Do cats really keep mice away?

Today I'm over at my nephew's and I see they've made a cake and left it out to cool all day. At my house, all food is encased in heavy plastic containers and I freak out if there's one crumb on the counter. Two years ago, I had mice, and I had one the other day. So I asked my nephew why he doesn't have mice when he leaves food out all day. His answer, "I have a cat."
I considered getting a cat 2 years ago when the mice were invading, but then people said that cats don't really keep mice away. I have 2 dogs, one of whom would definitely chase a mouse if she saw it.

So, the question is, if I had an indoor cat, would mice really stay away?

Today I'm over at my nephew's and I see they've made a cake and left it out to cool all day. At my house, all food is encased in heavy plastic containers and I freak out if there's one crumb on the counter. Two years ago, I had mice, and I had one the other day. So I asked my nephew why he doesn't have mice when he leaves food out all day. His answer, "I have a cat."
I considered getting a cat 2 years ago when the mice were invading, but then people said that cats don't really keep mice away. I have 2 dogs, one of whom would definitely chase a mouse if she saw it.

So, the question is, if I had an indoor cat, would mice really stay away?

Some folks suggest that it depends on how hungry you keep your cats. We have cats (5) who started out as barn cats. One cat showed up at our place one day, a pregnant cat. She had kittens. Her paramour hung around for awhile terrorizing their offspring til we got him neutered as well, and now we have 5 very happy, well fed cats. Til they came, we had some mice problems in the house now and again (the dogs didn't help much there), and massive mouse infestations in the horses' hay, which became intolerable. Since the cats came, nada.

Felines eat rodents. Nuff said.

YES.

Some cats are probably better hunters than others, but this is pretty much what cats were born to do. That, and put their butts in your face.

I dunno, our dumb cat would catch mice outside and bring them in to show us and inevitably lose them without ever killing or even wounding them.

When we moved here our barn was over run by mice. We got a couple of unwanted cats and made a little house for them in the barn and kept them well fed. After about six months you couldnt find a single mouse. We have adopted the same strategy with the greenhouses and store. We now have no more mice and over half dozen cats running around the property. I would think one would do just fine for the average house or barn,were just suckers for felines.

I've read that the cat food attracts mice. I've had them when I lived in older houses, and also had cats. The cats sometimes killed a mouse. I killed more. Rodents are gross. Rats are the worst. But as David Letterman says, if you have mice in NY you should be glad -- it means you don't have rats.

There seems to be divergent opinions on this one. Half the people I talk to say to get a cat. The other half says a cat won't really help. The problem is, I've had cats before, and I don't really like having cats. However, I would rather have a cat than a mouse. I guess what I'm saying is that if I really wanted a cat, it wouldn't be such a decision. Then again, is it fair to get a cat only because I want to keep mice away? Although, of course, I would treat the cat wonderfully.

I think it depends on the cat. Some are good "mousers", and some are not. The thing is, you won't know about any particular cat until you have it for a while.The one we have now won't eat "critters", but he plays with them until they're dead , and that's good enough for us

Today I'm over at my nephew's and I see they've made a cake and left it out to cool all day. At my house, all food is encased in heavy plastic containers and I freak out if there's one crumb on the counter. Two years ago, I had mice, and I had one the other day. So I asked my nephew why he doesn't have mice when he leaves food out all day. His answer, "I have a cat."
I considered getting a cat 2 years ago when the mice were invading, but then people said that cats don't really keep mice away. I have 2 dogs, one of whom would definitely chase a mouse if she saw it.

So, the question is, if I had an indoor cat, would mice really stay away?

Don't get me wrong...I like cats but by the same token I think I'd rather have mice running across my counters than some cat that's been hanging out in a litter box all day (eeewwwwwww).

Today I'm over at my nephew's and I see they've made a cake and left it out to cool all day. At my house, all food is encased in heavy plastic containers and I freak out if there's one crumb on the counter. Two years ago, I had mice, and I had one the other day. So I asked my nephew why he doesn't have mice when he leaves food out all day. His answer, "I have a cat."
I considered getting a cat 2 years ago when the mice were invading, but then people said that cats don't really keep mice away. I have 2 dogs, one of whom would definitely chase a mouse if she saw it.

So, the question is, if I had an indoor cat, would mice really stay away?

Don't get me wrong...I like cats but by the same token I think I'd rather have mice running across my counters than some cat that's been hanging out in a litter box all day (eeewwwwwww).

Well, most cats don't "hang around" in a litter box. We don't even have a litter box. We have cat doors. So they take care of their business pretty much the same way mice do, I reckon, only from what I've seen they're way tidier about it.

get a female cat with claws

or get used to using poison and traps

mice will look for water and food no matter what, they're only trying to survive
if there is a cat around, they'll likely try to find an easier target

(you must let your cat have access to where the mice go though, - cabinets, closets, etc)

[Robin Garr]

Ellen, may I be frank without, I hope, being mean or offensive? If you don't want a cat, I really kind of hope you don't need a cat. In spite of the jokes, cats are loving, sensitive creatures, and they need love. 'nuff said, I'll bow out, but I had to say that.

There seems to be divergent opinions on this one. Half the people I talk to say to get a cat. The other half says a cat won't really help. The problem is, I've had cats before, and I don't really like having cats. However, I would rather have a cat than a mouse. I guess what I'm saying is that if I really wanted a cat, it wouldn't be such a decision. Then again, is it fair to get a cat only because I want to keep mice away? Although, of course, I would treat the cat wonderfully.

Oh, Robin, you said that so well. (Applause, applause.)

Ellen, if you don't like cats, get (a) mouse trap(s) Additionally. I'm sure the Cindy Sullivan has serveral options as well.

... cats are loving, sensitive creatures, and they need love. 'nuff said, I'll bow out, but I had to say that.

I guess I just assumed that was a given,... Anyway, our cats began their lives primarily as strays who lived in the barn but who were also always around and always affectionate and friendly and whom we took good care of -- shots, spaying, neutering, and the like. When one of the babies took ill, we took it to the emergeny Jefferson animal clinic in Louisville and spent a chunk'o change getting him diagnosed and medicated, and he spent three days in my bathroom/closet and I with him, sleeping on the floor with him because he was only a few months old and totally, and vocally bereft without mama and siblings. All the cats have graduated to our basement in the winter, which they have 24 hour access to and which is like Florida for cats. They lounge on the wicker patio furniture which we bring in for the winter, and now we've opened the house to them as well, and so they're in and out as they like. Gabriella kitty (the mama) has decided the best place in the house is my lap, and she spends a good deal of time there. They're not just a bunch of mousers for us, although they still keep the mice at bay. They're part of our family. I adore my cats.

We also attend to other strays who show up and seem inclined to stay. I've had a number of cats spayed who show up and stay for awhile and then go away never to be seen again. It's unconscionable to me that folks allow intact cats to wander and reproduce willy nilly. A few years ago I finally decided somebody had to do something about it, and it might just as well start with me. We allow them to stay or not, as they like, but so far we've managed to keep the core bunch of them here, and they come and go as they please. But they mostly stay close.