My cat started hunting mice for the first time yesterday. Is this because she's on a diet?

Answer 1

partly yes. She may feel more active because she is losing weight. She might feel peckish and fancy a snack. To keep her energy levels high, play with her in the home too and get her to chase furry toy mice, balls and the like. It'll help her lose weight faster. Of course, since she is now eating mice, you will have to start worming her every 3 months to keep her healthy.
I have 12 cats and all hunt rodents. I don't mind because I keep poultry and they help keep rats and mice down. But it does mean that I have to worm them for tapeworm every 3 months or so. I buy my wormers from my vet because they are safer than over the counter ones and are cheaper too.

Answer 2

No it's because September is the hunting season as far as cats are concerned. They seem to get this thirst for blood this time of year which is probably all down to Mother nature as this time of year there will be lots of chaff around and the mice will be finding ears of corn and wheat laying around. And so cats will hunt mice .. natures way of keeping the mice population at bay.

My theory by the way!

By the way remember to give your cat worming tablets at this time of year..because of the mice. If your cat is like mine and eats the mice then it will need worming.

And no it is nothing to do with your cat being on a diet although who could blame her looking for other food. Cat food is disgusting stuff no matter how the manufacturers try to con us by saying it's tasty and nutritional.

EDIT: .2.00pm tuesday....My cat has just brought into the house a dead mouse that was covered in maggots. I have just had to clear it up.The cat went out of the back door faster then he came in I can tell you. And I hope your wee cat does not do anything so disgusting.

Answer 3

Does she eat them or just chew on them a little and leave the carcase for you to find? If she's eating all of them she may have found a way to supplement (sabotage) her reducing plan. It may not be so bad, she is getting exercise, because she has to chase the mice.
Is she's just sport hunting, you never know what will make a cat take up a new hobby. My cat has decided to spend a considerable part of each day in this new cardboard box that came thru the mail. All cats like cardboard boxes but there is something about this one she likes.
Cats go figure.
You may want to consider keeping her in though. She may pick up worms and other parasites from the mice and then you will have to take her to the vet.

Answer 4

A cat diet?! hahaha You cant put a cat on a diet unless you lock them in the house.
You mean its the first time you have seen her hunt. They are born hunters. My two are fully fed but still hunt mice rats and frogs. Yeah you havent lived til you are woken in the night by a frog screaming. Horrible. haha

Answer 5

its probably because now is the time of year the mice come into the house more they hate cold wet weather the cat is being Territorial and chasing them off just be careful that she dosent eat them in my area people put poison bait down for mice and rats and the cat could become ill if she eats them they are cute looking little pests but don't let looks fool you they carry germs and are not particular where they go before going on your food try those plug in deterrents you can buy them on eBay and they wont harm your cat

Answer 6

In the wild, cats have to hunt their own food. They are not given cat food in a bowl everyday. When cats kill mice and birds they are just hunting and using their instincts like they would in the wild.

Answer 7

Cats catch mice because its fun. Simple as that. If your cat is hungry then she might have a bit of a munch on the carcass, but providing for food, probably isn't the prime motivation here - unless your "diet" is starving her.

Answer 8

If it's only mice don't worry it's natural - be prepared for more 'presents'... My cat kills anything she can - spiders, daddy long legs, mice, caterpillars and, top of the list so far, I went downstairs a couple of weeks ago and there was a dead bat on the kitchen floor!

Answer 9

Yesrterday? Does your cat always tell you "er... going hunting for while...see you later" how do you know it was the first time?
Cat on a diet? it is within the nature of all animals to behave like animals, regardless if you call it a pet. Therfore killing for food is part of it.

Answer 10

My cats have always chased mice and they havent been on diets either. Its probably just instinct. My cats dont eat them though they just play with them then leave to die. Sounds mean when i think about it that way.