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Got a mouse infestation? Rent a cat!

ShrikeShrike Posts: 16,606
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in Pets #1
A cleaning company has hooked up with a local cat charity to send out rescue cats to places infested with mice. Even if the cat doesn't catch mice, the theory is the cat's presence will shift the little critters...
Foster cat - remove mice

I was dubious about this at first - cats don't like being in new places so a constant shifting of homes won't be good for them. But I suppose the cat charity reckons most people will fall for the moggy and keep it on permenantly?

Of course another down side is that until I got my cat I almost never had mice, now she regularly brings them in to 'play' and they end up escaping her!:kitty:

So would you get a cat in or just rely on the good ol' Little Nipper?

Comments

  • ElyanElyan Posts: 8,781
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    #2
    We had mice on and off for years before we got our cat.

    I successfully used mouse traps to eradicate them each time - but as I say, since the cat we have not seen hide nor hair of the little buggars.

    That's seven years now.
  • HeatherbellHeatherbell Posts: 9,940
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    #3
    As a child we were adopted by a semi feral cat . She was mental , and everything was 100% on her terms . Only us kids could stroke her and she protected us ferociously in the manner of a Rottweiler . She basically went where the food was and all our neighbours and their dogs were terrified of her , so really we were 'it' as regards feeding and ownership whether we liked it or not . But she was one hell of a mouser/ratter . Every so often a neighbour or relative would ask to borrow her . We would move her tatty old box & blanket and food dish from our coal shed to the borrowers and they'd feed her for a few days to keep her around and she'd annihilate any mice or rats around the home and outbuildings . She was lethal , a cold blooded killer . Then she'd be passed back to us .
    So yeah , totally workable with the right cats happy to holiday away from home occasionally
  • wildpumpkinwildpumpkin Posts: 1,449
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    #4
    Heatherbell wrote: »
    As a child we were adopted by a semi feral cat . She was mental , and everything was 100% on her terms . Only us kids could stroke her and she protected us ferociously in the manner of a Rottweiler . She basically went where the food was and all our neighbours and their dogs were terrified of her , so really we were 'it' as regards feeding and ownership whether we liked it or not . But she was one hell of a mouser/ratter . Every so often a neighbour or relative would ask to borrow her . We would move her tatty old box & blanket and food dish from our coal shed to the borrowers and they'd feed her for a few days to keep her around and she'd annihilate any mice or rats around the home and outbuildings . She was lethal , a cold blooded killer . Then she'd be passed back to us .
    So yeah , totally workable with the right cats happy to holiday away from home occasionally

    Great story of a wonderful cat :D
  • HeatherbellHeatherbell Posts: 9,940
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    #5
    wildpumpkin wrote: »
    Great story of a wonderful cat :D
    Thanks :)
    She actually followed us to school and would be at the gates most days to escort us home . There were a lot of stray dogs on our estate and not all were friendly, but after a couple had challenged Micky and come off badly (she'd leap on their back and reach over for their eyes) they gave us a wide berth .That's why I smile when I see people claim that cats can't do damage to dogs . They can when necessary . Then one morning we woke up to find micky had given birth to 5 kittens . That was a shocker :kitty: .
  • Blackjack DavyBlackjack Davy Posts: 1,166
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    #6
    wildpumpkin wrote: »
    Great story of a wonderful cat :D
    Heatherbell wrote: »
    Thanks :)
    She actually followed us to school and would be at the gates most days to escort us home . There were a lot of stray dogs on our estate and not all were friendly, but after a couple had challenged Micky and come off badly (she'd leap on their back and reach over for their eyes) they gave us a wide berth .That's why I smile when I see people claim that cats can't do damage to dogs . They can when necessary . Then one morning we woke up to find micky had given birth to 5 kittens . That was a shocker :kitty: .

    Thats even better :D
  • Pete CallanPete Callan Posts: 24,399
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    #7
    The only mice we get in the house is when the bloody cat brings them in to play with!
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