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

[just another day in paradise]

i'm out on a limb here, but what about a dog of some sort? Many terriers were bred for rat killing, so I would think that someone would still have the instint to search out a mouse. I would look into it if I were you.

I am not allergic to cats, but I do have allergies. I've taken shots (which is huge, because I am deathly afraid of needles!) and they work. I still wouldn't get a cat if I were you, however. The biggest pain of the whole thing is working with your clinic to schedule an appointment for a shot. . .

Good luck!

[amy]

okay, I know it may not work, but it has to be better than a cat- what about one of those elctronic devices you plug in to the outlets that emit a frequency that drives the mice away but not humans, dogs, etc.

Like I said, it may not work, but it has to be better than a cat. I don't like cats and my husband is violently allergic to them.

[Misty]

Okay...so you're NOT a cat fan, huh? :o) There are some very small dogs that are GREAT "mousers" if you aren't allergic to (or at all prefer) dogs. Chihuahuas and Rat Terriers are some great choices. Just a thought...oh, and by the way, dogs that are "mousers" tend to hunt other things as well. Like bugs and birds. Just FYI. :o)

[Alisha Brodrick]

Have you though about a dog? I have a miniature schnauzer and they are known to be "mousers". She is a year and a half old and she is wonderful. I haven't had a problem with mice or any other rodents. I also am excited that she has taken care of my mole problem to. If you want to know anything more just email me or contact me at my blog!!!

[Sarah]

Please don't get a cat if you don't like them. I promise, it is not going to turn out well for you or the cat. I do a lot of animal rescue volunteer work and without going into full on lecture mode... just please don't get a cat, ok?

What are your feelings on dogs? Do you have allergy issues? Many breeds of small dogs were specifically bred for hunting rodents (think terriers) and might be a better fit for your family.

[Melanie]

Too long to comment. I'm just going to post it!

[Miriam]

I had regular cat/hayfever allergies until I was about 19 and then they decided to make things more interesting around here and move on to food allergies. Did you know that normal allergies can become weirdo allergies? They totally can, and the amount of exposure you give yourself effects that. So you'd likely be fine, but I personally wouldn't bet on your son.

Not to be an internet shrieking commenter, but I'd recommend looking into that food allergy connection before bringing home Sox. It's super uncool.

[Melissa]

Dear Shannon
Bless your heart. I have been where you are - on the precipice of desperation. My daughter is allergic to cats. We have done the shots. Even with the shots, she cannot be exposed to cats. While shots increase your tolerance to the allergen with a controlled exposure, having a cat would expose you in an uncontrolable manner which could and probanly would increase the severity of your reaction. There are several breeds of dogs which are excellent mouse hunters. At one time we had a Jack Russell terrier(think of the dog Wishbone)who did a marvelous job of keeping the mice at bay. Good luck-Melissa

[Renee]

I wish I had great words of wisdom to share on your mouse problem. But I've got nada!

Just thanks again for the laugh. It was well needed this morning!! I was hoping you'd keep us in the loop on the ever expanding mouse saga.

Don't get a cat if you're allergic. We have lots of cat allergies at our house, and when we visit my sister who loves cats and has a few, hubby and kids are itchy, red eyed, and feeling miserable forever after. And they all take various forms of allergy meds.

We were just watching Lord of the Rings last night, I burst out laughing when I saw the horrid looking scary hairless Gollum cat. I was feeling kinda down this morning, (didn't want to face the mountains of laundry) but your blog put a smile on my face and the to do list back into perspective. (after all what is a bit of laundry in comparision to the great mouse wars being fought at your house!!) This is the reason I keep coming back to your blog. THANKS for the attitude adjustment. I love Rocks in my dryer!

Good Luck and you have my sympathy and best wishes for a mouseless future!

(I'd go with a terrier, I have a yorkie--so darn cute and he is really territorial, I don't think he would stand for a small usurper (spelling) to his domain for anything!) Good luck!

[threeundertwo]

I'm sure you're not really considering getting an animal you wouldn't love. That wouldn't be kind to either of you. Not all cats are mousers either, so buying one as a way to control rodents isn't a good strategy.

That said, we have indoor British Shorthair cats and people who are violently allergic come visit us and never react at all. I suspect it's either the breed or the fact that they are indoor only cats, and much cleaner than outdoor cats.

[Superchikk]

Get a dog. A terrier, one that is bred for hunting small rodents, and get it from a breeder who hunts with their dogs. Our Jack Russell was an EXCELLENT mouser - would give any cat a run for their money. And she was a dog, so she was sweet and loving, not pious and indignant like a cat!

[teri from indiana]

Lord love ya!! You have made me smile. First of all, hairless cats are freaky. Aguy at our church has one &
i keep telling him that's why women want nothing to do with him. IF you need a cat, keep it outside! We live in the country and have 4 cats......outside. My dd keeps sneaking them in but she's always the first to throw them out when I scream, er, request that they not be in the house. Did I mention they live outside?
You know Yankee Candles burning will kill that odor. My grandmother swore by moth balls use as a repellant of mice, daughter-in-laws and mouthy granddaughters. My uncle screamed that she was poisoning everyone. But ya know, she's 103 and she doesn't have a mouse in her house. The d-i-l's and mouthy granddaughters are still around though.

[Melody]

Have you considered moving? It might be easier. :)

[Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates]

I don't think a cat will help you. Most don't even catch mice. My sister has cats that do catch rats and mice - they bring them in her room in the middle of the night to play with them (still alive) or bring them right up to her as a "present" (still alive). Blech!

Best to plug up holes and use traps, I think. Then, at least you don't have to force yourself to like cats - LOL!

[Andrea@Under Grace & Over Coffee]

Is your house big? I rented a house in college with some other gals, one of whom had a cat. The house was a two story, and the cat was only allowed downstairs or in the owner's room. She also took very good care of her pet, and I didn't have a problem at all (I have asthma and get hives. So basically I get itchy and wheezy. Its quite attractive!)

BUT, I had another roomie later on who had a cat that basically had the run of our teeny apartment (except my room) AND she didn't take proper care of it. I was always sick.

However, I have been told that you can become immune to your cat over time. It doesn't really work with asthma, but possibly the other symptoms might eventually go away?

[Roberta Anne]

I use mouse poison, little green pellets. I tuck them in unseen spots all over my home. I have no problem with murdering those pesky varmints. Great post. I am a new reader and you are a great blogger.
Roberta Anne

[Christi]

Siberian cats are supposed to be helpful for allergy sufferers.

[Stretch Mark Mama]

I cannot think of One Good Thing to say about cats. 378 bad things, for sure.

I'll bet those Gollum cats choke on their hairballs a lot, too. Just like Gollum.

CAN. NOT. ABIDE.

[Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers]

Oh. My. Goodness! I don't have any tips since we have cats and no allergies, but I just had to say: that hairless cat is the ugliest thing that I've ever seen in my life. Worse, even, than a Chinese Crested, whose only redeeming quality was that one of it's breed was held by Matthew McConaughey in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

I'd take the mice over that cat any day! Good luck! ;-)

[Shannon H]

oh,my...I needed that laugh today more than you will ever know...thank you so much!

And...on to the advice. NO cat! If you already don't like cats...and they make you and your son sick...finding various dismembered rodents...and a very large vet bill b/c it has eaten a sick one... won't make you love them any more. I'm afraid it will only add to your stress that is so obviously hanging on your very last nerve! The same might be true of a dog. I mean, by all means...get a dog...I firmly believe all households need one (or 2)...but not for pest control. In the long run, an exterminator will be cheaper :-) I would also have hubs look around for possible points of entry. That way no more in the walls...so sorry about that by the way...
Lastly, someday, over a cup of coffee (oops...you hate coffee...uhhh...a smoothie?), I would love to tell you the tale of the family of rats that were living in our garage. ahhhhh....good times! So, from 1 Shannon to another...ain't life grand???

[Wanda]

Shannon

ME TOO!! ME TOO!! ME TOO!!! All cat lovers look away!

I hate how sick cats make me. I itch and claw myself to death. They are scary too. Have you ever been bitten by a cat? It's horrible!
They are mean!

Now....I will say this====I DO own cats. They are outside and they are incredible mousers. I have not had a mouse in my house as long as I have lived in it (7 years). However, they bring them up daily to my back door and whine to show me their kill.
I praise them and throw out some cat food for a reward! ( I kid, I feed them 2x's daily) AND they keep all the mice away!

[Erin]

Wow! So hilarious, and the advice is almost as entertaining! We live in the country also, and my allergic, cat-averse husband won't allow me to have even an outdoor cat to help solve our mouse problem...we have a great dog that hunts everything, but the mouse sounds don't trigger anything for him, so unless he sees it scurrying, he doesn't go after it! We tried mouse poison in the crawl space, which worked, but we stopped when the dog came back in with a mouse oozing green goo. The mice eat the poison and then run outside to look for water. That's where my dog finds them, and if he actually ate one, it would be one expensive vet bill to get him detoxed before the poison killed him--not fun! Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in there! Good luck! Oh, and the smell does seem to go away after a week or two. You can also read about when I had a squirrel in our house here: http://littlefamilybigwoods.blogspot.com/search/label/Keeping%20it%20rural

[Mrs. Q]

Are you allergic to dogs too? If you aren't you could get a Jack Russell Terrier. They were originally bred to hunt down rats. I'm sure they could adapt to hunting down mice :) And they are a lot cuter than a hairless feline!

[Laura]

Your comment about not being able to sleep with the hairless cat in the house made me laugh out loud. :) They are kind of ugly like a large, hairless rat, huh?

[Swivels]

Some dog breeds are good mousers...

[Tamara]

Shannon,
I adore cats. Love them. But seriously? I would not get a cat just to control a rodent problem. We had a cat in our antique store that literally ignored mice. He'd chase paper and bat pens about, but he just yawned when he saw mice. A cat is no guarantee against rodents! I have heard that they're better hunters if they've not been spayed/neutered...but then Since you're not a cat lover, your money is probably better spent on a reputable pest control service instead of a cat and subsequent allergy shots. Good luck!

[k&c's mom]

I want nothing to do with cats or cat advice, but I must tell you I snorted my ice tea when I scrolled down and saw the picture of that cat you posted. I think just the SIGHT of it would make rodents in all surrounding counties pack up their little bags and vamoose. 'Course it may cost you all your friends and family, too.

[Libby Brill]

I feel your pain. A few years ago we had a mouse problem. What worked for us was to call an exterminator. He went around the foundation of our house and sealed up ALL of the little holes where those critters could be getting in. Did you know that mice can get through a hole as small as the tip of a pencil?!?

The exterminator put a steel wool kind of substance (but it was made out of copper) in all the places where they might be getting in and also told us some precautions we should take ourselves (dryer vent, etc). It worked like a charm!

Good luck!

[Erin]

If you have to get a cat, you should try to get a short haired one rather than a long haired one - for common sense reasons. If you get one young enough, you can get them used to having a bath -- bathing them a few times a month cuts down on the dander that you are probably allergic to. The only thing is that all cats are not mousers - we have two cats. We have never had a mouse issue but one of our cats LOVES playing with toys, so I can guess she would probably be good at catching mice. The other one is super laid back and lazy and could care less about toys, so he would probably let the mice run right in front of him and just lay there. LOL! Good luck in whatever you do - I would be going a bit nutty trying to get rid of mice too. :)

[Pam]

Don't get the cat. Just step away from the idea. Step back a bit farther. Keep going. You can do it!

[Jane]

Have you seen this hairless Cat that blogs?
http://dragonheartsdomain.blogspot.com/
Your kids may enjoy his pictures.

Also, I got shots for many years after we discovered (upon getting a cat) that I was allergic. She was a faithful pet for 20 years (some of which I was away at college etc... I only got shots for about 5 years and took a Claritin like product after that.) It was well worth it for me and my family then. Still, I would periodically borrow a cat for home inspection rather than get a cat now a days. Surely you have a friend who's cat could come over for an overnight bi monthly?

[Dianne]

How about calling the exterminator - like the one from "Mouse Hunt?" ha! ha!

My sister learned that if you regularly clean your curtains and drapes (in addition to vacuuming and sweeping), it helps with the dander - which is what activates allergies anyway.

Have an allergy-less member of your family brush the cat often.

Or go back to Christopher Walken's quirky exterminator guy.

[ewokgirl]

I think you may be kidding about a cat, but I'm not sure, so I have to say this: May I respectfully suggest that you NOT get a cat, even if you can find a way to control the allergic reaction to cats? It's just not safe for a cat to be let loose with random mice who could be carrying disease. (Not to freak you out further.) If the mouse is ill, it'll make the cat ill. If you want a cat, get it because your family wants to love it, not because you need it to catch mice for you. And lest you think I'm picking on you because there's a certain degree of anonymity in cyberspace (even if you can link back to my blog), please know that this is the exact same advice I'd give to a family member or friend.

[lomagirl]

I like cats, but I hate allergies- I don't think it's worth it. There are several types of dogs that will chase rats and probably mice, and just having an animal like that in the house might keep them away.
There are also mice traps (though I just saw the Tale of Desperaux so don't let your kids see it if you are doing traps.) Some are more humane (mousane) than others.

[Amy in West TX]

I would highly recommend the Burmese breed. They are less allergenic that most cats. They are not cheap though. There is a wonderful breeder in Oklahoma, luthipets.com I recently added to our burmese collection with a kitten from them. I am sure Wathina could give you information on her different breeds and if one might work for you.

[Claire Smith]

Great, I'm the 136th commenter... unlikely to even get read by anyone other than myself and possibly Shannon :P

Cat allergy is actually allergy to the saliva, not the fur, so the furless creatures (ugly as they are) are no less allergical. Yes I just made up a word.

I have a mild cat allergy but find that the more time I spend with cats the better I cope with it. So maybe if you got a kitten then as it got bigger and was more allergical to your poor cat-hating bodies then you guys would cope with it better and better as time goes by.

I also recommend Flixonase (if you can get that wherever you live) which is a nose-spray thing which stops the sneezing in combination with the Claratyne or whatever tablets. Eat them like they're M and M's.

P.s. I'm a cat nut but totally understand how you might not be. They are sometimes quite bastardly. But you will fall in love with your own one. It's like thinking your own kid is really going to be Miss America when everyone else knows that she looks like a fat version of Miss Piggy.

Anyhow, this has rambled on long enough.

Good luck with the mouse issue!

[Kelly beeson]

That cat is horrid. You should just borrow somebody else's cat and then go to Hawaii for like, a month.

[aquamarine]

That poor looking cat! I want to get it a crochet sweater! As for your rats, so sorry to hear about such a stink. No Rats hints here, but if you ever get in trouble with a cockroach I am your women!

[Wendy]

I've heard Blue Russians are good for people with allergies.

What most people don't like to hear is that if you're going to have a cat for mouse-catching, you can't feed said cat. If you feed the cat regularly, it will stare lazily at the mouse running by and burp.

And mousers are more effective if they live outside, which will shorten their lifespan.

[Michelle]

Hi! I was allergic to cats too....eyes puffy, cant breathe....doctor told me its the outdoor cats that pick up things that we are allergic to--mold, grass, pollen, etc....plus its the chemical on the cats tongue. I found that I kept my cat indoors only! wash hands after petting and I did fine! I had a cat for 15 years before I had to put him down. Good luck...Hope this helps!

[linda]

I may be the enemy here but this is what I do. Twice a year, spring and fall, I put out fresh rat/mouse poison in several locations. I don't like mice, don't want them to come for a visit. This is my successful solution.

[Trixie]

Hello!

Too bad we don't live closer, our little beagle found a dead mouse in the wall 2 years ago. We kept smelling this horrible stench but couldn't quite place it. We coaxed Barney to do a little sniffing and soon he was clawing and biting at the wall where the mouse was.

My husband cut a hole in the wall and sure enough -- dead mouse.

Maybe I'll have to start renting our little guy out:)

Take Care,

Trixie
http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/

[angie a]

Oh Shannon, where to begin. I am a cat person. I love them. But let me assure you, not all cats are mousers. I've really only had one cat out of about 30 that I would consider a good mouse catcher. And have you ever seen a cat catch a mouse. It is not an immediate hunt-and-kill game. They cat basically tortures the mouse to death. They throw them around just to chase them again. And occasionally the mouse wins the game. If I were you, with allergies and the aversion to cats, I would just not get one. Love your blog!

[Queen B]

We shave our cat that sheds. It looks pathetic, but works.

Our cat that doesn't shed is a Selkirk Rex. They normally look permed (yes. it is scary. i would not have a permed cat) but he is a reject with straight hair. His hair is a weird texture. Kind of coarse, but still soft.

That hairless thing is awful.

[mzzterry]

fyi. allergy shots do not hurt. i take two every friday. the needle is really tiny.

[Melissa]

I have found that when we first get a new cat, I have bad allergies for the first couple of weeks, then they pretty much disappear completely!

Good luck!

[Pam]

I out grew my cat allergy when I got to be about 24 years old....we have a cat that thinks she is a dog...comes when called....eats pizza and ice cream with my husband...can't wait for us to sit down so she can be on our laps...AND we can leave her at home for 3 or 4 days when we go on vacation with a bowl of food and water...she is the perfect pet.

[Chen]

I've visited this post three times today, and every time I nearly died laughing! That poor animal does look like Gollum, maybe with more wrinkles. Ugh. I'd rather spend $4,000 on a hypoallergenic cat than a bald wrinkled one. And I can't even imagine what my dogs would do if they met one of those...creatures.

I recommend saving yourself the sniffles and not getting a cat. Especially since not all of them catch mice. We had a *ahem* plump cat for several years, and he only caught the birds that chirped outside my window.

[Peggy]

Last week my mom, who lives down stairs, called for help(meaning my husband and son)to catch the mouse that was running around her living room. All the while her pretty kitty lay on the couch watching mousie run. Two nights ago, while I was visiting with mom, pretty kitty came in through the kitty door, with a dead bird in her mouth. Often, she brings mom "presents", some living, some not. Birds, mice, voles, squirrels even a small snake. DON'T get a cat just for pest control!

[Maggie]

I'm sorry, you already seem to have so many comments but I really should reply because I think this will be helpful.

I had a serious cat allergy, like struggling with the flu. I will try to keep this brief:

Short haired cats were SO much worse for me, I believe this is due to the fact that their hairs are finer and can, ahem, get up your nose a bit more.

Long story short, but we ended up getting a Persian http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_(cat) and I have ended up becoming non-allergic through daily exposure. I am absolutely fine touching my cat and then rubbing my eyes, which I absolutely could not do with short haired versions.

Ok, so persians can appear ugly to those who are used to other cats, but trust me when I say I find mine (as does every other visitor in my house) more like a small dog. Very friendly, greets me at the door and rolls over for a belly rub *smile*

----------

There's my essay on getting a cat, your allergy will lessen, honest. However - there is NO guarantee that the cat will want to attack mice. Perhaps a better idea is to borrow a good cat hunting fiend from a friend for a few days during the season when mice come indoors.

I've had mice before my cat, I truly understand your distress. Block up any holes to the outside and move all your food to the top cupboards. Make sure you give everywhere a good spring clean before the season to get rid of the crumbs that fall behind the fridge etc.

[Kim]

Well Shannon, I doubt that you'll find this a viable alternative either but I thought you'd want to know about it. Just in case.

My BIL was very allergic to cats until he ate some weird poisonous fish in Mexico and almost died. Now he's not at all allergic to cats.

Neither does he eat fish any more.

[Beulah]

I agree, if you decide you just have to have a cat, keep it outdoors.

An exterminator seems like your best bet. Be sure to find one that will do a survey of your house to prevent the problem from happening again. A mouse can compress its body to fit through an opening as small as a dime. That's all it needs to come inside.

Gollum kitty. lol. Is it wrong that I feel bad for the no-hair kitty? It just seems so violated.

[Lisa]

Oh that hairless cat is horrible!

I live in the country and we have mice occasionally. They terrify me...I'm talking, "What's wrong with Mommy? Why is she standing in the corner crying?" kind of scared. It's completely unreasonable.

So we got cats...FOUR of them. Here's the bad news...they don't catch anything. Never have they distracted one mouse from coming into my house.

Call the exterminator. :) Lisa~

[Raise Them Up]

Oh, Sharon, I'm still laughing! Three of my other four family members are now asking me to hurry up and show them what's so funny over here that I have tears running down my face.

I'm with Vicky on three things:

First, the tears thing.

Second the Gollum thing. You have so nailed this cat with the name of Gollum! And naming a cat gollum is something I wish I had thought of when we adopted the ugliest cat on the planet.

And third, I was thinking of an outside cat, too. We have three outdoor cats (because we were nice to ONE once), and we haven't have mice since we adopted the cats.

I'm so sorry for your allergy, though.

[Natalie]

Yeah, those SHOTS that you refer to... I get them.. once a week and one in each arm. I have been getting those shots for 2 1/2 years with at least 2 1/2 years more to go! minimum, maybe even 7 1/2 years more. I do have more allergies than just cats (like everything that sprouts, thinks about sprouting or just happens to be greenish in color and all animals but dogs). Any who, I don't recommend them - my arms will never be the same. EVER.
Good luck with your mouse problem, makes me shiver just thinking about it :) Can't someone spray for mice?

[Emily]

OH, HO, HO, HA, HA, HO! You have me in stitches, Shannon! As a fellow cat-allergy sufferer (and I even like the little things!), I can definitively say that the hairless Gollum-looking cats DO trigger allergies. In fact, my sister-in-law's hairless cat triggered one of the worst reactions I've ever had. From experience, I do believe that kittens and very young cats don't trigger an allergic response as badly as full-grown cats; you could always 'borrow' a young one and then give it away after a few months once your rodent problem is under control. OR (I hate to mention this option), you could consider other options-- we had mice in our garage, and they disappeared after we left for vacation and came back to find snake poop in our garage. You COULD get yourself a snake. :-)

[Raise Them Up]

Three of the four other people in this house are asking me to hurry up and show them what is so funny.

So, quickly, I agree with Vicky on three points.

1. The tears. I haven't laughed this hard for a while.

2. The name Gollum. You SO nailed this cat with the name. And I'm with her. If you get a cat, Gollum would be the perfect name. In fact, I'm really bummed I didn't think of Gollum when we decided to keep the ugliest cat on the planet three years ago.

3. I was thinking outside cat, too. We have had three outdoor cats (the direct result of being nice to ONE cat) and have not had a mouse problem since they've been on the job.

I am sorry about your allergies, and your smelly wall. :) I've been there. Please do keep us informed. The laughs are good for our health!

[Missy]

Well, I have one snooty cat, and two loveable ones, but they do have those "bow-before-me-human" moments too. They're all good mousers, but they're all indoor-outdoor.

My boyfriend's Mother (and Step-father I believe) are allergic to cats, His mother takes allergy shots every so often to combat her allergies, and she has had 3 cats in the house with very few issues (two domestic shorthairs, one of which is the spawn of a stray that popped up on my property pregnant) and one main coon mix, I would warn you that a Maine coon cat is not going to be terribly hypoallergenic in my experience, simply for the fact that Dander will be more likely to collect in their long fur, they also require some grooming (aka contact from the momma)

We also have a Jack Russell Terrier and a Rat Terrier (both small fuzzy animal hunters) who do work very effectively at teaming up and cornering small creatures like mice, but I will mention that the prey drive can make them yappy little monsters at times. Also, the prey drive will make them go after rabbits and other cuddly things that you may like to look at while they're still... in one piece.

As to the electronic sound mouse traps I know the ones for Roaches work fairly well (they spin around in circles the noise bothers them so much) but I've never tried the mouse ones, but if theyre anything like the roach ones, go ahead and try it.

[Stacey]

I am trying really hard not..to laugh out loud-- the kids are sleeping--
Don't get a cat, just call Mice-busters!
LOL
I used to like cats, but now that I have seen that hairless "thing" UGH, yuck!

My cousin just had the same problem, she named the mice Fred, and then left traps and went to her parents' house!

[Dave Roller]

This is why I always say I only want a cat if the recipe book comes with it. That one goes over really well at peta meetings! My daughter really wants a cat for her 10th birthday. My wife and I don't want one. My wife doesn't want a pet at all. None of us are violently allergic to cats. Maybe since scientists can clone a cat that people aren't allergic to, they have a way of keeping my daughter perpetually 9.

[Melissa]

I have cat allergies, and did allergy shots for 3 + years (weekly or biweekly, y'all), and still I can walk into a home an instantly know if they own cats. My eyes swell up and I start wheezing, I don't care if you vaccuum minutes before I get there. I'm thinking severe cat allergies, avoidance is the best policy. Plus, you'd probably pay less for an exterminator than allergy immunotheraphy for you and your son! ;-)

[Karen {simply a musing blog}]

{shakes head} I feel for ya. My son has allergies as well - he takes zyrtec and we vacuum every day - and we have to keep his bedroom door closed during the day. (my eldest daughter also brushes our cat two or three times a week - outside)

[Jane Anne]

My 2nd son and I are both allergic to cats. I could relate to your #1 and #2... too much! The only reason that I have heard of a hairless cat is because of the hairless cat that was on Friends. I guess you missed those episodes? They were pretty hilarious. But, then again, I am not a cat lover.

[Lori]

Holy comments, Batman! You've stuck a nerve! I tried allergy shots for 3 years and they didn't help my cat allergies and asthma one bit. When my dr and I decided to stop he said, "well, you know they don't work for everyone." WHAT?!?!? I don't believe I was notified that that was an option! Good luck - I posted last week about our recent mouse experience, and trust me - you win!

[Heather]

Cats are just tiny women in cheap fur coats. Dogs have masters, cats have "the help".
Just some bumper sticker wisdom to help you out... I have had two cats for many years and mice are rarely a problem, even having lived in NY where the rodents tend to be larger than most cats. (google "super rat" if you want an image to replace the freaky hairless cat) I really love them (not the super rats) but I must warn you... cats bring with them some issues that you need to consider. It's like having a furry teenager that coughs up hairballs. And the cat box could make you miss dead mice in your wall. Best case, if they happen to be a "good mouser", and especially if they love you, they will present you with regular gifts... a certian organ that they consider to be unsuitable for their delicate palets. And by "present", I mean that they will leave it in front of the refrigerator, on your bed, anywhere to "surprise" you. Cause it's a gift, you know.
I stumbled across this the other night: http://www.homelessmouse.com/
might be worth a try
the steel wool is good too

[The Random Muse]

Have you considered getting an outdoor cat. It won't help once the mice are in the house, but could be a very strong deterrent. If you do that, got the pound, find the scruffiest momma cat you can and select a kitten. Ideally you want the kitten who is neither climbing the bars nor hiding in the back, but the one who just sits in the cage and watches what goes on; it's less likely to grow into a psychotic cat. If you feed it and pet it, it should learn to stay near your house and when the mice come, the mother's heritage will come shining through and they will die.

[Raise Them Up]

Three of the four other people in this house are asking me to hurry up and show them what is so funny.

So, quickly, I agree with Vicky on three points.

1. The tears. I haven't laughed this hard in quite a while.

2. The name Gollum. You SO nailed this cat with the name. And I'm with her. If you get a cat, Gollum would be the perfect name. In fact, I'm really bummed I didn't think of Gollum when we decided to keep the ugliest cat on the planet three years ago.

3. I was thinking outside cat, too. We have had three outdoor cats (the direct result of being nice to ONE cat) and have not had a mouse problem since they've been on the job. So, an outside cat, AND a pest service would be extra good, no?

I am sorry about your allergies, and your smelly wall. :) I've been there. Please do keep us informed. The laughs are good for our health!

[Becky]

Hey, I coulldn't comment on Parenting so I thought I would comment on your Candy Land post here. I will just paste it in.

I did a post on my blog a few months ago about needing out that involved me admiring a nail polish color I'd seen on Sesame street so I am glad that I'm not the only one! It is scary that kids are capable of such smack talk :) Thankfully my twins are still only 21 months and don't have the "talking thing" down much less the "smack talk". Ahhh....breathing a deep sigh of relief :)

[Raise Them Up]

Ugh, Shannon, I've done it again! Please forgive me for leaving multiple comments. I keep thinking the computer eats my comment and trying it again--even leaving lots of time for it to be posted. I'm totally gonna figure this out if it kills me! Today, I just realized I didn't check more comments. Maybe I'm turning a new leaf!

I'm glad you have a sense of humor...

[rhonda]

I would also recommend against the cat as mouse control. Only cats that I know that mouse are "barn cats" who are very unsocialable....think about it, if they get food from you, what motivates them to catch mice??

that being said, we have a great cat- she will even sit on command (as long as you have a treat)...and will come when we whistle. Not all cats are haughty- it just depends..

[Michelle]

I also have severe cat allergies, but have found that over time, they lessen significantly if you have a cat in the house. My best advice for reducing the allergens, is to bathe the cat regularly. Our cat gets a bath once a month, and it helps tremendously with the amount of dander and allergens when you pet him. Keep the doors closed to the bedrooms that you don't want the cat in, and having an air purifier in your room will help as well. The longer you're exposed to one particular cat, the less likely it will trigger your allergies. Just make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after petting the cat, or you'll end up touching your face and trigger your allergies big time.

[angela]

Are you both allergic to long hair and short hair?
I have found that I had allergies to the long hair - but I became immune after a while.
I currently have a short hair and have no problems with her.

I have a Tri-Star Vacuum that helped me suck up the 2 mice I found in my house. LOL

I do take a wet sponge and stick it into every crevis there was a possible opening. That and the spray expanding foam.

[Linda]

Hi! Having lived for 5 years in a 90 year old house with 3 cats, I've learned from experience, cats don't always successfully deal with mouse problems. If they do catch something, they don't usually kill it. Cats enjoy playing with their food. Immensely. My advice? Don't get a cat because you think it might resolve a mouse problem, they might just create a whole new set of problems!

[Shannon]

It sounds like many others have covered this, but I'll share my cat and allergy knowledge with you just in case it helps.
-My husband is allergic only to some cats. The only give we've noticed it that it seems to be more with orange tabby cats. He was fine with our short haired black cat and our medium haired siamese looking cat.
-My mother is very allergic. She came to stay with us for 4 days at Christmas. Her allergies were in check the first three due to: me cleaning like a madwoman before she came attempting to get all cat dander out, her taking allergy meds religiously (Claritin and the like), her using some sort of balm on the inside of her nose that somehow blocks the dander, the guest bedroom where she slept at night is cat free. And despite all this she STILL started getting allergy symptoms the 4th day. My honest opinion is that it's not worth doing that to you or your son especially in light of the fact that you are not a cat person. (Mom also tried allergy shots a number of years ago...never did much.)
And that brings me to my second point, you could do all this and the cat still may not catch the mice.
And just because I am one of those cat people (who recently lost a beloved cat) I will say that my girl cat is very much a "cat" cat, and I'll admit she can have the aloof thing going on. But our boy cat had more of the personality of a dog. He wanted love, affection, came when you called him. We had the best of both worlds.
But yeah, I'd pass on the cat for your family. The sad reality is that cat allergies may make you and your son pretty miserable.

[Monique in TX]

Can't help with the cat problem, but does it make you feel better by comparison if I tell you that in my previous house, the problem wasn't mice, it was opossums? Think of how much larger an opossum is than a mouse... Then imagine the stink a dead one in your wall makes. Yum! Enjoy your breakfast!

[mmclassics]

I can't afford the doctor/allergist visits or ear tubes involved in a cat addition to our house. It is just not an option although my husband and son1 LOVE cats.

Story. In the previous house we had a "dead" smell that would be quite intense, and then disappear - repeatedly. Our dead and decayed mouse was found in the back of the refrigerator, and the "aroma" would be broadcast any time the refrigerator powered on! We put a little screen on the back of the fridge to keep out any future intruders. We had a couple of mouse episodes at the old house, but eventually filled in all the cracks and signed up a bug man. (One happened with a house guest, but after summering in Mongolia a few times, she wasn't phased.) We were fine after that.

They don't seem to want inside a house as much when it is not winter. Part of our problem at the previous house was also a depression era hoarder - who couldn't help herself. We have seen mice OUTSIDE this house, and I have declined to feed the birds this last year because it was too much of a mouse magnet. We miss it, but we do our part by keeping their water source available with the goldfish pond.

Good luck.

[megan]

An older gentleman where I work says that he uses horse chestnuts (those big bright green spikey apple looking things) around his house and garage to keep the mice away. He said as they decay they emit a scent that the mice cannot stand. People don't seem to smell it though. He does this every year and he says that his place is mice free.
Maybe an alternative to getting a cat?

[Jana]

Okay, I knew that kind of cat reminded me of some(body?). We did get a cat (free!) for the simple fact that we live next to native grasses and woodland, and we have mice in the garage and *warning* in our van! I saw a mouse in our van one day, quickly shut the door and grabbed the cat. I tossed him inside the van and within minutes, the mouse was nought. I shudder thinking of it, and I also shudder when I walk in pet stores and see mice for sale. Why, in the name of all that is holy and good, would ANYONE buy a mouse? And if it's to feed it to something that eats mice, why would you have that kind of pet? Give me a dog anyday. Oh, and our dogs do catch mice and moles (just not in the garage!).

[Sally T.]

Please, Mrs. Rocks, if you don't like cats, don't get one. They'll never work like you want them to (after all, they're cats), or worse yet, they'll bring every dead mouse to you for affirmation that they are mighty hunters. The allergies & the dislike are God's way of telling you that cats are not your answer!

[Jane]

Hello, my mother has very very bad cat allergies but has found that by buying a cat as a kitten somehow the body can build up an immunity to the kitten and it stays as the cat becomes fully grown. I don't know how, I guess maybe little cats are weak and so have weaker allergens?
It may not work for everyone but it definately worked in our house.
Good luck.

[Amber]

I have friends who swear by riddex!
http://www.opamerica.com/riddex-plus-digital-pest-repeller-p-1436.html

[Kate]

You know that alot of dogs will get rid of mice too, right? Are you all alergic to dogs too?

[Carol ~ I Throw Like A Girl]

Please don't get a cat especially if you and your son are allergic.You may have to get rid of it because of the allergies and then you will have 2-3 heartbroken kids. Plus, instead of mice, you will be dealing with a litter box (gross, even if you're ocd about cleaning it), and furball vomit. I like cats,and was heartbroken when ours died, but I really would not want another one.

Just my 2 cents.

[Patellen]

I just had to delurk to comment on this post! I am not a cat person either. I laughed so hard when I saw the hairless cat -- our neighbors wanted cats but are allergic to everything, so they got 2 hairless cats. Oh. My. God. They stand at their glass side door, which faces our driveway where I always am with the kids, and stand up, with their paws on the glass, all stretched out and, well, grotesque. My kids just stare, it's like a freak show. I'd keep the mice...

[Sam]

My husband's parents have a hairless cat because they hate the hair. They have a st. petersburg hairless something or other. The cat isn't as ugly as that, but it looks similar, but it is the most annoying cat ever. If dogs are any better on your list, there are some who chase and kill mice.

[Donna]

Shannon, get a Yorkie! They were bred to be mouse chasers! ,,,I feel for you...I hate those 'creatures from outer space' as I've come to un-affectionately call them.

[Michelle]

Excellent post!

I have two thoughts:

1. We have a Maine Coon - great at catching mice.

2. Even so, the disgusting remains left are no fun, so we called an exterminator. $250 and the deal was done and guaranteed for one year. That would be cheaper than said cat, cat food, and cat vet visits for one year.

[Amanda]

My husband is an exterminator. We've dealt with rats in the basement/crawlspace. When they die it stinks for about 3 days max. Then it goes away and doesn't come back (even when it gets warm). You could just get an exterminator for a couple months and then cancel the service if it goes away. I think my husbands company also sells "odd jobs" where they just come once and you can get a second service if you need it.
Don't get the cat. My son is a cat person. I despise them. He really, really loves the cats though so we have them. In 8 years and 5 cats, I've never had one catch anything. My dog used to catch snakes and moles for us.

[Cathy]

You are hilarious! No advice here, since being a cat hater myself could not bring myself to encourage someone to get one;) And further more, anyone who quotes Cousin Eddy from Christmas Vacation is one COOL bloggerer!(is that even a word?)

I wish you well in your quest...

[susieshomemade]

Don't do it! I am not found of cats either and mostly because I am allergic too. I just don't like pets in the house period.

[Carliee]

Growing up we had mice and bats in our house. I hate them both, but would rather have mice than bats.

A few years ago, I discovered my roommate had set a mousetrap in an interesting place in our apartment...a kitchen drawer that held pans. Being quite germaphobic, I took to washing things before using them.

On a more pleasant note...I have a rather large stuffed mouse and he is rather quite pleasant. His name is "Couch Hog" because when he first came to live with me, he spent a great deal of time on the couch, which didn't leave much space for people.

[Sandy S.]

Girl, you always crack me up. I just had to tell you that my best high school girlfriend who, incidentally, is a vet LOVES hairless cats. She had one when we were in high school and, get this, that ugly thing GREW HAIR. It truly looked like a elderly balding man. The other bad thing about those cats is that, since they don't have hair, their skin gets so dirty and if they sit in you while dirty, they get it all over you....just in case you needed another reason not to look any further into a hairless cat...oh and my girlfriend named her cat ROGAINE:)

[Amber @ Classic Housewife]

I'm laughing so hard I'm in tears.
I'm sorry.
Really.
I'm not laughing at your pain, but once you got to the "googling hairless cats" part - I was a gonner.
*ahem*
Seriously,I understand your Poe-ish mortification that there is something dead in the wall. I had a similar experience when I moved a bookcase to find part of a colony of termites. Even after they were gone, but the damage was still there, I couldn't stand to look at it without shuddering. I'd walk ten feet around that spot. Finally, in desperation I bought a jar of spackle and UNPROFESSIONALLY gooped it all over the holes and tunnels in my wall so that I couldn't SEE it anymore. We were going to have to replace that wall anyway. And the 5$ was totally worth it.

Too bad you can't just 5$ spackle your way out of this one. Sorry, Shannon. :(

[pinkcamojeep]

Shannon,
I'm not going to read all one thousand comments to see if this has been said before:
Having a cat to keep down rodents is overrated. We've lived in the country (beside fields rotated with corn, peanuts and cotton) and we've lived in the city. We've had more mice in the old (1920) home than the newer ones, but they're everywhere and my experience is that a cat doesn't make enough difference to make it worth the trouble that it would put you through with the allergy. I say, look into an exterminator. It'd be cheaper and more convenient in the long run.

[Jaena Womack]

We had mice and went with Orkin. The bonus is they will also rid your house of ants (no more Terro needed) AND spiders - what a deal! We live on a very tight budget, but I have to say it is worth the money knowing we are pest-free.

[midlife mommy]

I am horribly allergic to cats, and I've always had a few of them. I tried shots and they didn't work. What does work for me is Rhinocort (prescription). One spray in each side of my nose in the morning and it's like I don't have allergies. It's not perfect, because cleaning out a very dusty closet at my father's house nearly did me in recently, but it definitely controls the cat allergy problem.

Fortunately, I do have one cat who knows what to do when a mouse is around. Oddly, not all of them can figure it out (or maybe they just don't care?).

[rachel]

Have to comment on this one! I'm seriously afraid of rodents. After seeing 2 in our house, staying at my parents' until my husband caught them, and being put on anti-anxiety meds to deal with them...we got a cat. I have always hated cats and am allergic to them, but ended up falling in love with Banjo. While we had the cat, we never saw a mouse. He ran away and we had two more mice this winter. The Orkin man came and said we didn't have a problem, just a few mice that took a wrong turn and got in through the crack in our front door. He recommended stuffing steel wool into any cracks in the house (it messes up a mouse's teeth when it tries to chew it), not leaving dishes in the sink, and keep all food put up. He said to put out a few sticky traps and some d-con. He said there is nothing that kills the mice and makes them not smell...that's just a selling trick. Any hole bigger than the end of a pencil...stuff it with steel wool and he said to pay attention around the dish washer because a lot of times, that's how they enter the house! Hope that helps and your problem is taken care of!

[Tree]

Have to say... best reason to get a cat is because you want a cat as a pet. Some are good hunters and no, that doesn't indicate aggression at all, and some aren't. Obviously, most of your readers are dog people, and if you're one as well, by all means go dog. All terriers were bred to kill small animals and many do. Still, seems like what you really want is some traps and an exterminator.

Hairless cats are warm and unbelievably soft. They feel like baby bottoms and are sweet and cuddly. That said, they can leave grease spots on upholstery, need frequent baths, they can't go out in the sun, and there's no guarantee that you won't be allergic to them. What most people react to is not the fur itself, it's a reaction to an enzyme in cat saliva that is deposited on the fur during cleaning. Hairless cats have the same enzymes. The hypoallergenic cats were bred from a select (and hard to find) population that don't-- hence the mega price tag.

The worst thing you can do is take steps that lead to another unwanted cat being deposited in a shelter.

[Lorie]

I'm allergic to cats. And we have TWO. Quite frankly, I'm ready for them to go AWAY! I'm tired of not being able to breath through my nose. And there isn't much I can take since I'm breastfeeding. So, I wouldn't do it. I THINK I'd rather put up with the unpleasantness of the occasional mouse. But I wonder if an outdoor cat would help?