Missing link--I've been trapping mice all winter and have gotten good at it. Cats are better at catching mice than we are, and they seem to really enjoy doing it.
I've been doing good buisness without a cat, though I'd love to get one.
Here's what I do. Spend some time blocking all mouse holes. Leave on mouse hole open. Put a trap right in front of this hole. Bait the trap with a combination of peanut butter and saltine crackers. Break the cracker up some--this combination has been good to me, with many kills. The mouse has trouble getting the cracker from the peanut butter, but the mouse want it, and so spends time trying to get the food. I don't use posion.
I'II tell you, that I'II lie awake at night, when the house is all silent, and I'II be listening for the sound of the trap going off
You've got to find out how the mice are getting in. Then block them, all but one. This has been the key for me. And the bait combo.-------Good luck.