While some people keep mice as pets, others find them disgusting. If you are among the latter, you should call a pest control expert to help you identify the type of mice you are dealing with. Mice have different behavior, so knowing their species will help you develop the appropriate prevention tips. 

Also, if you decide to use commercial pest killers, you must carefully read the products' labels. Otherwise, you might expose children, pets, and other people to harmful chemicals that can cause severe health complications.

Here are mice control tips that will help you keep off the animals from your home.

Get a Cat

Having a cat is the easiest way to eliminate mice from your home. Cats are more inexpensive to keep than other pets like dogs, so you can still afford one if you are on a budget. You can also spread cat litter in places where the mice frequent. The smell will be enough to scare off the pests. However, ensure none of your family members are allergic to cats. 

After handling cat litter, wash your hands with a sanitizer as it contains a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii that causes toxoplasmosis disease. While some people may not exhibit symptoms, others can experience signs, such as body aches, fever, and fatigue.

Use Essential Oils

Various essential oils can help repel mice, including peppermint, lemon, citronella, and eucalyptus oil. You can make your rat-repellent spray by adding a few drops of the oils to water and pouring the solution into a spray bottle. Then, spray areas of your home where the pests are likely to hide. For example, you can spray corners of each room and dark places, such as the basement.

Reduce Clutter

Mice love crowded places as they offer a conducive environment for the animals to hide. The clutter may also contain food remains like bread, peanut butter, meat, and fruits. The rats will feed on the food and multiply in your home with time. 

After removing clutter, you should identify the rats' entry points and seal them using duct tape. A pest control expert won't only help you get rid of the mice, but they will also help you clean your home by removing clutter.

Setting Traps

Traps are a great way to control rats without killing them. You can capture the pests alive and release them. However, ensure you do so away from your home so that the rats don't return or breed in other nearby spots. Also, ensure you touch the rats using gloves to avoid direct contact. Rats can cause diseases such as rat bite fever, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, and monkeypox. 

For more information about rodent control, contact a local company.