catching a house mouse

Question
Hi! My husband and I have been trying to catch a little gray mouse in our apartment. We have two cats, so we've bought an aquarium, bedding, wheel, etc. so that when we do catch him, he'll be safe from kitties ASAP. The problem is, he seems to be too wily for our Tomcat Live Catch Trap. It's supposed to work without bait, but even when I've baited it the little smarty-pants gets the food out without getting caught. Any advice for catching him?
Also, once we catch him, can we handle him or should we use gloves? If so, will there come a time when we don't need to use gloves anymore? We will release him in the spring if he seems unhappy with us. Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate any advice you might give.

Answer
Hi Robin,

I've used live traps before, but they haven't worked for me, either.  There is a variety which has a trap door (it looks like a little tunnel that leads into a box), so that when the mouse goes in for the peanut butter or other food it closes behind him and traps him.  You could try that, but like I said, they always seem to be too clever for them, too.

There are two other things I'd recommend trying - first, you might be able to use your cats.  I have two cats as well, and whenever one of my mousies get out, they can be a big help in finding them.  Listen throughout the day and night for sounds your kitties make.  If they're stalking something, it might be your rodent!  This can be a really big help in locating him, since our kitties have a whole different perspective than us.  The second thing you might try is checking throughout your house for tiny cracks that he might be escaping into, then setting live traps next to any you find.  If you see him again, try really hard to corner him into a room - including stuffing the door crack with something like a blanket, and it will greatly increase your chances of snagging him.  Finally, if nothing else works, do set out water and food for the little guy, especially in a place the cats can't get to if possible.

When you do catch him, since he's wild, I would greatly recommend lifting him by the tail (this is an easier way to catch him than grabbing his body, anyways) between the base and the middle.  This will minimize his chances of biting you or leaping off and give you a way to quickly put him in his new cage.  You can use gloves if you don't want to be bitten, but I don't know of any diseases that could be contracted that way (from a mouse, at least, as they don't carry rabies).  You should watch for fleas, as these can bring parasites, as well as mites around the ears.  You should also be careful not to inhale from soiled areas or bedding, as some wild mice or mouse relatives can carry hantavirus.  Handling the mouse once or twice every day should get it used to you fairly quickly (over the course of maybe a month or two), and the scent and texture of your hand will eventually become important to the taming process.  Finally, if you do succeed in catching it, a trip to the vet can let you know if it is bringing in any parasites as well - just let the vet know it's not from a pet store.

Good luck with your possible new pet, and I hope he finds a good home, either with you guys or in the Spring!

-Tam