Cat and Mouse in the House
When the cat’s away the mice will play but what happens when the cat wants to play with the house mouse?
Our cat Odin is a master mouser. He sharpened his skills indoors this week when he caught and proudly carried his prize for all to see. I prefer a clean kill instead of the usual cat and mouse torture games so I let the mouse escape. And again and again. Odin in bloodhound fashion zeroed in on a corner of our kitchen with such frenzied obsession, I resorted to locking the kitchen door at night.
We live in a 150-year-old farm-house where mice have likely lived for most if not all of its history. Before Odin arrived, we resorted to the most humane way of keeping the vermin at bay with catch and release traps. This method is tantamount to bailing water from a sinking ship with a teaspoon. Plus I felt like Hitler releasing them to a death march in the winter.
While contemplating the oxymoron of humane killing, I opened the kitchen junk drawer and gasped. A mouse had crafted a nest out of random bits of string. Its cute, brown furry face looked at me and it was debatable who was more shocked. I closed the drawer but not before leaving a few kernels of popcorn and a bottle cap of water. What can I say, I’m a lover, not a killer.
The next morning, I gingerly opened the drawer. The food and water gone, I left bits of bread while questioning my sanity. The next day I left bits of cheesy pizza. Oatmeal was not a hit. If there is the line between vermin and pet, I’d crossed it. I can’t toss this cutie outdoors. So now we have a house mouse named Brunhilda and a cat who is on mouse patrol day and night. Advice anyone? I mean besides the folly of naming a mouse?
It’s Saturday PhotoHunt and this week’s theme is Add. Our add photo is 1 cat + 1 = purrs. Older boys Domino and Merlin preferred not to leave a warm lap.
The always mysterious Gris Gris soaked up a sun puddle. Unlike snow lover Odin, he’s not a fan of cold weather. How about your cats?
Thanks for all your purrs. Domino has recuperated from a cat cold and Merlin is perfecting the decibel level of his opurrah. What’s remarkable at this stage of kidney disease is his ravenous appetite and zero weight loss in months. He’s fed on demand 24/7 (about every 3 to 4 hours.). And our mobile vet Dr. G. is due next week for a follow up visit.
28 Comments
Cynthia Southern
I like the name Brunhilde for the mouse. It continues the Norse and German name tradition of both cat and mouse in your house. I am glad you helped the mouse out. It sounds cute and reflects your caring and humane nature.
Fisher
Crazy? If you are worried about being crazy, just think of the alternative. What would it be…sane? I that even a word? tee hee
I am happy to hear about the wellness going on over there. Good news!
maggie
Thank you for the smiles and for the beautiful photographs. Hope all your cats continue to stay healthy. With you in charge, I know they’ll be happy!
Last Winter the house next door was vacant. I was checking for some of my lost mail that I thought might have gone to the wrong address and I opened their mailbox. A mouse had taken up residence in their mailbox and shredded junk mail flyers into a nest. I delivered crumbled crackers and bits of cheese all Winter.
Maggie
boomermuse
Aw, that’s so sweet. They are survivors!
Daniela Caride
Wow, a farm house. How nice, Layla! Lucky you. And, yes, I feel the same way about the mouse chase at home. I’d rather have the mice safe and sound, outside, instead of witnessing a chase across the rooms. 🙂
boomermuse
Daniela, it’s charming and old but a lot of work. Yes to safe and sound outside!
nancy
Sorry, no advice from this mouse corner. Our house is a world turned upside down too. I have been spending more and more time each evening engaging my cats in play with all their little mouse and bird toys. (Thank you Jason Galaxy for the play time tips!) Lately, I’ve been spending close to an our a day waving little delectable toy mice around on strings only to discover that a family of mice has been living in our pantry, merrily munching on cat kibble. The last bag looked more like Swiss cheese with all the gnawed holes! If I didn’t love little brown mice so much I would open the pantry doors and let the cats have their way with them. Instead, I’m headed out to purchase heavy duty plastic food containers, and a bag of popcorn!
Vane M.
Gosto disso! 🙂 Um abraço!
http://compiladodeideia.blogspot.com.br/2013/01/add.html
Penelope
Yous named your Mousie!?! Me names all of ours too. Me calls them Dinner (sometimes Lunch). We has had no mice in the house this year. THere is now only one in the garage as Kozmo has caught the other 6.
Kisses
Nellie
Katnip Lounge
No more Crazy Cat Lady…You are a Crazy CREATURE Lady!
Jacob Tepsa
Layla You are awesome. You are a great blogger with great spirit! You have great Cats! You are kinda like me! I’m Half Finnish and you are a Finnish Citizen! You are so great, with awesome compassion. You help people with cats, I do too. It would be wonderful if you told people about my blog: http://catandkittenhelp.wordpress.com/ I need some people that needs help with their cat and stuff but other things. I wish I could have more comments and follows and likes and stuff and more.
I might go to college for being a Cat Vet and a Cat Behaviorist!
You are a very good Person Layla!
Meows and Purrs to your Cat!
Love,
Jacob Tepsa (CatMan) (Cat Whisperer) (Cat Advocate) (Cat Activist)
Bernadette
I think you’re in for heartbreak with the house mouse considering Odin’s objectives…but I hope not! Purrrhaps they will become friends like in the stories. Glad Domino is feeling better! And my 25-year-old Stanley lived four years after we thought we’d lose him with only an occasional need for a few days of fluid therapy and a few supplements. May Merlin be the same! The boys look great, leaving the hunting to the young’un.
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
Thanks everyone for your comments and advice about our house mouse. The nest remained empty since this morning and the food from yesterday uneaten.
The Island Cats
A long time ago when the mom was in college, she lived in a place that had a house mouse…and she and her roommates named him Charlie. He came out to visit whenever they were sitting around watching TV. But there were no cats around at that time so Charlie was pretty safe. Then one day Charlie didn’t come around anymore. The mom thinks he found some mouse friends and they all decided to get a place of their own. 😉
Vicki
Adding a cat to another cat sure does equal purrs. Nice pictures
I have added my pics at http://hindmarsh-island.com/?p=1043
Abby
Love the news about Merlin!
Odin is doing what comes naturally and I suspect so is the mouse. The hunter will win, in all likelyhood.
Best to let fate have it’s way.
CONNIE MARIE
I’m so glad that Merlin is doing so good. Also very happy that Domino got over his cold. He has a strong will to live, they both do. It’s a cute little brown mouse.. More like a Gerbil or hamster than a garden variety gray field mouse. I personally stand on a table if I see one. I tried to save one once at the farm. Got it in a bucket and took it far away from the house, let it go and it ran straight into a barn cats open mouth. Natural order I guess. I know a small shelter for cats and other animals, no dogs, that keeps hamsters in a huge glass
cage and calls it cat TV. It was in the FIV cat room last I was there.
PS. I didn’t let it go by the barn or cat. I can’t wait to hear what you’ll do. You have alot of advice posted. In the spring let Merlin munch on Dandlios leaves. Great for human kidneys. Probably cats too. Milk Thistle works for livers on humans and dogs. Thats another story.
Chris Davis
I laughed when I read about Brunhilda! I live in the woods, and have had many unexpected critters take up residence in my home over the years. One mouse chewed through the back of the bathroom vanity and made a home in the box of Q-tips!
My best to you, Brunhilda and the kitties!
The Musings Of A Crazy Cat Lady
I don’t know if I could share my home with mice. I think it’s a matter of time before Odin catches her. My first cat, Melissa, was an outdoor cat, and she used to torture mice she’d caught so mercilessly before she went in for the kill, I felt terrible for them.
Skeeter and Izzy
Life is full of quandries isn’t it? We do catch ,release whenever possible! So far we haven’t had “anyone” move in with us but you never know. We don’t envy you your “situation”.
Luvs Skeeter and Izzy >^..^<
Sandi @ The WhistleStop Cafe
Yikes!
Thanks for adding to the PhotoHunt.
Next week we will be celebrating!
Zee and Zoey - Deb Barnes
I’m with Sparkle, if you have crossed the line, as in feeding, caring, and naming the mouse, then I would get an enclosure for it. Of course, because I am a lunatic, it would be a huge enclosure with every bell and whistle possible to keep little Brunhilda safe, happy, and sound! Good luck with Odin and happy to hear Domino is feeling better!
Cherry City Kitties
I’ve been able to live with the few mice that dare show their heads over the years, and I have lived with the boys taking care of business if they must. Except that one time… when Tipp brought one up onto the bed at 2 o’clock in the morning…. then they BOTH could have gone!
Texas, a cat in New York
Odin must be very happy that you’re making the mouse fatter 😉
Glad that Domino is better! I’ll keep on purring for Merlin!
Sparky Spitfire
Well, I won’t even let Sparky near the computer to answer this, but I’m right there with you, sister! I would so name a mouse and would utterly ignore the rational and boring little voice in my head telling me not to feed him/her. Brunhilda is SUCH a great name. I’m sure she appreciates you and your treats. Good luck!
Yours in Mousy Sympathy – Bethany
Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal
My mom-person think´s it´s really cute that you have a housemouse called Brunhilda <3
Me i do hope that Odin will catch her 😉
I LOVE sunpuddles , but I do LOVE to take walks in powdersnow too 🙂
Sparkle
Why don’t you catch her and keep her in an enclosure from a pet store, somewhere that the cats won’t get to? That is what my human would do. I am glad to know that Domino is better and Merlin is doing well!
Kathryn
oh my. Brunhilda. Naming a mouse. Well, we had a house mouse – an inder the stove mouse for months in 2011 and early 2012 – our boys caught it once, Mao carried it in his mouth to the living room, and was running back, but he dropped it and the thing ran fast into the liquor cabinet (floor cabinet) and Mao followed him. Mao came out, sans mouse. Months later, Ched bopped it and I caught them on video, playing with the poor nearly fatally dead, probably bleeding in the brain mouse, unconscious.
They can carry many diseases.
So very glad to hear about Merlin!