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?
You have to be very diligent about checking these. You get nothing for a few days while the mice get comfortable with it being around, and then the moment you forget to check it is the moment it catches a mouse.
At this point you have about two days before it becomes just about the least humane thing you'll ever see in your life. I recommend setting a reminder on your phone.
If you don't have ADHD (like I do) or something similar however, this is a good solution. People will tell you "if you release it in the wild its as good as killing it." Personally I'd rather hand an owl or a snake it's lunch on a silver platter, than kill a living thing and throw it in the garbage.