Saving mice from the cat

[Run rabbit]

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!

[Cazzie]

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

[Meles meles]

Originally Posted by Cazzie

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

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Run rabbit

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

[Meles meles]

Originally Posted by mh68

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)

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Meles meles

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

[Meles meles]

Originally Posted by mh68

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.

[naturelover]

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.

[Garden Carpet]

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!!

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by Meles meles

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

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Meles meles

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.

[Run rabbit]

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

[Run rabbit]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

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.

[Meles meles]

Originally Posted by Run rabbit

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.

[clover green]

What a novel idea? A great way to protect little rodents from over friendly cat!

[demicav]

I think the tubes are a great idea. Sounds a bit like Tom and Jerry in your house, the mouse outwitting the cat.

[nightshade]

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

[Run rabbit]

Originally Posted by demicav

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