How do you stop a cat from attacking garden wildlife? - I've tried the bell on the collar to no avail.?

Question

My normally docile female cat has begun hunting and sometimes killing the wildlife in our garden. Nothing is off limits and frogs seem to be as popular as birds.
We have recently moved to the area and I'm wondering if she is picking up the habbit from other cats - my sister who lives a few doors up has the same problem with her cat, which brings home 'presents' almost every day. Since both cats have been playing together the character of mine has changed. I've tried keeping her in, however, this can only ever be a short-term measure.
This may seem trivial to some people, but I do not like animals suffering (they are not all dead when she brings them in) and although I know this is a basic characterstic, none of my previous cats have hunted to the same extent or ferocity.

Answer 1

Your cat has a higher level of hunting instinct than your previous cats, and playing with the other cat may have awakened them.
Keep her indoors until mid morning. Entice her to play hunting and killing games. Get some toys that are small, round, furry and bounce. Cats have a need to hunt and kill and letting her take it out on toys once or twice a day is the best way to use up the "need".
Never kick her out at night, wildlife is especially vulnerable.

Answer 2

This may sound obvious but keep her indoors. Indoor cats live far longer on average. They don't pick up the diseases, injuries, and parasites outdoor cats get. They're not at risk of being attacked by roaming dogs. Outdoor cats can also pick up FIV which isn't treatable.

Once you start letting the indoor cat out, it becomes a habit and hard ot break. Better she never goes out so she doesn't get in the habit of rushing the door.

In the meantime you can try to give your wildlife more of a chance. Hang the birdfeeder higher up and don't leave seed on the ground. Keep the grass near your house cut short to make the wildlife look elsewhere for refuge.

Answer 3

Try keeping her indoors for a few weeks. Get her a litter box, toys and catnip. Do not for any reason let her outdoors for that three weeks. Then you can see if the behavior changes.

Personally, I hate to see a cat outdoors in this day and time. There are too many people with pets living too close to each other. Germs are airborne and cats can easily catch what's in the air. Cruel people and automobiles are another hazzard cats are not equipped to deal with. Mine are indoor only cats. A choice I have never been sorry about. I have a "little old man" who is 16 and a little girl who is 5. They are a constant joy.

Answer 4

your question is not trivial at all! and if anyone thinks it is, then they are empty shells with no feelings! any way sweetheart, a louder bell might help the birds but not really the frogs i'm afraid. you could ask your vet or you could get the monthly cat magazine called , Your Cat, your newsagent can get it for you,it's full of good advice, but i think as someone suggested earlier, try to be extra vigilant when the baby bird season comes around. i don't know what to do about the poor frogs! i hope i've been able to help you a little bit. i wish you luck you've got a heart of gold. bless you. bye for now.

Answer 5

All cat are natural hunters and predators. Some cats just take it more seriously. Your cat in particular. There really is no "true" way of breaking this habit. Only thing I can tell you is to keep your cat inside. As far as picking up the habit from another cat. Yes it is possible for another cat to "teach" another how to hunt and so on. I have 3 cats myself. My one cat actually tought one of my others about a litter box. That was a fun time lol

Answer 6

Its a cats natural instinct to hunt and to bring the catch to its owner. you might try some sort of moving toys to distract the cat, but you may never be able to stop it. I'd almost bet that this cat is fewer generations from being wild than some of your other cats so the instinct is stronger in her. I actually had a female cat at one time that would climb trees chasing squirrels, and actually saw her jump from one tree to another on one occasion. But toys or keeping her inside would be the only solutions i see.

Answer 7

You can't, it's a cat's nature to hunt, so if you let it out it will do what it would do in the wild, just think of it's relations, Lions, Tigers etc. Perhpas you are now living in an area where there is a much greater density of wildlife for the cat to hunt.

Answer 8

I recently had to look after my sisters cats and they liked to bring home presents too, so I was practically patting them down before allowing them in the house. The simple answer here is that there is nothing you can do as nature will take it's course, your cats didn't suddenly learn how to hunt,instinctively they have always known how. Nature is cruel and it disturbed me how much my sisters normally cute cats enjoyed torturing the prey they caught but it is in their own best interests to maintain their instincts. Basically there is nothing you can do except let them know they will be searched before being allowed back in the house.Good luck.

Answer 9

Either be thankful that you have a cat who is living up to it's full created intentions, or give it to someone who is on a farm, or has vermin problems. I have 2 kitties who are indoor and outdoor, and while they frequently bring in their "catch", it sure keeps the mice problem down. We find that they do it more often when they need more attention or if there's company - probably to show that they have worth.

Appreciate your cat for what it's able to do, but don't pin it in a house to limit it's creativity and instincts - now THAT would be cruel!

Answer 10

OK so you have 30 other responses and i did not read them so if this is a repeat - sorry. If you don't like animals to suffer than consider letting your cat continue to bring home these little gifts for you. Keeping him in the house is just cruel punishment for something that is ultimately out of your and its control. It is healthy for cats to hunt prey no matter what verocity they display.