We borrowed our neighbour's trail camera to catch photographic evidence of the little blighters who've been keeping us awake at night. Most of the pictures were greatly over exposed because I'd set the camera too close to the hole where I thought they were coming in, but we did get a few clear images.
Not a mouse
That step behind him is three inches high, for scale.
If we get a cat now, it had better be a battle-hardened bruiser. I'm certainly not getting a kitten (I wouldn't anyway, when there are so many cats needing homes) - I've read The Tale of Samuel Whiskers!
Oh boy, that is one big rat......do cats catch rats?
ReplyDeleteThat depends on the cat...
Deletecats do indeed catch rats. I'd get a cat. but also look into the trapping/poison route - you dont want them rats in your home.
ReplyDeleteNot poison - as Eco Cat Lady said on my earlier post, a poisoned rat (or mouse) will go and die somewhere inaccessible under the floorboards, and stink to high heaven. The poison might also end up killing one our neighbours' cats, which is what happened to our last cat. Trapping is more likely, as well as getting a cat (or two). My husband is now persuaded that, much as he was enjoying a house free of half mouse carcasses, a live rat is worse than a dead mouse, even if it is hidden under your chair.
DeleteEeeeewwww... mice are one thing, but rats? Yikes! I think the appropriate course of action here is to jump up and down and scream: OMG, OMG, OMG!!! That'll help, wont it? :-)
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm pretty sure that will help ;-)
DeleteThere really is no point in killing them, because all the time they have a reason/route to come into your house you will have the little blighters coming in as fast as you can kill them. There is an inexhaustible supply. Blocking off their way in really is the only answer. :(
ReplyDeleteHmm, I'm not optimistic about the prospect of blocking off their way in. This is an old house....
DeleteThe current plan of action is to set a trap - the old fashioned sudden death type (I'm telling myself it's a lot more humane than a cat) - then when we think we've got rid of the ones already in the house, get a cat or two to discourage others from moving in. Also, move the compost heap further away from the house.