baby field mouse

DJ Kaz · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2007, 03:56 PM

Can anyone please help us. My ginger tom cat brought me a present last night (looking very pleased with himself) I have looked at several photos and come to conclusion it is a young field mouse. He/she hasn't been hurt by my cat but was in shock last night we wrapped it up warm and after a rest it seems to be doing quite well I was thinking of trying to feed it up a bit before I release it but I am not sure exactly the best thing to feed it. Somebody told me to give him some wild bird seed which he seems to be enjoying and a dish of water, I have also read that they like cheese and fruit. Is this right and if so what fruit?
Karen x

Cazzie · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2007, 04:26 PM

Oh no, not another cat casualty

Well I'm glad to hear it's not injured (makes a change!) and you've done well to get it over the shock. You can certainly feed it dried fruit eg. currants, raisins, even apple if you have some etc. I'm sure it would appreciate some pieces of nut as well if you have any eg. hazel, peanut, pine, cob etc. as long as they're all unsweetened and unsalted ok

If it seems in a good state of health then you'd be best letting it go after a good feed methinks.

kshotton45 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ Kaz

Can anyone please help us. My ginger tom cat brought me a present last night (looking very pleased with himself) I have looked at several photos and come to conclusion it is a young field mouse. He/she hasn't been hurt by my cat but was in shock last night we wrapped it up warm and after a rest it seems to be doing quite well I was thinking of trying to feed it up a bit before I release it but I am not sure exactly the best thing to feed it. Somebody told me to give him some wild bird seed which he seems to be enjoying and a dish of water, I have also read that they like cheese and fruit. Is this right and if so what fruit?
Karen x

Welcome to WAB !!
Don't get too attached to that mouse !!

Keith.

DJ Kaz · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2007, 04:41 PM

I will try not to get too attached although I have to be honest and say he is very cute. But at the end of the day he is a wild animal with life to live. I am a bit concerned about releasing him back outside in our garden though as there are a lot of cats in our street. We do have some woodlands about a 15 minute walk from our home do you think I should release him there or back in the general direction the cat brought him from (in the back garden)
Karen x

Cazzie · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2007, 05:10 PM

Well tbh I'd take him to the fields as I suspect that's where your cat got it from in the first place

Also the cat will smell it in your garden and it may not have such a happy outcome if it gets caught again

Good luck to the little mouse!

Ooops sorry, welcome to WAB!

DJ Kaz · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2007, 05:36 PM

Thanks Cazzie, I have just given him some currants and a few nuts and he seems to be really enjoying them. He acctually tried to jump onto my hand to get at them. Do you think I should release him at night or in the morning as I read they were nocturnal and I want to give him the best chance of survival as he is so small.
Karen x

Meles meles · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 10:57 AM

Welcome to wab,

Better to release him not long before dusk.
Give the little fella a chance to look around before putting himself in danger.
You could do release hime in the morning but as you say, being rather nocturnal. He may not doo much other than curl up and sleep any way

Run rabbit · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 11:32 AM

We are getting 2 or 3 a week brought in apparently unharmed.

We just put them back into the gargen and lock the cat in for a few hours to give them a chance to get away.

Then I found out my neighbour thinks they are living in his garage and has put traps down.

How can a poor mouse win!

Meles meles · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Run rabbit

We are getting 2 or 3 a week brought in apparently unharmed.

We just put them back into the gargen and lock the cat in for a few hours to give them a chance to get away.

Then I found out my neighbour thinks they are living in his garage and has put traps down.

How can a poor mouse win!

If we all adopted other peoples views, i would be surprised if their was an animal left on the planet. Or even us

DJ Kaz · #10 (**permalink**) 11-10-2007, 07:43 AM

Thank you to everyone who replied to my dilemma. Just to let you know we did release him the following evening after I put my first posting on. We took him down to the local woodland after giving him a good feed he scampered off into a bush and seemed quite well and happy

At least he can now hopefully have a normal field mouse life and hopefully my cat won't bring me any more presents.
Take care everyone
Love
Karen x