So my two cats were going nuts in the kitchen a couple days ago (and have been since) so my parents and I were looking under the cabinets (by taking the bottom drawer out) and saw a mouse. Cue lots of freaking out because we keep the house clean and have never had this problem before. We have no idea where it got in at. The good news, however, is that we're 99% sure it/they can't get out from the area underneath the cabinets because there are no openings. So yesterday, without my knowledge, my parents bought a kill trap. They weren't going to tell me about it, but I found out. Cue WWIII. Long story short, they caught a poor little mouse by his leg, took him outside where he died from the trauma, and they won't be buying any more kill traps. So last night I attempted to make a couple of no-kill traps, one by balancing a small glass on a nickel and putting peanut butter inside and the other by cutting the top off a pop bottle and inverting it (also with pb inside). Neither one caught anything this morning, but we'll see when I get home from work. My parents will also be buying more store-made no-kill traps today. There won't be another kill trap in this house. I'm still pissed at them for going behind my back.

Anyways... Anyone have any tips for keeping the furry little bastards babies out of my house? No poisons or anything else that will kill them though. I was thinking maybe one of those plug-in sonic things? But I don't know if they work or not - my parents don't think they do. I was thinking more along the lines of scented plants they don't like or essential oils or salts or something.

Okay, honestly, my first thought was buy a snake. They can get into small spaces and get the mice. (Of course, then you have a snake problem, but that's a whole other issue...) Secondly, let your cats catch them. That's what cats do best! Third, if you're serious about keeping the darn thing alive, buying live traps is good for the short term, but try planting plants around your house that deter small rodents, like mint, lavender, or catnip (Which your cats would love you for!) and this will help with any future issues.

I actually just found out that peppermint plants are supposed to help and there's the bonus of being able to steep them for tea as well. I didn't know catnip kept mice away. It would have the added benefit of drawing in neighborhood cats to nom the mousies, lol. Thanks for your help! Also, jsyk I would totally get a snake if it were just me, but my mother would flip a serious shit. I'll suggest it anyways just to watch her freak out. XD

There are no-kill traps. :) I know that around here Walmart carries them (dunno about where you are though). You could set those up and put them outside when you catch them.

- dated a Buddhist at the same time I had a mouse in my kitchen, so I've got a no kill trap that works fairly well.

You tape a small stack of quarters to the center of a toilet paper roll and balance it on the edge of your kitchen counter with some sort of bait in the end, and just place a (fairly tall) garbage can underneath. You can line the can with something soft if you're afraid of the little guy getting hurt, but they're pretty resilient.

OH GOD THERE'S A MOUSE IN MY THREAD NOW TOO!!

I will do something like that if I find they're getting out of the enclosed cupboard area. Thankfully, they're stuck in the area under the cabinets. As far as I know. knocks on wood And I totally understand about the Buddhist priciples. I agree with many myself.