Ok, so there's a mouse in my house.

[TeapotInATempest]

Bear in mind, we have 7 (SEVEN) cats. I was working in my home office when 2 of the cats started chasing something around my laundry basket like they were in a cartoon. Next thing I know, the mouse runs up my curtains. I'm not thrilled because I don't want mouse poop or for my cats to get sick, so I start trying to figure out how to get it out of my curtains without losing it or getting bitten when I realize that it's ADORABLE. It's also not too afraid of me, apparently, since it looks more confused than anything.

I'm home alone, which is inconvenient since I'm too short to get to it and not sure how I'd catch it anyway. So, naturally, it walks up to the curtain rod, which is just under the ceiling, drapes itself over it and FALLS ASLEEP.

I'm starting to think that nothing in my house is normal, you guys.



ETA Pics:

Awake:

[img]?1[/img]

Asleep:

[img]?1[/img]

[avebury]

1. And did you get a picture of Sleeping Beauty?

You know a story like this demands pictures to accompany it.

[TeapotInATempest]

3. I didn't want the mouse-phobes to freak out

But yes I have pictures. I'm happy to post them if no one objects!

[democratisphere]

2. Let the 7 cats manage your problem.

I'm sure they will take care of everything.

[TeapotInATempest]

4. Haha, sure they will.

I now have 3 sleeping cats and 1 sleeping mouse in that room.

[MissMillie]

36. That's funny

Over Thanksgiving I found a mouse in the house.

We have 4 pure-bred American Rat Terriers and a cat.

We put some traps out, and got it, but there is evidence that at least one more has made residence in the house.

[democratisphere]

41. They are seeking refuge from the cold this time of year.

Finding morsels of food is a bonus.

[Fresh_Start]

5. My kitties bring lizards inside

luckily lizards are heat seeking so eventually they find their way to a window or heating vent.

Its not fun

[TeapotInATempest]

10. I'm sure that's no fun at all.

But how else are they going to teach you to hunt?

[Ohiogal]

6. Sounds like a Tom and Jerry cartoon!

Good luck!

[TeapotInATempest]

9. It looks like one, too!

[klook]

27. Keep it away from the piano!

[CatMor]

7. It would be nice if ...

you could catch the cute little mouse and release it outside.

[TeapotInATempest]

8. I'll have to

In the snow and single digit temperatures, unfortunately.

[CatMor]

11. That is the only time I ever had a mouse was ...

because of snow and freezing temps. It's why it came inside. Fortunately, one of my cats caught it but didnt kill it so we could release it and hoped it survived in the cold.

[TeapotInATempest]

16. Right, that's what I'm assuming, too

Between the polar vortex, the snow, ice storm, more snow, unremitting cold...I'd come in to my house, too, even if there were cats.

[MissMillie]

38. Saw someone on TV do that recently

Mouse didn't last even five minutes before a hawk swooped down and got it.

[CatMor]

39. That's sad ....

the hawks prey on all the little creatures.

[MissMillie]

40. Circle of life (n/t)

.

[Control-Z]

12. I can't stand rodents but

I scold my cat for going after tiny mice and birds that come down on the lawn looking for food. It makes me really sad went he catches one of them. He gifts then to me at the front door.

I don't think I'd feel the same about a rat, though. I'd just be really grossed out and worry that kitty might catch something.

In my house though. No no no. Not even if it's cute.

[TeapotInATempest]

14. Agreed - I don't want it in my house. It's not hygienic.

And I would REALLY be freaked out if it were a rat.

[Doreen]

13. Well, at least you do not have a cat that takes one look at the mouse

and runs out of the room so fast that you see hair floating down where the cat was, less than half a second ago.

[TeapotInATempest]

15. I'd never let them live it down!

[Doreen]

17. My Methos has been gone for years now and the

poor critter still get made fun of for that.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

18. If a mouse sleeps while hanging upside down, I call it a bat.

My usual plan: leave a door open and just start chasing the thing. It will eventually find the door a vamoose.

How did it get in? Either there is a gap somewhere that it (and cold wind) can get in, or one of those cats brought you a gift.

[TeapotInATempest]

20. My cats are strictly indoors since

I'm in the city and it's just not safe for them outside. This house (which I rent) has more gaps than Trump has between his brain cells, judging by the drafts in here, so I guess it found one!

[In_The_Wind]

19. Awww, you have one more 4 legged pet.

Seriously, I hate having mice running in my house. Worse yet, finding a mouse chewed hole in one of my favorite garments.

Stuff steel wool around all of your pipes. It takes time but it works.

[TeapotInATempest]

21. Lol, you joke but I actually love mice

My daughter used to have white mice as pets and they were wonderful little creatures. Too bad for this guy that he must be evicted!

[magicarpet]

22. Once it gets cold out they will find a way in where it is nice and warm

.... have them pay a fair portion of the heating bill and call them room mates.

[lunasun]

23. Shoebox or by tail wth heavy glove you can throw it outside if you do not want cats to get it

Peppermint smell keeps them away

[Hav]

24. I once had a few mice (maybe the same mouse who returned) in my flat

It was really stressful for me. You could hear it biting doors and the walls and when I entered the room, I couldn't find it. And all the poop and piss from just one animal you see/hear. I somehow managed to get them/it out in a shoe box that I left in the room for it to flee into and finally in a carpet and it might have been the same mouse 3 times.

But you really can't let it run around in the house. Either get it out or in a cage. And I know how hard it is to catch them. I couldn't even see the last one for days. But the poop and piss is so annoying and a health hazard that you have to act fast.

[TeapotInATempest]

31. Yep, they're champion poopers.

Luckily, I got it out, although I felt really, really bad about it since it's so cold outside. It might come back, since we only took it down the block and let it go near some new construction. It was not well pleased at being booted out of the warmth.

[jpak]

25. Congrats on yer New Pet Mouse

[TeapotInATempest]

32. Haha, perhaps if I didn't have 7 cats I would cage it and keep it.

[FirstLight]

26. He *is* cute, tho...

Do t be surprised if he finds his way back in. We had a hole behind our stove and it took about 3 rounds of cat watching that corner, rescuing mouse from cat, and taking him outside (just picked it up in a washcloth)...
I finally moved the stove and found his entry point. He stayed gone after that...

[TeapotInATempest]

29. Oh, good idea - mine were looking under the stove, too (for the last 2 days)

When I move it, I'll probably find all the cat toys they've lost under there, too - bonus!

[blur256]

28. So we have 4 mice and 1 rat at our house.

And two cats and a dog. Obviously we keep the cats and rodents separated. Anyway, our two favorites of the rodents are the rat and a mouse that both were caught in our house.

We caught Murray mouse last year. It had got in somehow and I caught it in a broompan. I went to let it outside and it was just about to snow. The poor little guy sat in the handle if the broompan for an hour just shivering and refusing to move. Since we had other mice I figured we could bring him in for the night and let him out the next day. Nope. He is a great mouse! Never tried to bite us. Loves being held. Just so much fun.

Rini the rat got into our house earlier this year. At first I thought he was a mouse because he was so tiny. So I got him out of our heating vents and put him outside. As soon as I did, a neighborhood cat started stalking him. So I ran back outside and scooped him up and brought him back inside. I got to looking at him and thought man those are big paws. I talked to some people in the know and he is definitely a rat. And a fancy one at that. We think someone got one as a Christmas present and didn't want him and let him go. Anyway, he is the best! He has never tried to bite us. He loves laying on our necks. And he even likes playing with our dog (who is small)!

I'm just saying. He could be a great pet for you. Both mice and rats are very clean. They don't eat a lot and are very friendly. Something to consider!

[TeapotInATempest]

30. You sound like a really wonderful person!

You get my last heart.

I'm really surprised that you have a tamed wild mouse - I've had white mice and know how sweet they can be, but I didn't know the wild ones were, too. Pet rats are supposed to be pretty great, but I definitely wouldn't want one of the alley rats getting into the house. Yikes!

[blur256]

33. Thank you for the heart!

And I think because he was a fancy rat he is ok. And Murray mouse was so appreciative of us not leaving him to the cold he realized that he has a pretty sweet life here.

[femmedem]

34. I kept a mouse alive under my dresser for over a year.

I found it in my backyard when my outside cat was about to pounce--and all my inside cats were hovering at the window, staring.

Keeping it wasn't my original intention.

I had scooped it up in a plastic container and brought it inside because it looked like it might be in shock, and I wanted to keep it warm for a while, then release it. But I didn't put the lid on as tightly as I thought: when I went back to check on it, it was gone. That night I saw it dart under the dresser, and from then on, every night I gave it a large jar lid of water and various foods: oats, veggies, and hay, which I had for a rabbit. I opened up one of the drawers a little bit so it would have a second safe place to hang out. Eventually I bought it some mouse food from the pet store and a little mouse bed.

It was the only mouse. After it died, I never saw evidence of another in the house.

[TeapotInATempest]

44. How sweet, though. DU has some of the nicest people!

I've gotta say, hearing people's stories of having kept a wild mouse, I'm feeling kind of bad that I turned it out into the cold. It's not like I don't have various cages and tanks from previous little pets.

This one seemed pretty calm compared to others that have gotten in, so who knows? I've had weird pets before.

[Freddie]

35. We got mice at our old house

Which was old and not exactly sealed to the outside in places. They would mostly get in the kitchen cabinets which was a PITA and the cats couldn’t get them there.
We set traps in and out of the cabinets. Our cat at the time was Fred, an 18-year-old orange tabby. One morning he jumped on the bed so proud of himself - he brought me a pre-caught mouse, already in the trap. Mouse catching for the retired cat.

[TeapotInATempest]

43. Too funny

Those old yellow tabbies all turn into Garfield, I think (mine has!).

[Delmette2.0]

37. I had a Cocker Spaniel who was a very good mouser. nt

[pansypoo53219]

42. 2 cats removed a chipmunk toot sweet from the livingroom. but then my latestmale baby cat, declawed

mortally wounded a mouse. had to remove it before coffee. MY 1st MOUSER! did find another mouse corpse. no idea who did it. basil has 1 for sure. sybil baby cat found a dried mouse. so mousing in their blood.

[TeapotInATempest]

45. Basil and Sybil, huh?

Fawlty Towers fan, perhaps?

[femmocrat]

46. We live in the country, so we get mice.

I hate the smell of dead mice.... We recently had an old suspended ceiling replaced in the basement and the contractor found several bodies up there. The always die in some inaccessible space.

They are cute, though. They always remind me of my dearly departed hamsters.

[TeapotInATempest]

47. Oof, that wouldn't be a pleasant discovery.

Hamsters are definitely cute and full of personality, aren't they?

[femmocrat]

48. So adorable!

We always had hamsters when my kids were younger.