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?
Peanut butter in a no-kill trap. Then drive several miles away and release.
The trap you want looks like this:
Mouse runs inside, runs to the end of the trap, steps on the plate to get the food and the door at the far end closes. Very simple and humane trap. Put peanut butter where the balls are. Guarantee you catch one in a single day if it's in a space they visit.
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.