Eyew, mice???

Question

I try to keep my house as unattractive to pests as possible. Everything is sealed very well, we never leave food out, and all dishes are put in the dishwasher before we go to bed at night. I've occasionally seen a mouse or a bug in the garage (which is below the house) but never in the house itself....except for an occasional fly that comes in when we open the door. Anyway, I saw my cat run across the room and pounce today - and next thing I know he's strutting around with a dead mouse in his mouth! How did it get in? Should i assume there are more of them? And if I call an exterminator, will there be dead mice lying around stinking up the house? Is there another way to get rid of them?

Answer 1

Yes, there are more. They're usually good at not being seen, and by the time you see one, there is a problem. We had some in our house during the winter, and we just turned the heat off while we were out of town and took all of the food out of where they would get it (they really like cat food, if you keep yours in the garage, that might be why you saw them there) and we just left. By the time we got back, they had left, because all they really wanted was a warm place to stay, and food. neither of which was available to them while we were gone. but if it's right now, in the summer, try turning the air off and taking the cat food out of plain sight. Also, the best traps to use are sticky traps. The mice stay right there, and you can just throw the whole trap away. Also, if your garbage is full, spray it with lysol or something, to make the food in it less appealing. Try a spritz of air freshener or lysol in the sink at night and near all of your food. That helps too.

i hope some of this stuff helps!!

Answer 2

if you live in the country there really is nothing you can do.  Mouse traps are no good if you have a cat.  Cats will find it anywhere.  This goes for mouse pioson of course too.  I knew a lady that used to put sody in a dish and that kills mice  yet doesn't kill cats...then you would be on a search for dead mice tho.  Your best bet is calling an exterminator to atleast try to find out your options.  GOOD LUCK!

PS.  seems your cat is doing an excellent job!

also, remember with stick traps that mice frequently will chew off their legs and leave blood so don't put it in a room with nice carpet.  Actually, they almost always do that because they get their foot caught AND i hope you don't have a soft heart for these little guys cause they will about do anything to get lose....

Answer 3

Don't feel bad about the cleanliness of your house--mice like all kinds of places.  

Is your cat and/or other pet's food bowls open to mice?  If so, see my answer to mrs nevz.

It's unusual for mice to inhabit a house that a cat also lives in.  Do you live in the country?  Some breeds of country mice, like the Woodland, have their mating season in the summer and they just go crazy.  So it may be a seasonal thing.

PRAISE your cat when your cat catches a mouse!  Your kitty is doing a great job, and he/she needs to know it.  Praise will encourage them to be constantly on the prowl.  Mice, by the way, are more fun for cats than any toy you could buy them...  Not that you should have mice around.

Don't use poison, because of your cat.  Empty out every cupboard and drawer in your kitchen.  If you find droppings, put a trap there.  Otherwise, try putting traps in shoe boxes with holes cut out.

Answer 4

GO to Home Depot or Lowes and ask for traps. Use sticky traps so your cat won't get hurt by the real ones. The sticky traps work. I had the same problem until I caught them all with the sticky traps. On the traps, there is food that mice  like. When they go to get it, they get stuck. THen you can just throw it away with the mouse on it.

Answer 5

Yes there is more then one, mice have babies every 12-18 days, and traps are the best way to get rid of them.