Comment 17 for bug 141500

Another workaround for this is to create a file called:
~/.icons/default/index.theme

Add the following lines to this file

[Icon Theme]
Inherits = <YOUR THEME NAME>

Where your theme name can be obtained from running gconf-editor under
the key

/desktop/gnome/peripherals/mouse/cursor_theme

or the name of the folder of your cursor theme

Restart compiz (Alt + F2 then compiz --replace)

Every time you change the mouse theme you have to remember to change the
file you have created.