Cat's bringing in mice and other creatures

kendalls_cave

My cats have recently got into the habit of bringing in mice on a night- tonight was a live one for the first time I think she has taken it back outside when chased, but can't be sure :eek:
They are bringing them in through the cat flap.So to stop this nightly event what do I do? I could lock them in o a night with a litter tray, but they just make a noise banging on the flap trying to get out and hurting their noses If i lock them in any other room they eventually get the door open. I could lock them OUT on a night, but again they will try to get in, and maybe wake the upstairs neighbour trying to bang on the flap. Neither of these options will work when I go way - the flap has to be open. someone PLEASE help me, I am traumatized from having a mouse run under my bare feet

pboae

This is what cats do. If you want to stop them hunting, keep them in at night. They will stop banging on the cat flap eventually (but you might want to put a board across the door in the meantime, so they don't break the cat flap first). Their urge to hunt is much stronger at night, and they are also more effective hunters then.

You could also try a collar with bells on, but they usually get them off pretty quickly (if you do go for that, get at least two bells, they will soon learn how to avoid jingling one). There are also collars with sonic repellers on, but they are also limited in their effectiveness, expensive, and easy for a cat to lose.

Zeldazog

pboae wrote: »

You could also try a collar with bells on, but they usually get them off pretty quickly (if you do go for that, get at least two bells, they will soon learn how to avoid jingling one). There are also collars with sonic repellers on, but they are also limited in their effectiveness, expensive, and easy for a cat to lose.

Be careful if you get a collar though - my guess would be that you cats are active, if they are hunters (had one cat that couldn't catch a cold...)

I personally am reluctant to put collars on my cats (even though I could do with the bell to know when they come and sit 3 inches behind my feet in the kitchen) because of the risk of strangulation if they are climbing and squeezing after that elusive prey.

My cat flap is on out only now - after the same experience. First cat accepts it, gives the flap a little tap when she wants to come in and waits. Second cat, he bashes it stupid, I had to put a dowell across the bottom of the opening to stop him pushing it beyond the catch (then they couldn't get out).

In summer I am still finding mice and shrews on the doorstep, but mostly they are down the path, so I don't know if they now don't even try to bring them inside cos they know.

As pboae said, if you do choose to lock in at night, put a board across til they get used to the idea - and get some earplugs!

nealallen

I'm not being funny here, but cats bring them back to you, dead or alive as gifts. I know what your thinking, who the hell wants a mouse as a gift! lol

There's not much you can do unless you keep them in at night.

kendalls_cave

Thanks all - i locked the cat flap last night, but one of them managed to open it to get out - I am at my wits end here

sandy2_2

they're showing you what good hunters they are and bringing you gifts...I know it's a pain...but when they do this pick puss up, give them a cuddle and make a fuss of them. They will eventually stop, It worked for us when we used to get a variety of mice, beetle, grasshoppers, birds and frogs.

withabix

Keep them locked in the house.

That way they won't leave their disgusting poo in other people's gardens as well, so you will be nice to your neighbours AND stop getting presents.

kendalls_cave

I can't keep them in the house all of the time - they are so used to going out, i was willing to keep them in at night, but one of them very quickly worked out how to open the cat flap :eek:

Miró

Sorry, no answers for you but I hope this makes you smile.....

kendalls_cave

That was well cute Ok I've got solution mine wouldn't like colors as they are so timid and it would scare them. so solution is to set the cat flap so they can get OUT but not back IN. That way even if she can open the cat flap to get back in, she would have to drop what she had in her mouth to do it, ( well that is my hope anyhow) i can then check what they've got before they come in. I am also going to shut all the doors of the hall way on a night so if a live mouse does get in, then it only has the hall way to be in and she will hopefully catch it and kill it, so I can dispose of it. Dead animals I can deal with, just not little mice running past my feet :rolleyes:

Nikki

I think with having cats you just have to get over it and deal with the present they've left you. I've had regular live and dead presents left for me. I WAS scared of birds and not overly keen on mice. After rescuing a live bird from a game of cat tennis and trapping live mice in the house I'm not bothered by them anymore. The only thing I dislike about mice being in the house is the fact they're incontinent. The kids wanted to keep the last one as a pet!!