Four Legged Critters!

I have mice! Yup... mice. Two of them. Actually, they are a cute little couple and don't really bother anything or anyone. They are just coming in from the cold and the rain, looking for a bit of food.

About a year and a half ago, a friend of mine (OK - my friends husband) replaced my oven. This must have created a little entrance for these furry little friends of mine because they came in immediately after the installation. I quickly went out and got traps and placed them strategically around the oven and, within 24 hours, no more problem.

I have not seen a single mouse since... until a few weeks ago. The temperature dropped and we even had a carpet of snow. In came the mice.

I was making dinner and saw it scurry out from under the stove. My scream prompted cute furry critter to scurry back under the stove! (Poor thing.) Nick came running and I explained that I saw a mouse. I instructed him to GET YOUR CAT! He was laughing too hard to fetch said feline so I had to go and fetch her from her comfy spot on Nick's bed. I placed her in front of the oven and she looked up at me with hate in her eyes before turning around and returning to her warm comfy bed.

As I made dinner, I watched as a mouse came out from under the oven; ran to the cat's food dish; grabbed a piece of cat food from the dish; and then scurried quickly back under the oven. A moment later another mouse (slightly different color and size - probably Mrs. Mouse) traced exactly the same path.

The next day I went and purchased traps. They worked so quickly the last time that I expected this "situation" to be over by the next day. WRONG!

The cat's food and water are no more than 5 feet from the oven. I placed FOUR traps between the oven and the food dish. That was two weeks ago. As of last night, the furry little pair continue their nightly shopping trip to kitty's dish. I watch as they go around each of the traps, get their piece of cat food, and head back under the oven.

I'm kind of growing attached to them. They are cute. But still... mice... in my house?!

Why is it that cats seem quite thrilled at the prospect of savagely killing these cute creatures when they are OUTSIDE the house (and, of course, laying special pieces on our welcome mat) but, when the critters are inside... they are only mildly amused and think they are toys?

Any ideas? How do I get rid of them before they start multiply? HELP!

Blessings from Critter Central,
LeAnn