He is well fed, a Maine Coon, and around 1 years old. I know I am supposed to praise his "contributions" to the pack. But it is grossing me and freaking my daughter out to see all these gutted and decapitated animals laying around.
2006-09-26 05:33:58 · 32 answers · asked by Shannon M 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
If you're going to let your cat outdoors, you'll probalby have to get used to the "presents" he brings you. It's his nature to hunt and he's honoring you by bringing you his catch.
You could try the bell on the collar, but many cats will figure out how to lose the collar outside. They always do.
In the meantime, be glad he's not more like my cats. They bring their LIVE PREY in through the catdoor and let them loose in my house! This week I've had to hunt down a chipmunk, several mice,a bat, some Newts (little lizards that lose their tail under stress) and A RAT!! ...yes, A RAT!
I've had to trap them all and take them back out to the fields or the woods (we live in farm country!)
Don't worry about your daughter. As long as you're teaching her not to touch the dead animals, she'll make it through just fine.
2006-09-26 05:44:14 · answer #1 · answered by eyerishiz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Maine Coon is a lousy hunter. He was away from the house for 4 days and he was ravenous when he returned. I believe you should be glad that your cat can hunt successfully. Either get used to the carnage or give up the cat to someone who is not so grossed out.
Likelihood is that your cat will not accept being an indoor cat since he is so successful outdoors. My cat still wants to go outside, and he accepts being on a leash. I don't care what the neighbors think, I satisfy his urge for the outdoors and I keep him safe.
2006-09-26 06:17:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aside from keeping it inside all the time, nothing. Cats are hunters through and through. It is a part of their nature that can not be separated from them. They also are not "pack" animals. Your cat is bringing you it's kills to show it has great affection for you. Teach your daughter as much as possible about the nature of cats, so she can understand why it is doing this. The best thing you can do to help the quarry get away is ruin the element of surprise by making your cat wear a collar with bells on it or even flashing LED's since birds sight is acquired to motion.
Hmm, fox urine. Well, I don't think my job sucks anymore.
2006-09-26 05:59:38 · answer #3 · answered by Pundit Bandit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As others have said, keep the cat indoors. It will take some time for him to get used to it, and some agile blocking on your part each time you enter or leave your house. You do not need to declaw the cat, that is completely un-necessary, do nueuter him if he isn't already and keep his rabies shots up to date. (I had a bite from our neurotic cat get infected and the doctor demanded to see the papers proving she was up to date on her rabies shot. She's an indoor only cat.) Just keep the cat inside. Think of it this way, he won't get poisoned by a cat hating neighbor, eaten by a dog, or squashed by a car, not to mention getting any one of a number of nasty diseases from eating wildlife or a feline STD if he's not neutered by staying indoors. Sadly, cats are much healthier and live longer happier lives when they stay indoors. Also, Maine Coons (if he is pedigree) are valuable, very valuable. I am surprised he hasn't been stolen yet.
2006-09-26 05:47:20 · answer #4 · answered by xasshaiza_starhand 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I see a lot of thumbs downs for the others who said to keep your cat inside. Hate to say it, but it would be the best thing for him (not to mention the best thing for the wildlife around your home). Read up on the numerous dangers to outdoor cats.
I saw an episode of Emergency Vets last week....a woman brought her cat in because the cat had come home that morning with a "drunken" demeanor. She couldn't walk or stay upright for very long. She'd gotten into antifreeze....and it was too late for them to even TRY to save her. As I watched the woman cry over her dead cat, I found it hard to feel bad for her. All I could think was, "Ya know, it could've been prevented if you'd had the smarts to keep her inside." I did feel bad for the cat, however...who wasn't lucky enough to end up with an owner who cared enough to keep her safe.
A lot of people think "caring" is letting them roam because it's what they LOVE. Well, children LOVE to play with knives and wander around the streets alone....that doesn't mean they should be allowed to.
And since your cat is a Maine Coon, you're playing with his life. Popular purebreds are more likely to be stolen.
So go ahead and try the bell on his collar. It might work, it might not. Some cats learn how to work with it....I've seen cats who could hunt with a bell by moving so slowly, the bell didn't make a sound.
(Just to note, my cats do go outside....just under my supervision. Under no circumstances are they allowed to roam free.)
2006-09-26 06:31:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have a cat that was allowed to go outside only when we were home. We let her out one nice sunny day and she never came back. She had previously brought home a variety of animals...and she was only 10 months old. Well she never came home that day and for the next week we searched for her and called for her. called the pounds (she was microchipped but they never called - long story) and put flyers in peoples mail boxes. Finally a week after she had gone missing one of our neighbors on the street behind us called and said she took our cat to the pound because she was chasing birds and squirrels in her yard. I wanted to smack her...cats are supposed to do that.
anyway, now she is an indoor cat. I have always had outdoor cats all my life, she is my first indoor. She goes outide when we are home on a harness and leash. She actually doesnt mind it, she can still climb her favorite tree and play with the dogs.
Even if you dont keep him in because of the dead animals keep him in people of non-loving animal people. It took a little more toys and attention to keep our cat from wanting to go out all the time but she is very good now.
Good luck
2006-09-26 06:40:49 · answer #6 · answered by Ember B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cats are born hunters, and to keep them from this activity is to stifle their nature. I agree, however, I get the same "contributions" at my house and I live way out in the country. They make a small cat muzzle that the cat can wear outside, but this will not allow the cat to defend itself against predators.If your cat is climbing trees to get to the birds and squirrels, you can put a guard around the tree, which consists of a piece of sheet metal, the cat cannot get its claws into the metal and can not climb the tree.
2006-09-26 05:41:46 · answer #7 · answered by loufedalis 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Spray fox urine around the exterior of your property line. The scent will deter the squirrels from coming onto your property. Fox are a natural threat to squirrels. This is assuming your cat doesn't have free roam around the neighborhood. Fox urine can be purchased at most hunting stores.
2006-09-26 05:37:55 · answer #8 · answered by Matt R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get him a collar with a nice noisy bell on it...with out the element of surprise the hunt won't go so well, and you won't have carion all over your place. Also loose any feeders you have in your yard. If they birds and squirrels aren't hanging out so much, then there will be less prey to hunt.
2006-09-26 05:53:59 · answer #9 · answered by Jamie A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's what he does. If you declaw him, then another cat gets him. Sorry but he's a little monster and it's not like you can sit him down and have a talk.
What you might try is putting a nice bell on his collar so any other animal can hear him coming and at least have a chance to get away.
2006-09-26 05:38:00 · answer #10 · answered by MickYahoo 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋