We have at least a couple mice (I'm like 75% sure they're mice and not rats) roaming around downstairs. Of the two we saw, one is just a tiny little bablet, the other one was noticeably larger but still a small one, idk if it's an adult or not because I'm not that familiar with mice, I just know they're obviously different ages and therefore we're likely dealing with a family.
They don't really bother me; I'm mostly afraid I will step on them or one will crawl into the cozy warmth of our bed while we're sleeping, and while I think they're the cutest things I've ever seen, I don't want absolutely anything skittering on my bare legs in bed - I'm WAY more scared of cockroaches and I have had one of those in my bed before and... I just know it's going to trigger the same response if I feel a mouse, however unlikely that is. All that to say, I'm not really bothered them, but my girlfriend is having a meltdown, she is petrified. So I need tips on how to get them out of here, safely.
My other concern is that we have 4 cats - 4 indoor cats who are more hungry for stimulation than for tasty mice bodies, and yesterday my girlfriend witnessed our cats playing with (tormenting) one of the poor little guys, and I don't want them to get tortured and eviscerated.
So far we have placed 4 humane traps in corners and up against walls where we have seen them, 2 baited with cat food (since we have seen one eating the cat food), one baited with bread, and one baited with peanut butter. The peanut butter one I placed last night, but none of them have gone for it yet. The other ones I placed just now. I also dusted the corners of the room with cinnamon after reading that that might ward them off, but the little guy I just saw was literally just hanging out in a big dusting of cinnamon, so I have to believe it's not really bothering them, or at least making them avoid her room (the basement).
What else can I do?
an adult mouse isnt much bigger than my thumb. they're pretty small. if you see two mice, there's a good chance you have more so i'd keep trying with whatever traps you can think of. i'm sure they can spread disease of some kind, and they definitely pee all over everything, so i feel like you should be more bothered by them than you seem to be :) your gf having a meltdown seems appropriate to the matter.
i know you dont want this but i'd just let the cats have a go at the mice. i've had success hunting mice in my flat with my cat, as a team of sorts (though the cat doesnt quite understand that we're a team)
Ultimately, I'm not really trying to protect the mice from the cats. I haven't removed the cats from the area we saw them, and if they get got then, so be it... I don't love it but, as the kids say, it is what it is. I just hope they go for the traps instead. Especially since these cats at least are not being the most efficient killers.
I also understand I can't just harbor a horde of rats/mice because it's not sanitary, lol. As much as I want to protect the little chumps.
We're gonna dust the area with cayenne, spray peppermint oil around the house, and yeah... maybe get more traps.
what works for me is to chase the mouse together with my cat, and then when the cat helps me corral it into a corner, i just wrap my hand in a thick towel and grab the little fucker. i havent been bit yet.
jesus bro how big are your thumbs?
length of my thumb (just the last two bones) is 7.5cm
i have average sized man hands