Kenilworth is built around the racecourse, with grand old homes on plane-tree avenues on one side and blocks of flats crowding toward Main Road and the railway on the other. That mix of old timber, big trees and dense flats keeps us busy with squirrels, rats and roaches in roughly equal measure.
Mice in Kenilworth homes
Homes on the boundary of the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area see more field mice in winter, when the wetland fills and the mice move toward warmth. In the older houses, mice use the suspended timber floors and hollow walls to move around, and in retirement villages they find their way into shared kitchens.
We trap and use secured bait in the voids they use, and seal air bricks, pipe entries and gaps under doors. Retirement villages can arrange treatment of shared areas along with individual units.
Worth knowing
For homes with toddlers and pets, traps can go inside lockable boxes or behind appliances where little hands cannot reach.
When we arrive for mice, the first place we check is behind the stove and under the sink. Those two spots explain most kitchen infestations.
Signs to look for
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Mice urinate constantly as they move, which contaminates food, crockery and work surfaces. They can carry salmonella and other bacteria into kitchen areas, which is a real problem for food businesses and homes with babies. They chew through wiring behind appliances and inside walls, and they ruin stored linen, paperwork and books. Because a female mouse can have a new litter every few weeks, a couple of mice quickly becomes a cupboard full.
How the treatment works
We start by finding where they get in and where they nest, which is usually a gap behind the stove, around a geyser pipe or under a kitchen unit. Indoors we mainly use snap traps and enclosed traps placed along the walls, because mice run close to edges and are curious enough to investigate. Where baiting is needed, it goes inside tamper-resistant stations that children and pets cannot open, after a bait risk assessment. We then seal the entry points with steel wool, mesh and sealant, because mice can squeeze through a hole about the width of a pencil. A follow-up visit checks the traps and confirms the activity has stopped.
- Look for clues
We check droppings, nests and gnawing to work out where the mice are most active.
- Find the gaps
We check behind appliances, under units and around pipes for entry points.
- Set traps
Traps and, where suitable, sealed bait stations go along the mice's runs.
- Seal entry points
Small holes are blocked with steel wool, mesh and sealant so mice cannot get back in.
- Follow-up
We come back to check the traps, clear them and leave a report.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Pull the stove and fridge out once in a while and clean the crumbs and grease behind them.
- Keep the garage tidy, since boxes on the floor make perfect mouse nests.
- Seal the gaps where pipes and cables come through walls, especially under the sink.
- Do not leave pet food out overnight in the kitchen.
- Fit brush strips to the bottom of garage and outside doors.
What affects the price
The price depends on how many rooms are affected, how long the mice have been there and how many gaps need sealing. A single kitchen is quicker than a whole house with mice in the walls and the garage. Follow-up visits are usually included, and the quote is free.
Mice move indoors when Cape Town's winter rains and colder nights start, usually from late April, and the numbers stay high until spring. In the Boland, harvest time and ploughing can push field mice towards farm buildings too.
Questions we get asked in Kenilworth
Can mice get into my Kenilworth flat from the refuse room?
Yes. In older blocks they travel up through refuse chutes and service ducts. Treating the refuse room and sealing gaps around pipes in your flat stops them.
Are ultrasonic repellers worth it?
In our experience they do not solve a mouse problem. Mice get used to the sound quickly.
Do you use poison in the kitchen?
We prefer traps in kitchens and food areas. If bait is needed, it is kept in sealed stations.
If I see one mouse, are there more?
Usually, yes. Mice live in family groups and are shy, so if you see one in daylight there are probably others.
Does living next to the Kenilworth racecourse mean more mice?
Often, yes, especially once it turns cold and wet. Homes on the boundary do well with sealed door sweeps and a few bait stations along the fence line.
Are the squirrels in my Kenilworth ceiling coming from the street trees?
Almost certainly. The plane trees and oaks give grey squirrels a direct route onto roofs, so cutting back overhanging branches and sealing chewed fascias is the first step.
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