I have 3 cats. This week they have found 4 mice in the house. Is it true that I should with hold some food ?

Question

I was told to hold back a little on their food. They do have dry food all the time and water all the time. During the day the three cats share 3 cans of cat food. Should I hold back some of that so they are just a little hungry and go get these mice??

They are not killing them. These are tiny mice and they (my cats) seem to just play with them. We are actually getting them from the cat and putting out side. I have 2 neutered males that seem to be the hunters and 1 neutered female who is a good observer!!! They just pretty much play with them

Answer 1

yes. let them do what nature intended them to do. Instead of 3 cans, have 2 cans. This would limit their eating intake. And, maybe, this will make them go for the kill when they see another mice.

Answer 2

You can not create a mouser by withholding food. Most cats do not hunt for food, it's really for sport. If they were hunting for food, you would not have found the 4 mice they have already killed. They usually don't even mean to kill the things, it's all play to them. I would say, you have at least one good mouser in your group of three. They may not all be participating in the fun and games, so leave the food the same just in case. I had 1 out of 5 cats that was a mouser, and he was good for upto 7 a night. But he stayed out at night, so he could roam and find them. Of course being a loving cat, he always left them on the porch for me. That is another thing, if they are leaving the dead mice where you can find them, that is their gift to you, so try to be gracious, as difficult as this can be

Answer 3

they are natural hunters. if you with hold their food, really all that's going to do is leave them hungry and probably pissed. if the cats see the mice they will go for them. MOST cats don't actually eat the mice, they "play" with then until they die and then usually bring them to you to show you what they have done.

keep feeding them the way you have been, they will take care of the mice

Answer 4

I read that well fed cats will hunt and hungry ones will not. Could be the hungry ones are just plain energy depleted. Like we humans, cats need energy to go for the gold. I would put traps out instead of relying on the cats. There are mouse houses that you don't have to see the kill. Clean and to the point.

Answer 5

Our cats will go after anything that moves whether they are hungry or not. If they have dry out all the time, might not hurt to see if they react more, though it may just depend on their personalities. Two of ours are big hunters, the other two would probably rather put in half the effort.

Answer 6

I gotta put my two cents in here. All of the above is great advice, and I believe to be very true. But, I truly believe you should stop feeding them the canned food....all you are feeding them is flavored water. I learned many years ago as a dog owner that the main ingredient in canned pet food is just that, water. You are paying for water, I know it irritated me, it should irritate everyone! Maybe just give them a can between the three every so often as a treat. Just my opinion :)

Answer 7

it's sounds like they are doing a great job already, and no you do not have to with hold food. Hungry or not, if a cat sees a mouse, they will go after it. Unless you have a very lazy cat, but since you have 3 i think your good.

Answer 8

JULIE is right! totally right!
Cats are solitary predators, who hunt as a very basic instinct. They will get the mice, its just a matter of time...
just refrain from using Decon, or any rodent killer... this may inadvertently end up being ingested by the cats, which would cause a nightmare... good luck with your feline friends.

Answer 9

Well feed cats hunt better than hungry cats. So no I would not withhold their normal about of food.

Answer 10

Are they eating the mice? Cause if they are then I agre. But if they just catch them for fun I would not hold back on there food.