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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 18-09-2007, 02:13 PM
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Saving mice from the cat

I have found a way of saving most of the mice that our cat brings into the house.

She normally brings them into the hall and puts them down by the front door during the night , then of course if we wake up we have to come to the rescue which can take ages especially when you've been asleep.

When we bought some new kitchen blinds that came in a long cardboard tube I cut it into lengths and laid it along the skirting board near the front door.

The mice immediately take shelter in a tube and the cat makes such a noise scrabbling about trying to reach them that we are woken quite quickly. Its then easy to pick up the tube covering the ends and slide the mouse gently out onto the lawn. (Having locked the cat in another room).

Fortunately the cat is too stupid to have realised what is going on and its quite funny to watch her peering down the tubes hopefully.

I wish I could find a better way of protecting them in the garden, any ideas would be welcome. Other than killing the cat of course!
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Old 18-09-2007, 02:55 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

Well the cardboard tube is a great idea and a safe haven for the poor things until you can rescue them! At least your's are coming in alive and you can let them go again
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  #3 (permalink)  
Old 18-09-2007, 11:10 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

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Originally Posted by Cazzie View Post
Well the cardboard tube is a great idea and a safe haven for the poor things until you can rescue them! At least your's are coming in alive and you can let them go again
It may only help the mice a little, but how about some plastic tubing in the garden??
You can always hide part of it in a bush etc for a quick escape point.

Either that or put your cat on a lead
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Old 18-09-2007, 11:14 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

Quote:
Originally Posted by Run rabbit View Post
I have found a way of saving most of the mice that our cat brings into the house.

She normally brings them into the hall and puts them down by the front door during the night , then of course if we wake up we have to come to the rescue which can take ages especially when you've been asleep.

When we bought some new kitchen blinds that came in a long cardboard tube I cut it into lengths and laid it along the skirting board near the front door.

The mice immediately take shelter in a tube and the cat makes such a noise scrabbling about trying to reach them that we are woken quite quickly. Its then easy to pick up the tube covering the ends and slide the mouse gently out onto the lawn. (Having locked the cat in another room).

Fortunately the cat is too stupid to have realised what is going on and its quite funny to watch her peering down the tubes hopefully.

I wish I could find a better way of protecting them in the garden, any ideas would be welcome. Other than killing the cat of course!
Might be an obvious question but does your cat have a bell on it`s collar?As with birds it would help alert the mice to the cat`s presence...

Mark H
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Old 18-09-2007, 11:17 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

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Originally Posted by mh68 View Post
Might be an obvious question but does your cat have a bell on it`s collar?As with birds it would help alert the mice to the cat`s presence...

Mark H
A good suggestion
would the bell still sound if the cat is in a stalking mode?? (by this i mean barely moving)
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Old 18-09-2007, 11:21 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

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Originally Posted by Meles meles View Post
A good suggestion
would the bell still sound if the cat is in a stalking mode?? (by this i mean barely moving)
The bell one of our neighbourhood cats wears does Meles.Much to it`s dismay

Mark H
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Old 18-09-2007, 11:23 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

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Originally Posted by mh68 View Post
The bell one of our neighbourhood cats wears does Meles.Much to it`s dismay

Mark H

that proves it then, every cat in the country needs to wear a bell, another one on the tail should their owners enjoy the wildlife.
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Old 18-09-2007, 11:24 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

love your idea very cleaver.i bet your cat gets cross and i can just picture him or her peeping down the empty cardboard tube ha ha.
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Old 18-09-2007, 11:30 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

Bells dont always work.. had a little moggie who had three bells on her collar.. and still went out the window turned round and came back in with a bird!!!!!
jaki

PS.. she ignored the meece!!
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Old 18-09-2007, 11:31 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

Quote:
Originally Posted by Meles meles View Post
that proves it then, every cat in the country needs to wear a bell, another one on the tail should their owners enjoy the wildlife.
How about a cow bell That would slow them down a bit. I'm only joking as I have 4 cats, all to lazy to catch anything.

Paul
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Old 19-09-2007, 09:40 AM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

Quote:
Originally Posted by Meles meles View Post
A good suggestion
would the bell still sound if the cat is in a stalking mode?? (by this i mean barely moving)
My daughter had a cat that could almost silence her collar bell, the
crafty thing.

The same cat also mimicked bird song - it was uncanny
and successfully lured birds into the garden.
They talked of videoing it, but as so often happens,
talk and no action and then a car did for it.
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Old 19-09-2007, 10:54 AM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

Yes she does have a bell on her collar and its loud enough to wake us up when she comes into the bedroom to wash. I can only think that she moves very slowly when stalking or she waits just where the mice pop out from and grabs them suddenly.

If I can find where they are living I will try the plastic tube idea. Are they likely to be under the shed does anyone know?

Yes I used to have a lovely lazy tom cat who had no cat skill at all. He never caught anything more than a dead sausage!

Like the idea of a bell on the tail

Cheers everyone
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Old 19-09-2007, 11:10 AM
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Exclamation Re: Saving mice from the cat

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hobjob View Post
My daughter had a cat that could almost silence her collar bell, the
crafty thing.

The same cat also mimicked bird song - it was uncanny
and successfully lured birds into the garden.
They talked of videoing it, but as so often happens,
talk and no action and then a car did for it.
Wow thats impressive!
We've had to stop putting food out for the birds because we feel like we've luring them to their deaths. Although to be fair she doesn't get many birds.
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Old 19-09-2007, 11:42 AM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

Quote:
Originally Posted by Run rabbit View Post
Yes she does have a bell on her collar and its loud enough to wake us up when she comes into the bedroom to wash. I can only think that she moves very slowly when stalking or she waits just where the mice pop out from and grabs them suddenly.

If I can find where they are living I will try the plastic tube idea. Are they likely to be under the shed does anyone know?

Yes I used to have a lovely lazy tom cat who had no cat skill at all. He never caught anything more than a dead sausage!

Like the idea of a bell on the tail

Cheers everyone
Very possible, as is under bush growth etc.
They will do have a tendancy to run around the edges of your garden, And so not to make an assault course in you garden, I would suggest just leaving one either side. You could go more permanent and bury it under a flower plot etc (leaving ends out) etc.
Eitherway they will find it.
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Old 19-09-2007, 05:30 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

What a novel idea? A great way to protect little rodents from over friendly cat!
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Old 19-09-2007, 05:42 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

I think the tubes are a great idea. Sounds a bit like Tom and Jerry in your house, the mouse outwitting the cat.
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Old 19-09-2007, 07:00 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

The tubes are a great idea as long as they are longer than the cats reach
Our cat lodger looks like Bagpuss on TV and so far seems wildlife friendly
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Old 21-09-2007, 02:08 PM
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Re: Saving mice from the cat

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Originally Posted by demicav View Post
I think the tubes are a great idea. Sounds a bit like Tom and Jerry in your house, the mouse outwitting the cat.
Thanks you've made me see our disturbed nights in a lighter frame of mind
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