Everyone has had an unwanted house guest in their lifetime. Most people have a home remedy or favorite trap, but there are several tried and true methods for getting rid of these rodent invaders. The most successful strategy is prevention, and then a combination of removal.. Simply depending on your cat won’t solve the problem. But, if you have a cat,  a clean house with sealed containers, baited traps, and peppermint oil soaked cotton balls lying around, there is a good chance those mice will run with their tails between their legs…so to speak. Here are the possible ways you can secure your home against unwanted house guests and control rodents.

1. Prevention
   • Get rid of food, water, and shelter sources: The best way to prevent a mouse problem is to not give them any reason to come into your house in the first place. Keep them outside by putting away all food and water sources that would be easily accessible to mice. A lot of times this could be as simple as cat and dog food and water bowls inside the house, located on the floor, right where the mice like them.
   • Shake-Away granules: This is a step you should take if you know there are a lot of mice nearby your house and don’t want them feeling like they are invited inside. Shake the mice deterrent granules around the perimeter of your house and it should do a decent job of keeping them away, but don’t assume you can then leave food crumbs everywhere; they will still find them.
   • Clean your room and kitchen: A clean house is generally a mouse-free house. Prevent any issues by keeping all of the spaces where mice can hide and/or feast squeaky clean.
   • Sealed containers: Cardboard boxes are extremely easy for a mouse to chew through so make sure you transfer your cereals and grains to sealed, thick plastic containers. This will also have the benefit of keeping your food fresh for longer.
   • Sealing holes and cracks: If you have holes or cracks in your walls larger than the diameter of a pencil, there is a good chance a mouse will eventually use that hole for an entrance or escape route. Use steel wool to fill the holes (a mouse can’t chew through it), and caulking to seal cracks.
2. Repellents
   • Peppermint Oil, ammonia, mothballs, kitty litter, and dried snake feces all give off an odor that will scare mice away. Of course, all of those (except Peppermint Oil) will also scare humans away, so use sparingly.
   • High Frequency Sound Beepers: The idea of having a sound frequency that can only harm mice is great, but it doesn’t always work. Also, cats have very sensitive hearing and can hear almost all of the frequencies that are used by the products available on the market. If you don’t have cats or any other pets like Gerbils or Guinea Pigs, give this method a try.
3. Predators
   • Cats: Although cats are usually the go-to animal for mice hunting, they are generally less effective than most people assume. Usually the mice hide in places that a cat cannot reach and although the cat’s odor is supposed to scare mice, it can eventually attract mice once they get used to the smell. Still, cats are always a huge help in the fight and will guarantee that you have a few dead presents every once in a while.
   • Dogs: Rat terriers got their name for their successful rodent hunting abilities. A dog will be just about as effective as having a cat running around hunting all day.
   • Barn Owls: Getting a barn owl to choose your property as a home will be a difficult task, but once they live there, they will be able to clean up your mouse population very quickly. Barn Owls are the most effective predator for mouse hunting.

If you have control of all three of these methods, but you still seem to attract mice. The issues could be much more about your home’s structure or various factors invisible to the untrained eye. Any severe rodent infestation should be treated by professionals. Do your best to guard yourself against these creatures, and then call a rodent removal service if an infestation persists.