Why this basket
- Built from Cats Protection, RSPCA, PDSA and SongBird Survival advice, and a University of Exeter trial of 355 cats that measured what cut the prey they brought home.
- Cats Protection says to keep a cat in from dusk until after dawn, when cats are most active, so the flap with a timer comes first: it locks up on schedule without you having to remember. A cat kept in needs a litter tray and water.
- Daily play is next. In the Exeter trial, five to ten minutes a day of play with a feather wand and a toy mouse cut the prey brought home by 25%.
- Hunting is instinct, and Cats Protection says not to punish a cat for it. Exeter's researchers say keeping a cat indoors is the only sure way to stop it; everything else reduces it.
Tonight
A live-catch trap for a mouse that hides
Roshield humane mouse traps (2)
4.4 on Amazon · 5,002 ratings · 5K+ bought last month · #5 in Rodent Control · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Limited time deal
Cats Protection's first step for a live mouse is to shut the cat in another room and gently guide the mouse out. If it hides, the RSPCA says a live-capture trap baited with food is an option, as long as you check it every two hours and then release the mouse outside. The listing says these traps shut a door behind the mouse when it steps on the pedal.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Catches mice alive with no injuries, ready to release(8 of 13 reviews)
- Quick to bait and set, with no assembly(7 of 13 reviews)
- Stays shut once sprung, so the mouse can be carried outside(3 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Very small mice can take the bait without setting it off(4 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 19 x 7.7 x 7 cm
- Material
- Metal
- Pack
- pack of 2
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Rubber gloves kept for clearing up prey
Marigold Extra Life gloves, large
4.7 on Amazon · 4,624 ratings · 6K+ bought last month · #3 in Household Cleaning Tools · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Cats Protection says to wear gloves to pick up a dead mouse or bird, double bag it for the household bin and wash your hands well afterwards. Keep one pair just for this. These are triple layered and cotton lined, the listing says. The trap's listing also says to wear gloves when you release a mouse and when you clean the trap.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Outlast cheaper gloves, so worth paying a little more(4 of 12 reviews)
- Comfortable to wear and keep a good grip(5 of 12 reviews)
Watch out for
- With heavy daily use the rubber wears through in weeks or months(2 of 12 reviews)
Our summary of the 12 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 50 g
- Material
- Cotton
- In the box
- Gloves
- Care
- Hand Wash
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 25 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 23 of them, including today.
Also recommended on: a smelly washing machine, bathroom mould, dog hair everywhere, moving-out cleaning.
This week
A microchip flap with a curfew timer
SureFlap Microchip Pet Door with curfew
4.4 on Amazon · 6,945 ratings · 200+ bought last month · #1 in Smart Cat Flaps · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Cats Protection says to keep a hunting cat in from dusk until after dawn, and names Sure Petcare flaps with a timed curfew. Sure Petcare says this pet door locks and reopens at times you set and reads your cat's own microchip, so other cats stay out. It suits large cats and small dogs. Sure lists no curfew timer for the cheaper cat flap: set it to in-only by hand.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Neighbourhood cats stay out while the household's own cats come and go(6 of 13 reviews)
- Picks up existing pet microchips easily and is simple to programme(6 of 13 reviews)
- The C batteries last far longer than owners expected, often a year or more(4 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- The unlocking click startles timid cats until they get used to it(7 of 13 reviews)
- The magnets can make the flap too stiff for some cats to push(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Material
- Glass
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 3 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Also recommended on: a cat lover.
A litter tray for the nights indoors
Open litter tray with rim, 49 x 38cm
4.6 on Amazon · 2,069 ratings · 4K+ bought last month · #1 in Cat Litter Boxes · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Cats Protection says a cat that usually goes outdoors still needs a tray inside, especially in autumn and winter, with water well away from it. It should be big enough to turn around in, with about 3cm of unscented litter, in a quiet spot away from the cat flap. This open tray is 49 x 38cm with a clip-off high rim, the listing says; the upgrade is 60cm long.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- The high sides and clip-on rim keep litter in the tray(9 of 13 reviews)
- Smooth plastic that is quick to rinse and wipe clean(4 of 13 reviews)
- Kittens hop in and out easily and have room to turn and dig(3 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Thin plastic that feels cheap, though it does the job(3 of 13 reviews)
- Smaller than several buyers expected, closer to a medium tray(4 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 49 x 38 x 23 cm
- Weight
- 920 g
- Material
- Plastic
- Made for
- cats
- In the box
- Cat Litter Tray Box
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 3 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Also recommended on: Bonfire Night with a cat.
A wand toy for a daily hunting game
4.2 on Amazon · 2,197 ratings · 400+ bought last month · #4 in Feather Toys for Cats · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Limited time deal
In the Exeter trial, five to ten minutes of play a day cut the prey cats brought home by 25%. Owners moved a feather toy on a string and wand so the cat could stalk, chase and pounce, and Cats Protection also names fishing rod toys. This set has three long feather wands, a plush rainbow string wand and three balls, the listing says.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Cats and kittens play with them for ages(10 of 13 reviews)
- Sturdy enough for rough, grabby players(5 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Some feathers come off after lively play(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 28 x 5 x 2 cm
- Material
- Fabric (plush) and feathers
- Pack
- pack of 6
- In the box
- Cat Teaser Wand, Feather Attachments, Interactive Toy Accessories, Rainbow Wand
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 3 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 3 of them, including today.
Also recommended on: a cat lover.
Toy mice to end each game with a catch
CHIWAVA furry rattle mice (36)
4.7 on Amazon · 8,583 ratings · 100+ bought last month · #6 in Mice & Animal Toys for Cats · recorded 27 Sept 2026
In the Exeter trial, owners gave the cat a toy mouse to play with after each wand hunt, so the game ended with something to catch. These are small furry mice with a rattle inside, 36 to a box, the listing says. Toss one in as you put the wand away, and keep the rest in a drawer so they stay new.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Cats chase, carry and fetch these more than other toys(9 of 13 reviews)
- The rattle inside gets a cat's attention with one shake(4 of 13 reviews)
- A big box means spares when mice vanish under furniture(3 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Tails and fur come off with rough play(3 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 5 x 3 x 3 cm
- Material
- Faux Fur
- Pack
- pack of 36
- Made for
- cats
- In the box
- Rattle
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 3 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
If mice still get in
A prey-spotting add-on for the flap
ZeroMOUSE 2.0 prey detection add-on
4.2 on Amazon · 260 ratings · 50+ bought last month · #3 in Smart Cat Flaps · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The listing says a camera inside the tunnel of a microchip flap checks every entry and keeps the flap locked when the cat carries a mouse or bird. It needs a tunnel-style microchip flap, your own USB mains adapter and cable, and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi at the door. It stops the delivery, not the hunting.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Keeps the flap locked when the cat arrives carrying prey(12 of 13 reviews)
- Simple to fit and set up if the steps are followed in order(8 of 13 reviews)
- Cats try less often once prey stays outside(3 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Needs mains power, your own USB cable and plug, and Wi-Fi(4 of 13 reviews)
- Can lock a cat out by mistake, mostly in the first days(5 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 30 g
- Material
- Plastic
- Made for
- cats
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 3 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Can wait
- A switch to a meat-rich food. In the Exeter trial, a premium food whose protein came from meat cut the prey brought home by 36%, and Cats Protection says a high-protein diet may make a cat less likely to hunt. The right food depends on the cat, so ask your vet first if yours is on a special diet.
Skip it
- SkipGlue traps for the mouse that got inSetting a glue trap to catch a rodent has been an offence in England since 31 July 2024. For a live mouse, Cats Protection says to shut the cat away and guide the mouse out, and the RSPCA says a live-capture trap checked every two hours is an option.
- SkipColourful collar covers, when mice are the problemIn the Exeter trial, Birdsbesafe collar covers cut the birds cats brought home by 42% but had no effect on the mammals they caught, such as mice.
- SkipElasticated or buckle collarsCats Protection recommends quick-release or snap-open collars only, because a cat caught by an elasticated collar can get more tangled trying to free itself.
Quick questions
Why does my cat keep bringing in mice?
Because home is where it feels safe. Cats Protection says a cat brings prey back to its core territory rather than eat it or leave it where other animals could steal it, and that punishing the cat does not help: hunting is natural. Cats are most active at dawn and dusk, which is why keeping them in overnight makes a difference.
How do I stop my cat bringing in live mice?
Keep it in from dusk until after dawn and play with it every day. Cats Protection recommends the night curfew, and in a University of Exeter trial five to ten minutes of daily wand play cut prey brought home by 25%, while a meat-rich food cut it by 36%. The researchers say only keeping a cat indoors stops hunting completely.
Is there a cat flap that stops cats bringing in mice?
Yes, as an add-on. ZeroMOUSE fits inside the tunnel of a microchip flap and, its listing says, keeps the flap locked when a camera spots prey in the cat's mouth. A microchip flap with a curfew timer, such as the SureFlap pet door, keeps the cat in at dawn and dusk. Both need your cat to be microchipped, which PDSA says is the law in England.
Do bells on cat collars stop them catching mice?
Not reliably. In the University of Exeter trial, bells made no overall difference, though results varied widely between cats, and colourful collar covers cut bird catches but not mice. Cats Protection says bells can reduce bird catches. If you try a bell, use a quick-release collar with room for two fingers underneath.
What do I do with a live mouse my cat brought in?
Shut the cat in another room, then gently guide the mouse out of the house, Cats Protection says; if it is injured, call the RSPCA in England and Wales. If it hides, the RSPCA says you can use a live-capture trap baited with food, check it every two hours and release the mouse outside. Never use a glue trap: in England it is an offence to set one for a rodent.
Sources: Cats Protection: why do cats bring you dead animals? (checked 27 September 2026); Cats Protection: cats at night (checked 27 September 2026); Cats Protection: choosing a cat collar (checked 27 September 2026); Cats Protection: cats and toileting (checked 27 September 2026); PDSA: cat collars (checked 27 September 2026); PDSA: microchipping cats, what you need to know (checked 27 September 2026); University of Exeter: play and meaty food reduce hunting by cats (2021) (checked 27 September 2026); SongBird Survival: 6 ways to stop your cat hunting birds (checked 27 September 2026); Sure Petcare: SureFlap Microchip Pet Door (checked 27 September 2026); Sure Petcare: SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap (checked 27 September 2026); Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022, section 1 (checked 27 September 2026); The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 (Commencement) Regulations 2024 (checked 27 September 2026); RSPCA: found an injured rat or mouse (checked 27 September 2026).
