Could Having Mice In Your Home Hurt Your Pet?

Could having mice in your home hurt your pet? Yes, having these wild animals indoors can put your cats and dogs at serious risk. You might think a small rodent is harmless, but they bring hidden dangers right into your living space. Mice can carry diseases like leptospirosis or hantavirus, which can harm not just your pets but your entire family. They can also spread fleas, ticks, and parasites that attach to your furry friends, causing discomfort and health problems.

You should never ignore the signs of mice nesting inside your house. Scratching noises, droppings, or chewed-up materials might mean you have uninvited guests. Acting quickly to remove them can help avoid these threats. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Toronto, our team knows exactly how to handle these risky situations safely and humanely. We use methods that prioritize the health of your home, your pets, and the animals themselves.

We want to help you understand why protecting your pets from mice is so important. That’s why, in this blog, we’ll explain these health risks in detail and show how our experienced professionals can permanently remove rodents to keep your beloved pets and your family safe.

Do cats keep mice out of homes?

No, cats do not reliably keep these rodents out of homes. Provide a direct answer first, and then understand that while cats are natural hunters, they cannot reach animals hiding deep inside your walls. Rodents will build nests in attics, basements, and under floorboards where your cat simply cannot go.

Relying on your cat for wildlife control is not a safe or complete solution. When your pet interacts with these wild animals, it greatly increases their chance of getting sick. You need our professional team to secure the house completely so the wildlife cannot enter in the first place.

How Rats Put Your Pets At Risk

Rats can be a serious danger to your pets in many ways. They carry diseases like leptospirosis and rabies, which can spread to your animals through bites or contact with their droppings. Rats may also carry fleas and ticks that can transfer to your furry friends, causing further health problems. Even worse, if your pet tries to catch or eat a rat, they could end up injured or exposed to harmful bacteria.

Transmission of Harmful Diseases

You might not realize how easily wild animals can spread illness to your pets. These rodents carry dangerous bacteria that can quickly contaminate the floors and surfaces your pets touch. We know that protecting your pets means keeping these germs far away from your living spaces.

• Leptospirosis: This is a serious bacterial infection that is commonly spread through rodent urine. Your dogs can easily contract this disease if they walk through or sniff a contaminated area in your basement. Once infected, dogs can suffer from severe kidney and liver problems that require urgent vet care. You should rely on our team to clear the area safely so your dog never comes into contact with it.
• Salmonella: Pets can easily contract this illness if their food or water bowls become contaminated. These rodents often run across kitchen floors and sneak into pet food bags during the night. Your pet could suffer from terrible stomach pain and sickness if they eat infected food. We recommend storing all pet food in hard plastic tubs while we handle the mice removal.
• Rat-Bite Fever: This is a bacterial illness that occurs if your pet gets bitten or scratched by an infected rodent. A cornered mouse will fight back to protect itself, putting your curious cat or dog in harm’s way. The resulting infection can cause high fevers and joint pain for your pet. Our team removes the mice safely so your pets never have a chance to get scratched.
• Hantavirus and LCM: These are serious illnesses that can spread to humans through rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. Hantavirus can cause severe lung problems, while LCM (Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis) may lead to flu-like symptoms and, in rare cases, brain swelling. It’s important to avoid direct contact with rodents and their waste to protect your family. Our team handles rodent removal carefully to keep your home safe and clean.

Dangerous Parasite Infestations

You will quickly find that these rodents bring many unwanted guests into your house. They act as a transport system for tiny bugs that will gladly jump onto your cats and dogs. Our team sees this problem often, and we want to help you stop the spread.

• Fleas and Ticks: Wild rodents constantly bring fleas and ticks indoors from the outside world. These tiny bugs will quickly leave the rodent and latch onto your warm, furry pets instead. This can lead to terrible itching, skin infections, and even Lyme disease for your dog or cat. Keeping the mouse out of your house is the best way to stop these bugs from entering.
• Intestinal Worms: Your pets are at high risk of getting internal worms if they catch a wild rodent. The wild mouse often carries roundworm larvae in its body. If your cat or dog eats the infected mouse, the worms will grow inside your pet’s stomach. This causes severe weight loss and sickness that requires medication to fix.

The Threat of Secondary Poisoning

You must understand that using poison to control mice is incredibly dangerous for your pets. When people use toxic baits, the poison does not just stay with the targeted mouse. We always warn against these harmful methods to keep your entire family safe.

• Eating Poisoned Rodents: A wild rodent does not die immediately after eating toxic bait. Your dog or cat might easily catch and eat the sluggish mouse while the poison is still active in its body. This transfers the deadly chemicals directly into your pet’s system. This secondary poisoning can be fatal for your furry friends.
• Direct Ingestion of Bait: Pets are naturally curious and will often eat the toxic bait themselves. The poison is designed to taste good, which makes it very tempting for a hungry dog. Eating this bait can cause internal bleeding, seizures, and tragic outcomes for your pet. You should completely avoid bringing these toxic chemicals into your home.
• Harmful Glue Traps: Glue boards are very dangerous to use around your pets. A cat or dog can easily step on the sticky board and get the trap stuck to their fur or paws. Removing the strong glue is painful, causes great stress, and often damages their skin. We use humane exclusion methods instead of harmful traps to keep everyone safe.

Direct Physical Injuries

You should know that a cornered mouse will fight back when threatened by a pet. Your cat or dog might think they are just playing a game with a small toy. However, the frightened mouse will bite and scratch to escape. These bites are very painful and can quickly become infected if not treated by a vet.

Sometimes, a curious cat will manage to catch and eat the whole wild mouse. This might seem natural, but it comes with hidden physical risks for your feline friend. The tiny, sharp bones inside the rodent can splinter and cause severe damage to your cat’s throat and digestive tract.

You should never let your pets handle mice problems for you. The risk of physical injury is simply too high, and vet bills can be very expensive. Let our experienced wildlife technicians remove the animals safely so your pets can relax without getting hurt.

The Hidden Danger of Toxoplasmosis

You need to be aware of a specific microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma. Wild rodents often carry this tiny parasite hidden deep inside their muscle tissues. When an outdoor or indoor cat hunts and eats the infected animal, the parasite enters the cat’s digestive system.

Once inside, the parasite causes an infection known as toxoplasmosis. For many healthy cats, the symptoms might be mild, but the infection is still active in their bodies. If your cat has a weak immune system, this illness can make them extremely sick and tired.

This parasite is also a well-known health risk for humans living in the house. When a cat gets infected, they pass the parasite eggs through their litter box. We strongly believe that keeping wild rodents out of your house is the best way to prevent this dangerous infection.

Toronto Homes and Local Mouse Challenges

You will notice that our local climate pushes rodents indoors as the weather changes. Toronto experiences very cold winters, which forces mice to seek warm shelter inside residential neighbourhoods. The city’s older Victorian homes and aging brick foundations offer many tiny cracks for these animals to squeeze through.

Once inside, they take advantage of the safe, warm space hidden inside your walls. Our local building styles often include hidden crawlspaces and thick insulation that make perfect nesting spots. As the population of the city grows, human living spaces and rodent habitats overlap more and more.

We know exactly how the local weather and housing structures affect wildlife behaviour. Our technicians are highly trained to spot the specific entry points unique to Toronto homes. We understand these local challenges and know exactly how to protect your property against the harsh winter wildlife invasions.

Pet Protection and Prevention With Our Professional Team

You can keep your pets perfectly safe by letting our trained experts handle the mice. Our professional wildlife team uses humane methods that never put your family or pets in danger. We never use poisons, toxic sprays, or harmful traps that could accidentally hurt your cat or dog.

Instead, we install specialized one-way doors over the entry points on the outside of your house. These clever doors allow the rodents to leave your house safely to find food. Once they are out, the doors completely block them from getting back inside.

After all the rodents have left, we permanently seal the holes and reinforce your home’s exterior. This long-lasting prevention keeps the mice outside where they belong. You do not have to lift a finger, and your pets can roam the house safely without crossing paths with dangerous rodents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep Your Pets Safe from Rats Today

Wild rodents can pose serious risks to your family and pets. They may carry harmful diseases, bring fleas indoors, and cause damage to your home. It’s important to remember that letting your cat or dog handle a mouse problem is not safe for them—or for you. That’s where we come in. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we are committed to providing a safe and effective solution to your wildlife concerns.

Our approach is simple yet effective. Using humane methods such as one-way doors, we ensure animals are safely removed from your home without using harsh chemicals or putting your loved ones at risk. You can rely on our experienced team to handle the problem, allowing you to focus on keeping your family and pets safe.

If you’ve noticed scratching in the walls, strange noises, or other signs of wildlife in your home, don’t wait. The longer you leave the problem, the more damage these animals can cause. Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Toronto today to request an estimate. We are here to help you take back your home so you and your pets can live in comfort and safety once again. Trust us to deliver the care and professionalism your family deserves.