We had a dog, though, that seemed to keep the mice at bay. It was a beautiful border collie pup that one day a year ago strolled up my dirt driveway. Knowing it was lost and would be killed by coyotes that night if I didn't do something, I rescued her and drove around the desert to my (somewhat) near neighbors to see if they'd lost a dog. Nope. So long story short, we had a new member of the family!
It was a wonderful dog too. In early October, it was bitten in the face by a rattlesnake but survived the night it spent at the vet hospital. After she recovered, sadly, she wandered a little too far from our property and was killed by coyotes.
My wife and I both agree that we can't have another dog. It's just too heartbreaking to have something like that happen again.
I also understand those folks who respect and admire the coyote, but I'm just not one of them. Wasn't too long ago that there was one running down the street with half a cat in it's mouth. I'd chase it down with my truck and get even with it right there if it were my cat it grabbed.
So, snakes of all kinds get a reprieve from me... But if it came down to me dealing with coyotes, they get blasted and that's final.
Anyway, sounds like you folks need to hire a new cat. :)