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How often does your cat bring home dead animals?
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I got home today to find the remains of a bird that my cat Hoki had brought home and eaten today. It's the second one he's brought home in the space of about 6 weeks. Is it normal for a cat to kill this often?
I have a bird feeder in the garden, so I am worried that he's catching them there, and that if I didn't have the feeder he wouldn't have killed. I put a bell on his collar today but the magnetic ball on the collar that activates the cat flap stops it from ringing.
Thanks
F
Hi,
I think it is just the down side of cat ownership, I'm afraid. We had a fully grown pigeon not so long ago. How he got it through the cat flap I dread to think!
They do grow out if it though. My boy is 2 1/2 now, and he doesn't seem as interested. He went through a phase of bringing in around 1 thing a month, but it has definately slowed down.
If you can, try to keep him in at dawn and dusk, that's when the best hunting is. I don't think bells work anyway, apparently cats just learn how to run without jangling it. I assume you've had him neutered, but if not then that would calm him down a bit too. I think the RSPB has a section on how to best position your bird table to make it safe from cats, that might be worth looking at too.
A lot of people round here had feeders in little cages. The birds can fit through but the cats can't, so they can't sneak up on them. It brings to mind one of those shark diving cages, but it seems to work!
I think it is just the down side of cat ownership, I'm afraid. We had a fully grown pigeon not so long ago. How he got it through the cat flap I dread to think!
They do grow out if it though. My boy is 2 1/2 now, and he doesn't seem as interested. He went through a phase of bringing in around 1 thing a month, but it has definately slowed down.
If you can, try to keep him in at dawn and dusk, that's when the best hunting is. I don't think bells work anyway, apparently cats just learn how to run without jangling it. I assume you've had him neutered, but if not then that would calm him down a bit too. I think the RSPB has a section on how to best position your bird table to make it safe from cats, that might be worth looking at too.
A lot of people round here had feeders in little cages. The birds can fit through but the cats can't, so they can't sneak up on them. It brings to mind one of those shark diving cages, but it seems to work!
I hate to say it but it's his natural instincts, cats are killers and bloody good at it too it's what they were designed to do, my old cat used to deliver presents at least once a week sometimes you would get two in a day but she was an excellent hunter
Thanks, both of you.
Hoki is about a year and a half so fingers crossed he'll grow out of it! He's neutered too and is kept in over night until about 6.30am. I'd hate it if he brought me 'presents' once a week! I'm not really a cat person, I prefer dogs TBH but sort of acquired Hoki by accident, so I'm not that accustomed to this hunting business!
I'll definitely check out the RSPB advice. I really love having birds visit the garden and I really don't want to get rid of the feeder!
Thanks again
F
Hoki is about a year and a half so fingers crossed he'll grow out of it! He's neutered too and is kept in over night until about 6.30am. I'd hate it if he brought me 'presents' once a week! I'm not really a cat person, I prefer dogs TBH but sort of acquired Hoki by accident, so I'm not that accustomed to this hunting business!
I'll definitely check out the RSPB advice. I really love having birds visit the garden and I really don't want to get rid of the feeder!
Thanks again
F
I don't always think they grow out of it i'm afraid. My cat who lives with my mum brings home at least 1 if not 3 things a week. They get mice, birds, rats and hes even gone after a few possums (they live in NZ) and all left on their top balcony or driveway. He was 6 years old this May.....if anything hes getting better at it.
The best one was a huge rat (and I mean huge) while my mum was arguing over how to remove it from their driveway a hawk flew down and nabbed it. it actually dropped it at first due to the weight of it!
we tried bells but he manages to pull them off. its just natural and comes with having a cat. you should also feel flattered as they are meant to be "presents" for you.
The best one was a huge rat (and I mean huge) while my mum was arguing over how to remove it from their driveway a hawk flew down and nabbed it. it actually dropped it at first due to the weight of it!
we tried bells but he manages to pull them off. its just natural and comes with having a cat. you should also feel flattered as they are meant to be "presents" for you.
<span style="font-family:'TempusSansITC';line-height:19px" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:small" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color:#ff0000" class="Apple-style-span">Mountain
I don't think they can be presents - all he leaves me are a few feathers and the legs!!
I have at least one dead body a day 
My babies are coming up to 7 years old and the hunting is the same as when they were a year old!!!!
It's what the do best except sleep, hate to say it but its true.
xx
My babies are coming up to 7 years old and the hunting is the same as when they were a year old!!!! It's what the do best except sleep, hate to say it but its true.
xx
Thankfully she hardly ever brings dead things into the house, which I think is possibly because she's a stray and would have been hunting outside with her mum for the first few months of her life. I once came home from work to find masses of feathers and other remains at the top of the stairs which was just too much for me. More recently there have been a few feathers left on the kitchen floor, which doesn't bother me so much because it's much easier to clean up. I've lived here about 3 months now and there have only been two incidents, so she's quite good really.
I bet now I've said that she'll go and bring something in tonight!
I bet now I've said that she'll go and bring something in tonight!
I don't have a cat but my neighbour's cat- she's about 2 or 3 now- is forever half-killing little birds, mice etc etc. Just last w/end, I had to 'deal' with 2 mice on 2 consecutive evenings which were stunned and half-dead. The kindest thing was to dispatch of them cleanly but eurgh, it turned my stomach and I still felt horrible doing it
My sister has the same problem with her female cat, she's a good hunter and is always bringing dead or half-dead birds and mice in.
In a way it is quite nice as the cat was rescued and had been abused and was very wary of humans at first, but now she goes for cuddles and brings them gifts. Especially when my BIL is away, I'm sure the cat thinks she is providing dinner for her family!
She is the same, bells haven't stopped her, we're all hoping she too grows out of the habit!
In a way it is quite nice as the cat was rescued and had been abused and was very wary of humans at first, but now she goes for cuddles and brings them gifts. Especially when my BIL is away, I'm sure the cat thinks she is providing dinner for her family!
She is the same, bells haven't stopped her, we're all hoping she too grows out of the habit!
<p><strong><font size="4" color="#339966">If not me, then who; <br />if not now, then when?</font></strong></p>
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