My mother in law lived in a rural area. The house was surrounded by fields. The house was old, not tight, with plenty of entry points. She would set snap traps. Then one day a pregnant cat showed up at the back door. My sister in law could never turn away a cat in need. She fed the cat and convinced her mother to let the cat stay at the back door area, which consisted of a small landing, stairs down to the basement and a small bath. The cats had her kittens and the mamma cat taught her young ones how to hunt, even though my MIL and SIL kept them well fed. Those cats were ferocious when it came to the local small wild life. They wouldn't let the cats out during the day to protect the birds. And the mice, they had no chance. Let cats out in the evening and they would instantly get mice. My MIL no longer had mice in the house. One cat wouldn't eat the heads, so it was common to see the walkway lined with mouse heads. Over the years, the cats passed away, but there is one surviving. She is more than 19 years old. It seems that fresh air, plenty of room to roam, Fancy Feast and fresh mouse agrees with the cats.
