I Cannot Believe I Am About To Say This

I promise, this is the last post I will ever write that has anything to do with rodents, at least until the next time I feel the need to write about rodents.

Here's the good news: the smell is lessening.  Thank you for all your funny and encouraging and otherwise grotesque feedback.  The open containers of coffee grounds have helped, and I think the 18-degree weather hasn't hurt, either.  Though that does make me wonder if we might get to reacquaint ourselves with our malodorous friend when the weather warms up.

Clark, that's the gift that keeps giving the who-o-o-o-o-ole year.

I think I managed to keep my cool pretty well during the original mouse fiasco.  But now that I know there's a dead one in the wall?  I'm not keeping my cool.  In fact, I'm going a little crazy.  Remember that short story by Edgar Allan Poe, where the creepy murderer buries the heart under the floor boards but he can still hear it beating?

(By the way, if you're new here, hi, I'm Shannon, and I don't normally blog about murderers and beating hearts under floor boards, and please will you come back sometime?)

Yes, well, I'm not hearing any beating hearts, but I'm finding myself living with an acute awareness of the dead mouse in my wall.  Even with the smell going away, the idea haunts me.  I have determined that, so help me, there will be no more mice in this house, ever.

And for the first time, I have entertained the notion of getting a cat.  This is significant for two reasons:

1.  I really hate cats.  Truly.  I'm sorry if you're a cat person, and I'm sure you're perfectly lovely, but your pet alarms me.  I am not especially fond of humans who put on airs of superiority, and I absolutely cannot abide it in an animal.  And of course, I'm sure your sweet cat is the exception, but I can tell you that I have never met a cat who did not look down his furry little nose at me.  And wouldn't it be unethical to get a pet that I have no intention of ever liking?

2.  My ten-year-old son and I are both violently allergic to cats.  Our faces get all puffy and red, and our throats itch, and we sneeze like crazy.  I wonder, would daily allergy pills be enough to combat the intense allergy?  Right now, I'd consider wearing a chain of Claritin around my neck everyday, if it meant no mice.

I decided to do a little research, just to find out what my options are.  I am not pleased.

First of all, Wikipedia tells me that "some allergy sufferers find relief in periodic injection therapy designed to stimulate the body's natural immune responses to the cat allergen." 

I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday, y'all.  They're talking about SHOTS.

Plan B was to Google "hypoallergenic cats".

And may God have mercy on us, because they are making cats in laboratories.  They have been bred not to trigger allergies, and Time Magazine listed them as one of the "Best Inventions of 2006".  (A cat is an invention?  Sounds like the premise of an M. Night Shyamalan movie to me.)  Furthermore, these cats cost $4,000--that's FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS--and there is over a one-year waiting list.  I just shake my head.

One last option was to check into "hairless cats" (did you know there is such a thing?) and Wikipedia showed me this, which was all I needed to see, thank you:

Bless its heart, it looks so unhappy, but I suspect you would too, if you looked just like Gollum.  While I'm sure it's a sweet little thing, I can tell you that I would not be able to sleep with that in my house. 

So I'm back to square one, wondering if there's even any possibility for us to get a cat.  I once again throw myself on your mercy for advice, if you've dealt with this.  Is it possible for a cat allergy to be managed?  Are there types of breeds that are less irritating to allergies (in particular, breeds that don't require a down payment or look like a lizard) ? 

Internet, I'm all ears.  (Not as "all ears" as Gollum-Cat, but still all ears.)

Comments

[Beth]

I was allergic to cats - but when we had an (ahem) issue with mice I decided to get a cat. Nobody pets the cat when I am around and she isn't allowed in my room. We have hard wood floors which helps as well. I don't take medicine and have found that I can tolerate her more and more the longer she is around.

Good Luck!

[Tabitha (From Single to Married)]

Oh Shannon, you poor thing! I had to comment about the cat - my aunt has one of the furless cats, a Sphinx I believe. She's named him Slick (for obvious reasons). The funny thing is that he is the sweetest little thing I've ever met. Personally, I think it's to make up for the fact that he doesn't have fur so he's over-compensating. But as sweet as he is, I wouldn't want to get one like him.

So, I don't have a solution for you, just wanted to sympathize...

:)

[Amber]

My boyfriend is violently allergic to his cat. The cat was a present from an ex-girlfriend, but that's a whole separate story. Anyway, my bf takes double the regular Zyrtec dose twice a day and still has issues with headaches and snoring. But.... the cat is pretty darn awesome and won't be going anywhere for a good, oh... 10-12 years if he plans to be an old cat. Sigh. Good luck!

[H.E.Eigler]

Cats are really annoying in that they never do what you want them to do, or what you think they will do. So chances are, you'd get a cat who would refuse to hunt the vermin. Just so ya know....

[Thrifty Karen]

Ramble on much? lol Thanks for the laugh. I was laughing so much at that ugly wrinkled up cat.

Seriously though, there are other ways to get rid of mice. Maybe get some bait boxes from the pest control company.

I really like cats, but I know what you mean about them acting superior. I actually had one cat that didn't. He was just the sweetest thing ever. When my cat gets too moody, I just leave town for a day or two and when I come home she's sweet and lovable . . . for a while. ;)

[Denise]

OK, seriously...which one is worse? A cute little tiny thing that runs out of your way when you turn the light on (I had one run across my bare foot a couple years ago) or a cat that looks surprisingly LIKE a deformed little mouse only much, much bigger. It's disturbing. I think I'd rather not see the mouse I knew was there than I would like to wake up to that cat and have it follow me around the house all day. It's so ugly and I don't care how sweet it is. {{shiver}} :-)

[momranoutscreaming]

I have two suggetions. You could look into an alternative allergist that practices NAET. There's a website with the info on the process. You could also look into a Maine Coon cat. I have heard that they are less allergenic than other cats. I don't know about that but I do know they act more like dogs and are totally cool and really pretty. Good Luck
Kellie

[Andrea (from The Train to Crazy)]

I've always wondered what a hairless cat feels like curled up on you lap...
I grew up with mice in our house. The cat was GREAT at catching them. Problem is she'd always bring them to my mother, as if to say "see, aren't you proud?" My mother never appreciated this, especially in the middle of the night.

[trish]

What about a dog that was designed to hunt? Like a Jack Russel Terrier? Cute and efficent.

[litabug]

Here's an excerpt for you from a suite101 article about cats as pest control. Because I just know you'll love it.

"One of the bigger problems with cats catching mice indoors is the mess. Cats often eat their prey, but not always. When they do, they don't always consume 100% of the prey. They also have a tendency to bring outdoor catches indoors and consume them there, leaving a pile of feathers or fur on the floor. These should be removed as soon as possible to avoid health risks."

[LadyCiani]

We had mice at our high school band room. Band director gets 2 cats. Mice lived in the walls and never came out. Cats caught nothing. Exterminator called (eventually). End of mice.

Just bite the bullet and call. A good one will go around your house sealing up the minuscule holes where the mice are currently entering, which will solve your problem.

[mkw]

I'm not one to enjoy cats in the house. Especially my house. But, we have one for my daughter. The cat is a bother. Just sign up with a good pest control company. . . MKW

[suburbancorrespondent]

Supposedly Maine cooncats are a fairly hypoallergenic breed. But, seriously, from someone who hates her mouse problem as much as you do yours - is it really worth putting yourself and your kid on constant medication? And maybe triggering asthma problems after long exposure? Don't bother. Better, borrow a neighbor's cat (that is already a proven mouser) for a couple of days.

[Big Mama]

First of all that hairless cat is going to give me nightmares. I think I'd choose mice over something that looks like the spawn of satan.

Secondly, if you go for a cat with hair switch to Zyrtec instead of Claritin. I could bore you with all the pharmacodynamic reasons why, but just trust me on this one.

Third, you crack me up.

[Katie]

We've been dealing with mice, too. DH is allergic to cats, so we've toyed with the idea of borrowing a snake from some kid at church.

[Julie]

Don't snakes eat mice? Are you allergic to snakes?

I'm totally kidding - because, ya know, it would have to be loose in the house to do any good and frankly, I'd rather have mice.

[TransitionGirl]

I don't think it's the hair that causes the allergy. It's the saliva. And male cats have stronger saliva, so people tend to get worst reactions from them.

[Jewel]

Shannon, not all cats hunt. In fact, most domesticated cats don't. I believe if you get a cat that does hunt, it reflects an aggressive personality, which is not good in a house where there are young children. It is really hit or miss getting a cat that is pleasant. You really have to go along with the cat and it moods, personality, there is no training them. You may end up with one that wants to sit and watch the mice run around, I did. I recommend pest service.

[Megan]

No allergies here (yet) that we know of, but we became the unintentional owners of three (count 'em: THREE) cats after Christmas.

I know this house has a history with mice, because the previous owners left all the traps in place and we saw a LOT of droppings under the old dishwasher when we replaced it.

All I know is that I had a heck of a cricket problem in the basement before the cats. Since the cats have arrived I've not had one single bug to deal with and I really really really like that. I have no doubts they will get any mice they might find.

I just don't want to know about it.

And that hairless cat? Yikes!

[Vicky]

Okay, I am laughing so hard at the hairless cat that I have tears POURING down my face. Like it took me a second to click "comment" because I couldn't see. The comparison to Gollum in particular was what got me. If you do get a cat, can you please please please name it Gollum no matter how much hair it has? :)

I don't have any actual advice, since I also hate them. Oh, except maybe you could get an outdoors cat, which would keep the mice from entering the house in the first place???

[Real Mom, Real Life]

I am laughing out loud... I feel your pain. I am not a cat person either AND have a child that is terribly allergic -- as in never ever go around one.

The allergist actually said the whole hypo allergenic cat thing was a racket -- same with hairless cats. Which by the way is quite creepy.

How about a bird dog -- or some other type of hunting animal... maybe?

I would probably get a bunch of gloves and tell my kids that they get 10 bucks for every dead mouse they bring to me. 2 rules, wear the gloves and don't tell me how it died.

[D]

As to what a hairless cat feels like.....the adjective is "flaccid" and you can figure out the noun yourself.

It is the saliva and dander that causes the allergy, but according to my animal health technician friend, it's specific animals that cause her problems, not any particular sex or type.

[Carrie@Blessed Chaos]

My dog (a non shedding terrier mix) has caught many more mice than my cat ever has! Although this was always outside and my cat only has three legs - I wonder if that makes a difference.

Oh and when the cat did catch a mouse he played with it. It was horrible to watch, I actually had some compassion for the mouse and was hoping the cat would hurry up and kill it to take it out of its misery!

I am sorry to be so entertained by your dilemma, but your posts have been hilarous.

[Kim]

I had mice once...now I have a cat. My husband maintains that the cat has never shown evidence of catching a mouse. I say, if her presence alone makes them run, that's good enough for me!

We are not allergic though, so I have no advice, sorry!

Loved the story though and the picture...it looks just like my cat..only without hair and about 10lbs lighter!

[Gia]

We live in an apartment and in the spring a squirrel comes to live in the wall next to our bed. Holy hell, it makes me crazy.

I feel your pain.

[Sarah Joy]

Ya know, the presence of a cat does not automatically make the mice disappear. It has to go after the mice. This involves chasing, catching, and disposing of the remains. You may or may not be blessed with a trophy hunting cat which proudly brings you "gifts". Or the type with a streak of fun that just plays with its half dead victim for hours. (Yes I had this dear little critter. I can recall removing the same lizard from the house, in various stages of disrepair, four times in the same day. The cat would find wherever I tossed it, and bring it back in through the pet door.)

Just a thought. A good mouser is usually not the nicest cat on the block anyway. I say this honestly, because I like cats generally, but I sympathize with your plight.

[Jenny]

I'd keep the mice if I had to live with that hairless cat!!LOL...and I'm a cat person!!
Oy...I'm hoping I don't dream of Gollumeow tonight!!
Good luck with the mice!

[Tamlynn]

Oh, that was so funny. Not that I'm happy you have a mouse problem. Just want to say I am starting the allergy shots this month. NOT excited. But what am I going to do when a my daily doses of Claritin, Singulair, Nasonex AND Astelin (another nasal spray) leave me gasping for breath by the end of the day?

Yeah, I guess I could just get rid of the cat, but its not my only allergy.

[se7en]

Oh the hairless cat makes E.T. look like a cuddly pet - I would go with the hairless cat - any rodent seeing that would run for miles... and miles, no violence needed - just a bit of blind terror... Come to think of it just plant that cat on your doorstep and you won't have a problem with visitors either - they would be running screaming down the street too... The ultimate solution - I need that cat, I will never have to clean my house again!!!

[Upstatemomof3]

I am a cat lover and have two cats. They are both short hair cats and most people I know with allergies are able to be in my home without much issue. Maybe you could look into short hair cats.

[Sue D]

Shannon, I agree with the people suggesting the pest service. If you get a good one, they will get rid of your mice. It might cost a few hundred dollars but it's worth it.

I really sympathize with you. When we first moved into our house, we had mice in our basement (but never in our living areas- thank you, Lord) and I spent all day with my eye on the basement door, just waiting for one of them to squeeze underneath! I cried, told my husband that I would move out if I ever saw any upstairs, etc. Suffice it to say, the pest company fee was well worth it to me!

[Melanie]

I'd go with the pest service. My son is allergic, but not violently, and Rx meds didn't really help him while we had our cat. If you guys are that badly allergic, I wouldn't take the chance.

[Viv]

Big sympathy over the mouse-in-wall debacle. I've been trying to track down the source of the repulsive smell in my dining room for weeks now. Last night we finally pulled out the massive bookcase from its alcove and found that child number 1 has been stashing broccoli (& anything else he doesn't like I presume - nothing else was identifiable...)down the back for who knows how long. Ick. Incidentally, my cats used to catch frogs & let them loose in the utility room. They must have all sought refuge under the washing machine because when we moved house we found lots of little froggy skeletons underneath.At least they didn't smell...!

[Steph]

I have a few solutions, not sure if you will like any of them.
-Decon lots of it outside your house if you have a crawlspace use it! It does work.
-Those electronic things you plug into the wall are suppose to repel mice. I have some and it does a good job at making the spiders go away and making any fly to come into my house act like it's on speed, but not so sure about the mice thing. I have rats and they aren't bothered by them.
-Pet rats... yep you could get a few rats in a cage and that is typically enough to keep the mice away. Rats prey on mice. BTW: You could get a hairless rat or two if you wanted lol. They are just as creepy as the cat.
-Ferrets. You can litter train it, it's cheaper, and they act alot like kittens and never really turn into a full grown cat personality so it's like having a kitten all the time. Mine runs free several hours a day, my friend has places to put several litter boxes around her home so hers doesn't have a cage. He uses the litter. Ferrets will eat a rat or mouse in a heartbeat!

[Tonia]

Shannon,

This post is one of the reasons I keep coming back to your blog. I love your sense of humor. It's not everyone that can make me laugh before I finish my first cup of coffee, and I really like starting the day on a high note.

As for the cat/mouse issue. I don't have a suggestion about the cat, but I have lived in a house where we had issues with mice. First of all I HATE mice, and to be honest, I'm very scared of them (I know, crazy). I did everything I could to get rid if the mice short of getting a pet snake. Some did die in the walls and it stank to high heaven but it didn't last forever (about a week or 2), maybe a trip is in order.

We were finally able to leave the mouse hotel and in our new home haven't had even a little trouble for 2 reasons. 1: We have outdoor cats (we live in the country). They really help even if outside. 2: And, this is scary, we have a king snake that lives under a walnut tree a short ways from the house. I've never seen him but my husband has & I avoid that area of our farm. I find its not so hard to live with the idea of a snake if I never see it. By the way my daughters have seen it and think it's "cute" as long as they don't have to touch it. Bless my husbands heart, thanks to him my girls are true country girls.

[Candy]

Nothing says peace in the house like a cat that looks like a giant, deformed, hairless mouse.

[laurasalas]

No practical advice--sorry! But I have to say living with mice has to be better than living with a creepy cat like that one or even a nice cat that you can't stand. Hope you find a good solution!

[Linda Sue]

About Sphinx cats (sometimes called hairless) feel like a suede hot water bottle when they sit on you, since they have no hair to utilize natural skin oils - they need to be bathed or you'll have oily spots when they lay, cats don't all hunt. SO don't get a cat - as everyone has suggested - an exterminator and be done with it. I wondered when you decided not to open the wall to rid your home of the decaying mouse whether you could stand knowing it was there - a decent repair job will still be cheaper than acquiring an unwanted pet.

[Blue Castle]

I feel so much better about our mice issues now that you've been blogging about yours. I'm positive we have some hanging around our house. I don't see their droppings, but every night, I can hear something scratching around in the air vents. It drives me nuts, and now I'm just hoping they don't die in there.
I'm allergic to cats also, and feel exactly the same way about them that you do, but it seems the only way to be rid of the mice would be to get a cat. We've been tossing the idea around too. My only fear is that we'd end up with some stupid cat that doesn't know its' job is to catch mice. How will we know for sure that cat is going to hunt those buggers down? What if we get a dud or a lazy cat?
I'll have to stalk this thread to see what everyone else says. :)
Thank you for being so brave as to share your mice troubles with the world.

[Sandy toes]

OH..the hairless cat is ugly! But, I am sure some owner loves it dearly!
-sandy toe

[Kelly]

I'm with the ones suggesting a dog. Seems like it would do the same job but without all the superiority.

[Bailey's Leaf]

No advice here. Just laughing my butt off. Now, if that laughter can take off 8 pounds, my ticker can be removed! :)

Good luck on your hunt for a loveable, hypoallergenic wonder.

[Me]

I'm going anonymous for this story. When we lived with my parents back in the day we had 3 cats...count them, three LARGE fierce cats who regularly went outdoors and brought us large birds and mice they would hunt down outside.

One day we found ourselves overrun by RATS in the house. Not a mouse, it was a colony of rats! WE got 3 HUGE ones with traps and then they wouldn't take the bait anymore.

Not one cat caught even a small rat.

You want to talk about a smell in the wall? Imagine 10 or so rats dying in your walls. THAT'S BAD!!!

WE moved out right before they started smelling and we didn't visit the parents for a good two months.

The moral of the story? Cats will not always catch mice...or rats.

[Jen]

We have aminiature daschund who hunts everything...flies, flashlight beams and , yes, mice. She doesn't always catch the mice, but we've either been able to mroe effectively set traps or the word is out in the mouse community that this house is being terrorized. We've had far fewer problems.
As a fellow cat allergy sufferer, I would have to agree that it isn't worth your health to get a cat.

[Lisa F]

My cat is a Japanese Bobtail cat and he is supposed to hypoallergenic. No one here is allergic so I can't testify to the accuracy of that statment but...Now on the "catness" of him, well, he hasn't kicked us out of his house yet:-) He is quite snooty and only wants you when he wants you but we are cat people and are willing to take what we can get. Hope you find a solution soon--I so don't like mice!

[CptMom]

I don't have any advice.
I just have to tell you that those hairless cats give me the creeps.

And I had a friend who had one and it's name was Gollum. I laughed when I saw that.

[Linda]

OH MY! That is one ugly cat in the photo. LOL!
We have a cat.....a very LAZY cat. She would probably not chase a mouse away if she had to.

I keep telling her that TOM chases JERRY but well....she doesn't listen to me! She would rather eat and sleep.

[Emmie]

If you're in the country, or even semi-so, put the cats outside and feed them somewhat less. Ever watch a cat pursue and kill a mouse? Scary. Reminds me of Satan pursuing someone.

[Harmony]

I am quite allergic to cats too. We do have a cat (the shorter hair the better) and I have found that you do eventually get used to it. I still react somewhat but not like I used to. You seem to build a bit of immunity against the cat that lives with you. I would recommend it not be in your room (mine sleeps on our bed half the time) as I find night the hardest with allergies. A friend of mine had a Bengal cat. They are supposed to be hypo-allergenic. They are still pricey but a lot less than $4000.00, they are about $1000.00. You can get them a bit cheaper if they are closer to a year old since they sell for more as small kittens. Good luck!

[Gina]

I live practically in the woods (where, incidently, there are TONS of mice, who knew?), and there was a mouse in our house when we bought it. Who knows how longed he had lived here? Anyway, the best way I've found to get rid of mice is to not let them in. Before we moved in (and now still, periodically), hubby goes under the house, looks for light shining through anywhere and plugs even the tiniest hole with steel wool. Because mice can chew through wool, plastic, insulation, but not steel wool. It works!

[Leigh]

Hairless cats are creepy. And have you ever seen a Maine Coon cat? Dear Lord in heaven, you might as well have a bobcat wandering around your home. THEY'RE HUGE.

My cats both know their names and come when they're called and listen. They do, however, turn on the cat-titude when left alone too long or when the food bowl is empty.

And I'll echo the statement that not all cats are hunters. However, just because they are hunters doesn't mean they are an agressive animal.

When I used to let my two outside (we live in a much busier area now), one would go and hunt and bring me "offerings" of dead whatever parts. Not the whole animal, mind you. Just parts. Gross.

I asked the vet what was up with that and he said it was her way of thanking me for taking care of her. The cat wasn't psycho, she was just saving me the choice parts. Ew gross. I'd make a big fuss, tell her she's a good cat and a good protector, let her inside and promptly take the hose to the porch. I'd find her curled up purring in a sunbeam.

The other cat kills spiders and roly poly bugs. I'm really okay with this. However, you'd think that she'd just assassinated one of the world's most wanted criminals every time she does it because of the amount of fanfare she makes.

Cats are quirky like that.

[Kansas Mom]

My husband is allergic as well, but suffering from similar problems, we've decided to get some outdoor cats. Of course, we live in the country. As Emmie suggested, we're going to feed them just enough to keep them around. Apparently, they create a "buffer" zone around the house so the problem should be decreased if not eliminated.

[sam]

All my oldest daughter ever asked for was a kitten. After years of the same request she woke up to one on Christmas morning. About 1.5 years later we found out she was allergic to it, and a multitude of other things, however she was determined to keep the cat.

She did shots and took meds regularly for years. Now she rarely takes meds. (Of course the cat is 13.) One thing we did was keep her room closed off, the cat was/is never allowed in there.

The downside to this is our cat is an indoor cat and if she ever saw a mouse she wouldn't know what to do with it. In one of our previous houses she actually did find one and played with it a while before letting it go. We ended up getting a few outdoor cats to help keep the mouse population down. That helped.

Good luck whatever you decide. And, btw, I felt the same way as you about cats when we got ours. After 13 years, I kinda like her. :)

[SarahMay]

DON'T DO IT. My husband had a cat when we got married, and I didn't think twice about it. Now half my family can't visit our home because they're allergic. This is even worse now that we have children, because my mom can't visit her grandchildren in their own home. If she does spend time in our house, she ends up with several days of discomfort (antihistamines notwithstanding), and has even ended up with a sinus infections from all the irritation (especially if she had a bit of a cold to begin with).

We have seriously considered getting rid of the cat, but don't want to be irresponsible. An animal is not like a piece of unwanted furniture that you can just donate to Goodwill, much as I would love to leave him on the curb!

Furthermore, this cat has become extremely lazy (and he's not even old yet). The last time there was a mouse in the house, he didn't even chase it. Just batted it around a bit, then watched it run gleefully all over the house. So he's useless AND annoying!

[Lara]

What you need is an OUTDOOR cat. When I was growing up we had a mouse problem at my parents' house. However they didn't want to get a cat due to allergy issues and the fact that my dad hates cats. A friend told us that mice in your house actually go in and out, so just having an outdoor cat could solve the problem. It totally worked! They adopted a calico kitten and named her "Mouser" (in the hope that she would develop purpose in life by living up to the meaning of her name LOL). To this day, Mouser happily lives outside (spending the cold nights in the garage) and vigilantly patrols the perimeter of the house for mice. And there hasn't been a trace of a mouse in the house since Mouser's arrival.

[Sarah]

Have you thought about the little noise makers that plug in. They make an annoying sound to mice but we cannot hear it. Well you can barely hear it if you stick your ear to it. They are truely wonderful. I am also allergic to cats, and detest them. I got these noise makers and only have had one mouse in 4 years, and thats because my husband left our bathroom cabinet open. I think it crawled next to the drain pipe in there. I keep the noise makers in the laundry room and kitchen. Also if you will take steal wool and put around any openings where anything from outside comes in your house (drain pipes,dryer exhaust, water pipes, etc) when they chew thru it, it will get in there intestines and rip them to shreads thus killing them..
Sorry so long,
Good luck.

[Trisha]

That might be the funniest post I have ever read! Thanks for giving me such a good laugh on a Monday morning. Unfortunately, I have no advice to give you. I feel the same way you do about cats (and I am allergic). There is a really good chance that you could get a cat and 1. it would refuse to hunt and kill the mouse or 2. it would hunt and kill the mouse and then you would have a cat dragging (and potentially eating) a dead mouse around your house. Yuck! You might be better off just praying that the mice disappear :) Good luck and keep us posted.

[Kristie]

I am violently allergic to cats too (red, puffy face, itching skin all over and sneezing) and when I live with a cat, even with allergy pills, I end up getting lots of respiratory sicknesses. The allergy pills keep the worst symptoms at bay, but my body still can't handle things and I get sick.

My advice, get a cat and keep it outside, if possible. My parents always kept a cat for catching mice, the cats just always lived outside.

[Valerie]

Coming from someone who's husband suffers from severe allergies, I have to chime in here.

A rat, mouse, creepy crawly of any sort, is not worth the health issues that you or your son could experience from gaining a cat. Yes, some people can take an OTC med and handle a cat. So, do you want to pay $30 a month (each) just so you can have a cat? Some people can build up their tolerance by simply being around them. Others will go into such shock that they will need to go to the hospital. Are you certain that you know which category you fall into?
I'd rather spend my money hiring someone to come out and examine my house... figure out where the critters are coming in, and fix it. Buy some steel wool.
And open up the wall to remove the dead mouse. That would haunt me too. Drywall isn't that expensive to replace. Perhaps now is the time to give your kitchen a makeover.

[Michelle]

sad, pitiful cat.

[Gwyn]

Move? Just kidding....

I am a cat lover and couldn't do the whole hairless "ugly" cat either.

My cat's afraid of his own shadow, I don't think he's much of a mouser.

[Alana @ Gray Matters]

Our last go round with mice had me thinking I could live with a cat. My feelings about cats are very similar to yours. Thankfully, the feeling passed, and I realized an occasional mouse was much better than a cat walking on my counter tops on a daily basis!

[MamaHenClucks]

I just laughed a lot :)

We live next to an open space and ALL of our neighbors have mice. We had a few come into the garage and die in there right after we moved in (which is gross, but tolerable.) I attribute the lack of mice coming in anymore to the GIANT bull snake that lives in a hole next to my foundation. I still can't tell you which is worse. Knowing a snake is living there, or mice in the house.

[Marla Taviano]

Oh, please don't get a cat! I dislike them for the same reason you do--they unnerve me. I hate that they think they're better than me, and if I tried to convince them otherwise...well, I'd be talking to a CAT. It's a no-win situation.

Although we did have a lot of cats growing up, and they completely took care of the mice problem. And they were outside cats. Maybe that's your answer.

[Cory]

I've been allergic to cats my whole life. I took allergy shots for a while, then relied on Flonase and Zyrtec. Then a few months ago I heard of NAET - an allergy elimination technique based on Eastern medicine. There is muscle testing to see if you're allergic, then they work to "clear" the allergy. You hold a vile of something or other (that contains the energy of whatever you're allergic to) for 20 minutes, then you avoid the allergen for 25 hours and viola, you're not allergic anymore. At least that's the way it's supposed to work. I have to say, after a few months of working on some other allergies and also on building up my immune system, I don't have to take Zyrtec daily anymore and we even got a CAT! I'm totally fine around him, when before I would have been reduced to a sneezing, sniffling mess! Google NAET for more info.

[Starr]

I think I would be less scared of a mouse than I would be of that hideous looking cat. Wow.

[Richael]

Oh, Shannon, I'm so sorry about this. I have to wonder though, isn't there someone to call to "mouse proof" your house. I mean, like come in and say, okay here is where they are coming in and this is what you need to do. I mean, brand new houses typically don't have mice, I figure in part because there are no holes to get in through, right? And if you find there is no such person, well, then there we have the next future millionaire, because there really should be such a person. I hope you find a workable solution.

[Rina]

Oh how awful... and how funny! Thanks for the laugh.
My Mom LOVES Sphynx cats... I think they're gross and who wants to pet a cat with no fur?! The very thought gives me the heebie jeebies.
What about keeping the cat OUTSIDE? Maine Coon cats, as others have said, are amazing and if you do a little research on them you'll find that they are EXCELLENT mouse hunters (actually, they were originally kept as pets to rid the barns of RATS.) They can totally handle cold weather and I think they have wonderful personalities.
Personally, I really like the ferret idea... I bet your kids would LOVE that! Can't wait to see what you decide!

[celina]

ok, too much to say, will just do point forms.
-lived in a country home with TONS of mice, we'd have 6 traps where we thought they were coming in, and at about 3am, we'd hear our cats run, yep all 6 traps full, the fun had begun....I HAVE 3 CATS...one the mice would sit on her head and she'd walk around...i kid you not....
-one cat ate half the mice and left us the head....uck....
-the other was just chasing and never caught them, dh had to get up and hunt them with a crocket mallet, we still have this mallet 10 yrs later , its moves with us and is our mouse killer mallet...

-dh is allergic, i have 3 cats still only one of the originals is left..the one the mice used as transportation....dh developed massive allergies..gets SHOTS every week...allergist says dark haired cats have been shown to be the worst..gave us a whole paper about it, yep we have 2 dark haired and one white and black....

good luck

[Linda Sue]

If you go ahead with this cat idea - the Devon Rex might be a good compromise - very short curly coated and when I had my beloved Seal for 12 years - nobody who came into my house (and I'm a cruddy housekeeper) ever had an allergy problem from Seal.http://www.breedlist.com/devon-rex-breeders.html
Also - I paid around $500 for him - not cheap but not "raid the kid's tuition fund" expensive.

[Erin K.]

I have no advice for you, but just want to say that I am practically falling out of my chair laughing right now. The Gollum comment sent me over the edge - HILARIOUS! Thanks for starting my Monday off on a great note, and best wishes with the whole mouse/cat thing. =)

[Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry]

The only thing worse than having a dead mouse in your house, would be having that cat in your house.

[Amy]

I am allergic to cats, too, and so is my husband. He never knew it, though, until he grew up, because had always grown up with a cat, and I guess he got used to the allergens in the house.

Before I was married, I lived with a roommate who convinced me that getting a kitten was worth a try. The strange thing was, this cat didn't bother me at all. I think that the dander in the house built up slowly so that my body got used to it. I never had any reaction to this cat. So if you get a cat (which I don't necessarily recommend!) you and your son might not have a problem because you'd get used to the cat slowly.

Of course, if that doesn't work, you'd have dander in your house and no way to get rid of it. Ugh!

[Stacey]

Don't count on a cat to catch your mice. Our cat has been in the house for 9 years and the only mouse it ever caught it also released under the dining room table during Thanksgiving dinner. All 15 guests reacted differently to that one!! Our best 'mouser' cats over the years have been females who have not been spayed.
Allergy shots are an amazing thing! Our son doesn't have cat allergies, but after just a few months of shots grass pollen no longer makes his eyes swell shut!

[Spider Lady]

If you really want to go the cat route, there is a breed called Cornish Rex. They aren't quite hairless but the hair they do have is very short and curly. They don't shed at all!

[Jeannette]

I had a dachshund growing who was an excellent rodent catcher- I couldn't tell you if they were rats or mice because I didn't stick around long enough to look at his "treasures".
They are so much cuter than hairless cats!

[Lauren]

Okay, here we go.

When my parents decided to get me a cat (as a reward for eye surgery), my dad, who, ironically grew up with cats, was allergic to them at the time. So he kept getting allergy shots, and now he's home free, and we have TWO cats. Plus, one that hangs around our house that we baby.

But let me tell you ONE THING.

DO NOT I repeat, DO NOT GIVE THE CAT FISH.

Scientists speculate that a cat's dander aggravates a person's cat allergy, so to decrease the blow, don't let that little furball anywhere near a can of tuna (unless it's constantly meowing at you).

So, get allergy shots, don't feed the little furry child tuna, and there's a possibility that you can get over the allergy.

Plus, get a short-haired kitty. IDK, but them might do less harm than a long-haired kitty.

*grins*

P.S.: And for pity's sake, please adopt a furry child from the Humane Society if you're going to get one. We adopted one and she's much friendlier than the one we got at a breeder, appropriately named Princess.

[Jen]

Lots of small dogs will catch mice. My parents Jack Russell terrier will catch anything. I hate to see you get a pet that you won't like. Then, you will be looking to get rid of the cat and there will be one more pet that needs a home.

[Heather BT]

There are some dogs bred to catch mice, some terriers, lot's of energy needed to keep up with them, and my favorite, if I needed to buy one in this situation, the affenpinscher.
Nice dog, better with kids and no allergy issues.
Some cats will be mousers, Mum's laziest cat, Chubbs, was the best at it because she could sit immobile so long the mice forgot about her. Her current cat, Drive Thru, is a spazz and useless for catching mice.
Don't like the decon, because then you still have mice dying in unknown places. Filling in the holes with a combo of foam insulation and steel wool is a good idea. You can also make a basic mouse trap in your garage with a stick, some bird seed and a metal bucket. You put a little seed in the bottom of the bucket, lean a stick on the bucket et voila! the mouse climbs up the stick, falls happily into the bucket and can't get back out. Easy mouse disposal.
Heather BT
http;//adoptakid.blogspot.com

[Sarah the secret blower]

sorry, gotta give it up...my daughter and I are both allergic to cats as well

I suppose you could adopt a local cat from your local humane shelter and put a gallon size ziplock baggie on the offensive creature with a hole cut at head and tail for obvious reasons...but I think it would limit said creature's ability to catch mice...

how about some good old fashioned mousetraps...

they always worked great for us!!!!

[Lori]

David was allergic to cats, so I was worried the first time he visited my apartment at Scott's graduation. Turns out, he was fine with my cat, but Craig on the other hand sneezed his head off. Craig now has his own cat that he does not have any allergies towards. Thus, my highly scientific conclusion is that tho you may be allergic to cats, it may not mean you are allergic to all cats. Maybe you could adopt one and do a 'test' to see how you respond. Good luck. I know I would do anything to get rid of the mice!

There is always the option of an outdoor cat too... tho you may have to keep it indoors for a bit so i knows where it gets its food and knows where to call home.

[Meredith@WrittenByHerself]

I hate cats, too, so I would definitely think about getting a dog.

Terriers were originally bred to catch mice, and for the most part, you can't go wrong there. From experience, miniature pinschers and miniature schnauzers seem particularly good for this. (Also, schnauzers don't shed, and they don't have "yappy" barks!)

[RLR]

From someone who's been brought two (and that was two too many) 'trophies' by her cat - I vote for the exterminator....

[Sarah]

Aaahh! That hairless cat is downright scary, although it did make me laugh too. We've tried the steel wool trick too. Hope you find a solution!

[Jeni]

If you're in a fairly safe place, consider an indoor-outdoor cat. That way the time inside will be minimized to keep allergies at bay, but kitty can still come in to kill/catch/deter rodents.

Just a thought.

[Lucy]

We had a terrible mouse problem when we first moved into our house. Firstly, we put rock around the sides of the house where there had been grass. Mice don't like rock as much. We also used spray foam to seal every little crack we could find. We also got a dog. For some reason, the dog smell helped to keep the mice away (we don't have the dog anymore). And we set lots of traps. Fortunately, they are mostly in our basement and only Hubs and child #1 have to deal with them.

We do have a cat, but he was not allowed in the basement and the few times a mouse made it upstairs, he just played with it (his front paws are declawed, but I don't think that would matter). My husband would have to catch it and kill it.

Just sayin', don't get a cat just to be a mouser, since that's not predictable. If you could get a farm cat and it could live outside, maybe that would work. But outside cats have their own problems. Good luck!

[Penny Raine]

oh that is a sad looking kitty, don't know that I can be of any advice, after being kept up ALL night by a country sized rodent, chewing on who knows what, and we have several cats, all outside barn kitties, who love to come in when we let them, but last night when I went to the door and called kitty kitty, none were to be found.. UUGGHH, I need SLEEP

blessings, Penny Raine
http://pennyraine.com/blog

[Audrey]

We have experienced not even one trace of mice activity in our house ever since we got 2 OUTDOOR cats. The cats pretty much hang out on our back porch, where we feed them and have them a nice little "bed", but they hunt and kill just about every kind of rodent you can possibly imagine. I know this because they often bring their "kill" and leave it for us to see by the back door. You wouldn't believe the HUGE CRAWDAD's that they have hunted and left on our porch. Regardless, I don't have to mess with the cat hair, litter, etc., in the house and I also don't have to deal with any mice! It works great since the cats take care of the them before the mice ever have a chance to think about moving in with us!!!!

[Carrie]

I'm with you...I do NOT like cats AND I am allergic to them. So here's my advice...we had mice in our old house. We backed up to some woods and in the winter they invaded. Eewww...I can still hear the scratching in the wall! My husband somehow found out that peppermint oil keeps them out, so we tried it and we never had anymore problems. Just go to a health food store and buy some essential oil of peppermint and get some cotton balls. (It needs to be the real deal - 100% peppermint.) Put a few drops on each cotton ball and put them around where you think the mice are or could be coming in. You might have to refresh them occassionally if you continue to have any problems. The other thing you MUST do is have your hubby go to Home Depot and get some of that expanding foam spray stuff. Walk around the outside of the house and seal every opening where they could possibly be getting in. (dryer vent, line coming in from the air conditioner unit, any other pipes or drains coming through the wall.) We sealed up a few places and did the peppermint once and never had any problems again. MUCH better than having a cat for all of it's 9 lives!! Good luck!

[Pat]

Some dogs are great micers.....fox terriers, jack russells..probably most terrier types. I know ours finds them. Good luck.

[AF]

Hey Shannon-- My husband and I had took a cat in from a former roommate of his. I was not happy about the cat coming to live with us since I'm allergic and don't like cats! She's lived with us for six months now, and I have started waking up in the AM with itchy throat and sneezing. I think it has something to do with the cat's fur being spread everywhere through the central A/C or heat. No matter how clean you try to keep the house, the fur will embed itself. I don't like the fur on the furniture and such, but you can't prevent it. My husband promises to brush her everday to keep the fur down, but that doesn't happen! On the positive side, the cat is funny to watch and is very loving towards my husband. But she knows I'm competition!

[Amy]

When I first started dating my husband (16 years ago) the two cats at his house really bothered my allergies. When we got married, the cats came with him... and after a couple of months of living with them, my allergies were pretty much gone. I no longer had itchy eyes, sneezing, etc. So I guess that it's true that you do build up a tolerance to them pretty quickly.

Now, as for the attitudes, yes, they have them. BUT... the younger cat was just a kitten when we got married, and I trained her from the beginning that I was in charge, LOL! She doesn't get up on counters or any of that other stuff you hear about cats doing.

[Lauri]

Don't count on the cat to help.. our moody tortie never hunts the mice, but plays with them on occasion.

[Diana]

I haven't read all of the responses but I just wanted to let you know that we have had cats and mice...at the same time...so I don't think getting a cat is the solution. Maybe all cats don't chase mice...I don't know. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Amy]

Just realized after I hit submit that my comment above implies that the cats we have are more than 16 years old. Don't worry, you probably wouldn't be "stuck" that long. :) The cats we have now are 11 and 12.

[Jada]

I'm not sure all cats chase/catch/eat mice, do they? I have a cat, and I think if she saw a mouse, she'd probably just play with it!

[Shannon P]

Try a Bengal cat. Our friends are allergic to cats, but got a Bengal and haven't had any problems. They have shorter hair--and are actually beautiful to look at.

[Jessica]

I almost shrieked outloud when I scrolled down and saw that cat (if that's what you can call it). YUCK!! Is there anyone that you know of that owns a cat that you can borrow? When we had our rodent problem, we seriously thought about it. The sticky mouse traps worked better than the original wooden ones didn't work! The peanut butter would be gone, but there wasn't a mouse in sight. We also plugged up every hole into our home with steel wool. It works really well. Good luck! It's just so gross, isn't it?!

[Kristin]

My parents have big problems with mice sneaking into their house, but not when they get a cat and put it outside. Get it a little house outside and give it food (to help it to stick around) and it will monitor the perimeter of your house. This really has helped--it attacks the mice when it sees them outside, so the mice don't have a chance to come it.

And then, put some mouse traps at the entrances to your house--just in case.

[Adventures In Babywearing]

Oh my gosh Shannon this is too funny. Um, let me just say that growing up with 2 cats, we still had mice in our house. Oh, and remember? I had pet rats too and the cats were AFRAID of the rats.

Steph