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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/I'm never home
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Question
My boyfriend and I have a mouse problem and were considering adopting a kitten from a local shelter. The problem is that we both work long hours, six days a week and I am afraid of leaving the kitty alone for so long (especially in a strange environment). Any tips?
Tomika,
Personally I wouldn't recommend you getting a kitten. Unless you got 2 kittens so the one would have company, companionship, a playmate, and comfort when you are gone, it wouldn't be fair to the cat. It would be lonely, scared, and bored all by itself locked in the house. That can cause emotional and behavioral problems.
There is also no guarantee that the kitten could or would catch any mice. I had a mouse problem at one time and I had a number of cats!
What I found worked the best for my mouse problem was an electric mouse trap. I got mine at Rite-Aid, but probably places like Home Depot would have them too. The are a plastic little rectangle closed box with a hole in it. It uses batteries. There is a metal plate inside. You put a piece of a cookie, etc. inside the box past the plate. When the mouse goes after the cookie he steps on the plate first and is immediatly electrocuted. A light on the box flashes when you have a mouse. You just open the top and dump the mouse, reset the box(s) and wait for the next one. I trapped 10 that way and didn't have any more problem.
In combination with the electric mouse traps, I also purchased plug in electronic deterrents that worked for mice too(they were in the same department with the mouse traps). They emits an ultrasonic high pitched squeal that we can't hear, but mice can and leave because of it. I left one plugged into the wall wherever I thought mice were.
I hope this helps with your decision.
Tabbi
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 8 |
| Comment | Thanks, I'm a little disappointed but, you are right it would not be fair to the cat. Until the response I did not realize how selfish my question was | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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