... from the kitchen.A couple of weeks ago I was sitting on the couch, completing some readings and I heard a tiny, high-pitched scream, followed by the scrabbly sounds of tiny little feet coming from the kitchen.
No, it wasn't a cat.
It was a mouse. I figure what happened was it scampered across the stove by the heat vent...given I was baking and was using the stove, the surface was very, very warm, and it got its wittle teeny feet burned.
Unfortunately, it's not a unique occurance--whenever it warms up, or cools down, the four-footed populations increases...temporarily.
Out came the arsenal: a newfangled trap, the old reliable one and a sweet little live trap. Unfortunately, as much as I prefer live traps, mousie is too smart and ran in got the peanut butter and ran away. The traditional wooden one scare me too much--it's very sensitive and I'm paranoid of snapping a finger off. The new fangled one is easy to set and effective. Very effective.
I must admit I get very girlie when it comes to mice...I hate dealing with them. Thank goodness other people will. I just hate the idea of killing the little furry things when all the did was invade my space. Yes, I know they are germy, but still...I think what bothers me more is the fact their eyes are wide open when they've...umm...met their maker. All I can think of is Stuart Little.
I wish the local mice didn't have such high-fallutin' palates...they aren't interested in cheese (of any sort). Nor did they want any bacon fat. They wanted (and eventually got) organic peanut butter....a small price to pay . I suppose that is my fate. Beanie, as much as he loves chicken, will not eat plain chicken...it needs to be spiced (coriander, pepper, garlic). Hagia prefers lemongrass and black olives (with pits).
I also wish my cats would earn their keep. I told Beanie to go and eat the mouse (before the traps came out). He just looked at me with a "you've got to be joking" look and walked away. This is the cat who, a few years ago (when there was a different and effective live trap around), brought his toys to the soon-to-be-freed mouse.
Sigh...
cheers!
jasmine
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Mice just belong outside!
ReplyDeleteAs always Jasmine . . . sweet writing.
I, too, am extremely girlie about dealing with mice. As I live in the country, it's hard to be girlie about anything -- the deer that eat the garden, the rabbits, the wild turkeys, the occasional coyote, the chipmunks and squirrels that are everywhere.... and yes, the mice. Mine go for all the fluffy stuff -- flour, pancake mix, etc. -- which I have to keep in glass jars. UGH.
ReplyDeleteI once had astounding success with day-old muffins. And I was living in Kensington Market at the time, so my mice had discerning palates.
ReplyDeleteOh yikes. Have another talk with those cats, will you? Perhaps withholding of chicken will change his mind... We found a mouse in our back yard last week. I was embarrassed later about how much hand waving and shrieking I did.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness that is so funny! You definitely have some very spoiled pets!
ReplyDeleteWe've had the occasional mousie visitor over the last month, too. We're firm believers in the wooden traps - quick and effective. We use a bit of gouda, spread with some peanut butter. Gets 'em every time. ;)
ReplyDeleteYour cat sounds adorable with the mice! Although I'm a bit biased since I have pet rats. (smile) I hope you can rid your kitchen of them soon though!
ReplyDeleteGoodness me, poor you and poor mousey!
ReplyDeleteWe heard funny very loud scuttling noises in our roof recently, but we think it's a bird's nest now thank heavens!
Hello all
ReplyDeleteWell...I don't believe there are anymore mousies in the house...now all the weird scurrying noises are the usual suspects padding around...looking for chicken...and olives...
j