Cats bringing in Mice + Birds HELP!!

maggied_2

This morning I made the most gruesome discovery to date......3 (I think) chicks, dismembered and lovingly arranged on the landing Poor things. The little b*ggers have worked out how to open the spare room door as well as there was also one on the bed in there:eek:. Will be getting in a carpet cleaner tomorrow and then shutting the cats in the kitchen at night from now on. Ugh.

Deep_In_Debt

My mum's cat left bits of a dismembered frog on the stairs and mum didn't realise it was there until it was too late...how she wish she'd worn slippers then!

meritaten

I had a cat who was feared by every dog on the street! but his presents he brought home were always alive and without a mark on them! field mice, house mice, rats and once a kitten! the kitten we found a home for after asking around and posting posters for a couple of weeks, the rest we just took up a field and let them go. It was just part of living with Timmy!

Equaliser123

Reading this thread really does underline the damage that cats do to our wildlife.

giantmutantbroccoli

As a kid I used a supersoaker on our cat when it brought home dead animals, and it did work when we lived in the city. Of course afterwards I had to explain to my mum why the cat wouldn't come to the back door any more, so that's probably not the best solution. You could try flicking water on the cat when it comes in with critters, or maybe try catching it in the act. A bell on the collar if your cat wears one can be useful as well.

Equaliser123

giantmutantbroccoli wrote: »

As a kid I used a supersoaker on our cat when it brought home dead animals, and it did work when we lived in the city. Of course afterwards I had to explain to my mum why the cat wouldn't come to the back door any more, so that's probably not the best solution. You could try flicking water on the cat when it comes in with critters, or maybe try catching it in the act. A bell on the collar if your cat wears one can be useful as well.

Nice one.

I think bells and other things to give wildlife a chance ought to be mandatory - and certtainly any decent cat owner should ensure that their animal has one. Particularly at this time of year when, for example, birds are nesting.

crackerberry

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Nice one.

I think bells and other things to give wildlife a chance ought to be mandatory - and certtainly any decent cat owner should ensure that their animal has one. Particularly at this time of year when, for example, birds are nesting.

Apart from the argument about collars, I'm not convinced a bell makes much difference. I know my cat is so lightning quick, and will also stay statue still until a victim" makes an appearance, that a bell wouldn't help them. Plus, cats toy with their prey too and if the prey doesn't make a run for it a cat will give them a nudge to deliberately encourage them to do so, so they can catch it all over again.

Equaliser123

crackerberry wrote: »

Apart from the argument about collars, I'm not convinced a bell makes much difference. I know my cat is so lightning quick, and will also stay statue still until a victim" makes an appearance, that a bell wouldn't help them. Plus, cats toy with their prey too and if the prey doesn't make a run for it a cat will give them a nudge to deliberately encourage them to do so, so they can catch it all over again.

If the bell doesn't make much of a difference, it still has to be worth it, doesn't it? Even if it helps one or two helpless bits of wildlife.

Your comment reminds me how cruel cats are. I understand that only cats and humans are cruel enough to "toy" with prey rather than just killing and consuming.

2boysmum

My two cats both have bells on their collars, yesterday morning one of them was out and I saw her playing with something in the grass, neighbours cat was hanging around watching her, she kept chasing it away. I went out to have a look at what she was up to, all I saw was a little pile of feathers, walked onto the path and there was a little dead bird! I think that the bell does help a bit, otherwise I would probably have a lot more little presents, at least she didn't try to bring this one indoors. At the moment she is sitting on the wall watching a squirrel, but don't think she's feeling brave enough to take it on! It's funny as she is the most timid cat you could meet, she jumps at the slightest noise and is frightened by everything!

Equaliser123

2boysmum wrote: »

I went out to have a look at what she was up to, all I saw was a little pile of feathers, walked onto the path and there was a little dead bird! I think that the bell does help a bit, otherwise I would probably have a lot more little presents, at least she didn't try to bring this one indoors.

Good for you for sticking a bell on it.

Unfortunately, though, it isn't just a little dead bird that has been destroyed but, in all probability, an entire brood of chicks which will now starve to death.