Getting mice out of your house permanently isn't always easy. You may not know where they hide, how many of them there are or where they're coming in from. People may recommend that you get a cat to keep mice at bay; however, this won't work if you don't want the hassle of looking after a pet.
If you like the idea of letting a cat take care of your problem and you know people who have cats, then borrowing one for a few days may also work. What can a cat do for you?
Catch Mice
If you're lucky and borrow a cat that is an active mouser, then you may find that the cat catches a few of your mice. This may not get rid of all of them, but it reduces the population.
Scare Mice Away
Some cats aren't that interested in catching mice; however, any cat can scare them. Mice usually avoid places that smell of cat, one of their common predators. Let the cat roam freely around your home for a few days, so its scent spreads around. This may frighten some mice enough for them to leave.
Show You Where Mice Are
If you don't know exactly where your mice hang out, then it can be hard to assess where to put down traps or bait. If you bring a cat into your home, then the cat smells and hears mice and may give you some location pointers.
For example, if you have mice under your sink cabinet, then the cat may sit and stare at it. If it can hear mice running around, it may run around too. If you notice this happening repeatedly in the same places, then target your efforts there.
Tip: If you're trapping or poisoning mice, then be careful not to use anything that will harm the cat. Make a note of places the cat is interested in and put traps or bait down when it has gone back home.
To get rid of mice permanently, you need to find out how they get into your home. If the cat sniffs around parts of doors, windows or walls, then these may be entry points that you can seal up.
If borrowing a cat doesn't work, or if you're worried that mice will return once the cat has left, then call in a pest management company. As well as getting rid of any mice living in your house now, they can also help you keep them out in the future.
Share29 August 2018
Hello there. I have spent my whole life in the same house. I inherited it from my parents, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. When I was a child, my parents referred to our town as a "seaside village". My how things have changed! These days, I live in centre of a major city with resorts and highrises all around. Seeing the transformation has been absolutely fascinating. As I've watched the value of houses around me skyrocket, I've developed a voyeur's interest in the real estate market. I love nothing more than browsing in a real estate agent's window, attending an open house or watching an auction. I know that this is a hobby for quite a few people as some of my neighbours join me on my "excursions". I hope that others with an interest in real estate will enjoy the casual observations recorded in this blog.
