Conference misery::feline

    I lost Rocky (15yrs) last year after putting down some of that stuff. 
    He didn't eat it from the container but did get a hold of a mouse. 
    When we found him in my daughters room, crying very loudly we had to
    find a vet.  Seeing that it was Saturday night after 6 there were none
    to be found.  We finally found one in Pepperall (sp) and brought him
    there.  At the time we didn't know what was wrong with him.. The vet
    asked alot of questions...  We did mention to him that we did put out
    some Decon (sp)..  He said that the cat would have had to have eaten
    alot of mice for the poison to effect him..  I am not usually one that
    doesn't go along with what the vet says, but after he had Rocky at his
    hospital we finally ended up putting him down..  He had quite a few
    problems.  The vet never would say that it might be the poison..  
    
    Now that winter is heading our way so are the field mice..  I am really
    not sure what to do this year.  I have two new babys that seem like
    they would be great mousiers...  I know for SURE that I will not be
    putting down any kind of poison...
    
    When we put it down last year we made sure that it was in places where
    the cats could not reach, not thinking that if the caught the mice that
    anything would happen..
    
    Rocky has been gone for little over a year but I still miss him and
    think that if only I hadn't put that stuff out that maybe he would
    still be with us...
    
    I have been thinking about buying one of those electronic sound things
    that you see advertised in different magazines..  That is the only way
    that I would go now..
    
    
    *joyce
    
    

    I won't use it because I'm afraid of my kitty or puppy eating a mouse
    who ate the poison.  It is poison, and I won't mess with it.
    
    I do have a mouse problem in my barn, and have had great luck with 
    mouse traps and peanut butter.  I am contemplating getting a few
    kitties specifically for the barn, however my main kitty, hates all
    cats and I'd hate to tramtize her more with the addition of kitties
    when she's just getting used to the puppy.
    
    Nippa is doing a great job of keeping all pestilance out of the woods
    and stone walls, but a lousey job maintaining the barn. 

         We had a couple of field mice that we needed to get rid of, but we
    don't like poison or the break-the-neck type traps.  Hav-A-Harts are
    nice, but expensive.
    
         We found a neat alternative - Victor makes a plastic trap that
    looks like a long rectangular box.  Put the bait in the back and open
    the door - when mousie goes in, the door shuts.  Take mousie and either
    throw mousie + trap away, or find some woods and let mousie out there. 
    Found at Home Depot, two traps for around $5.
    
    					- Andrea

    
    	I have a Hav-A-Hart mouse trap, and it works great!  I don't
    	recall it being all that expensive.  As a matter of fact,
    	regardless of the cost, it can be used over and over indefinately
    	(can't imagine a mouse large enough to break it!).  It's made
    	of tough plastic.
    
    	Anyhow, I put some peanut butter way in the back of the trap,
    	set it up, check in the morning and usually within one night
    	I've got the critter, and I take the trap and let him loose
    	outside far from the house!  I've only had the problem once
    	in the three years I've lived where I'm at now and once when
    	I lived elsewhere.  That time it took about three nights before
    	the mouse took the bait, but it wasn't until the third night
    	that I used peanut butter!
    
    	I have two cats and a dog, and after hearing about cats dying
    	from eating poisened mice, I definately wouldn't want to take
    	any chances.  Besides, I don't like killing anything if at all
    	possible.
    
    	Try giving the Hav-A-Hart trap a try... I know it sounds like
    	a commercial, but they do work!
    
    	Donna

    I applaud your motives, but cynic that I am, I have to say that I bet
    the mouse makes it back to the house before you do!
    
    Leslie

    
    
    It hasn't happened yet!  My bet is still on the Hav-A-Hart traps.
    
    Donna

    I would suspect any type of critter poison could be fatal
    for any cat.   I believe if a mouse ate the poison and your cat
    ate the mouse...that could also make him very sick or could be fatal.
    Antifreeze and some types of cleaning stuff (lysol) are also fatal if 
    lapped.
    
    I personally wouldn't use poison even if I could hide it from the
    cat.  
    
    Sandy
    
    
    

    Donna,
    
    Glad to hear your method works for you!  I wouldn't use poison either,
    but I think I'm going to have to learn to operate the classic traps. 
    :-(  My Dad always did it; now he's gone and it has become apparent
    that Skrufy and Veto are more interested in terrifying mice than
    killing them!  (Plus, after they managed to kill a couple, they gnawed
    on 'em considerably... don't want my boys to catch any mousie
    diseases.)
    
    I don't like to kill critters, but their right to run around ends where my
    HOUSE begins!
    
    Leslie

    
    Leslie,
    
    It wasn't clear to me that you had actually tried the Hav-A-Hart and
    was not successful.  It seems to work well generally.  Someone else
    just mentioned that they've been catching mice with 'em in note 824.
    
    Good luck!
    Donna

    
    I meant to say in note 825!