Average Jane’s Barely Competent Predators

IMG_1814Last November, I was confronted with the evidence that we had a mouse problem in our house for the first time since we've lived there. I can't say I really did anything proactive about it, but you'd think that with four cats and a dog wandering about the premises, the solution would be pretty obvious.

Fast forward to last night. We'd gone over to leech off our friends' HBO subscription watch "Game of Thrones" with some friends and when we got home and walked into the kitchen, we could see that Dr. Jones was very engaged with something in the corner. I immediately suspected that he'd found a mouse, and a flick of the light switch confirmed it.

Meanwhile, all the activity got Xena and Velvet's attention as well. It wasn't long before all three cats gathered in the kitchen to, I assumed, make short work of the interloper.

Instead, they managed to let it escape behind the refrigerator.

There was no more sign of it for the rest of the evening, so I eventually went to bed…but only after carefully checking the sheets to make sure no one had left a mouse carcass "gift" there. Xena likes to bring her toys into our bed, so it was a valid concern.

When I woke up this morning, my husband told me that the cats had managed to kill the mouse during the night and he had handled the disposal. I appreciated that, especially since our division of labor back in the old days when we still had an outdoor cat was that I dealt with mammals and he cleaned up the dead birds.

Who knows how many more mice are lurking in our walls and cupboards, but at least the cats have gotten the hang of their varmint killing role. If the critters know what's good for them, they'll leave now. Ish.

Comments

4 responses to “Average Jane’s Barely Competent Predators”

  1. Marnie Whelan Avatar

    The thing is, cats aren’t predators by nature – it’s a nurture thing. You need to adopt a kitten raised by a barn cat (or a streetwise momma cat) and she (females are always better hunters) will teach your lot how to slay the multitudes. . .I realize you already have many cats, so this might not be what you wanted to hear. Also, the the hunting kitty will lay waste to your songbird population as well. . .even if you keep them indoors, sadly. My little savages murdered an innocent pair of house wrens who tried to build their nest next to the bedroom air conditioner while we were away for a weekend.

  2. Blondie Avatar

    WHOOT WHOOT! The mice in Farmhouse Villa stay in the attic and the basement because they KNOW there are predators lurking on the main floor. I have like 20 traps on the attic stairs. So far this spring? No takers.

  3. Romeothecat Avatar

    Well as a fellow cat, I must warn you that we do not take intruders in the home lightly. We bring the rodents into a false sense of security and when they least expect we bring them down. It is a delicate balance, and must not be rushed. MEOW!

  4. Lynn Avatar
    Lynn

    What a hoot. I love that. About 10 years ago my then husband took care of a mouse my 3 cats had trapped in a corner behind the TV. Five years and two house moves later and those cats were still looking behind the TV every few days. I miss those cats. Still don’t miss my husband.

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