Help - cats keep bringing in live mice!

kizzykizzywizzy

I really sympathise will you,I've got at least "A" mouse, everyone keeps telling me to get a cat, perhaps not such a good idea!!
I can't put traps down or poison as we have 2 hamsters & they are real Houdinis, often I think aha! I've heard the mouse only to find Hammy or Chubby running around!
I'm just so careful cleaning everything as mice are incontinent - yuk.
Last time we had mice they got into the kitchen cupboard through a small hole in the back & devoured evrything, there was so much poo as well, I'm sure it's only the one this time as not much poo anywhere, at first I was completely freaked by it, now learning to live with it as can't get rid:mad:

steve_r123

How much do you feed your cats? If you feed them normally, then they wont feel like another meal of Mr Mouse. Cut back their food (quite dramatically so) and they wont bother playing with the mice anymore;)

Might not be what people want to hear at this time in the morning, but it does work. Thats what feral cats do for a living. Oh, and on an MSE point, it will save you a bit of cash in cat food!:money:

sandy2_2

I've just read somewhere that cats bring in live mice for YOU to learn how to hunt, just like they would teach their kittens

LuciferTDark

If my cat did this I'd turn him into a Blacksmith, put my boot up his bum & watch him make a bolt for the door. Don't all shout at me I'm joking.

HopeElizzy

If your cats are bringing in presents please remember to worm them more often as hunting cats pick up worms from their prey. It's especially important if you have children that play with and handle the cats alot. Once a month will do it...... or one of those combined flea/wormers that you put on once a month.

Sorry, I work at the local vets so see lots of ickie wormy animals _pale_

Sola

steve_r123 wrote: »

How much do you feed your cats?

8 cats = 7 or 8 tins a day split between morning and evening, depending on who's in and how hungry they seem. I've got no objection to them eating the mice, but I'm not surprisingly UNkeen on treading on half a mouse in the dark so its intestines squish up between my toes. They do vary it by bringing in worms, slugs and occasionally frogs (boy do frogs scream!), but not birds.

whatatwit

Sola wrote: »

8 cats = 7 or 8 tins a day split between morning and evening, depending on who's in and how hungry they seem. I've got no objection to them eating the mice, but I'm not surprisingly UNkeen on treading on half a mouse in the dark so its intestines squish up between my toes. They do vary it by bringing in worms, slugs and occasionally frogs (boy do frogs scream!), but not birds.

You've not lived Sola, until you've been on your hands and knees trying to retrieve a struggling full grown pigeon from under your bed at 3am. :eek:
Not helped by the cat...who is also under the bed trying to keep hold of said pigeon.
The only bonus is that we do have wooden floors throughout, so at least it's easy to wipe up the blood and guts.

Pink.

Hi sola,

As others have said I'd look at the snap open collars and attach a bell. We have lost a few collars with our cat but the bell has definitely cut down on the number of 'presents' she brings us.

A lot of cat owners post on the Pet's board so I'll move your thread across to see if you can get any more suggestions on stopping the cats bringing in the mice in the first place.

Pink

getcarter

My cat once brought in a mouse - dead - with accompanying mousetrap! Too lazy to catch live ones!

orlao

:rotfl:

getcarter wrote: »

My cat once brought in a mouse - dead - with accompanying mousetrap! Too lazy to catch live ones!

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:


I bet that left the mouse trap owners puzzled