to venture out (and get caught)

[Mutley]

13. If you must kill them, please don't use those glue traps.

They get stuck to those traps and tear off their fur and skin trying to get free until they starve to death. Make it something quick and painless. :(

[Xipe Totec]

14. No, I can stop eating them any time I want nt