Will my Cat Murder a Mouse?

Question

My 3 month old male kitten is always sooo bored and I sometimes do not have enough time to dedicate to him. He's bored with all the toys I've bought him and I'm not getting any other pets due to my time restraints, so that will not work as far as giving him company. I considered getting him some small mice from the pet store to chase around so he can be entertained. I figured that he may eventually kill them though, which makes me feel kind of guilty, but I just want him to have fun be as much of a cat as he can. :-(

Please tell me:
Do you think I should get him some mice to chase around?
Do you think that is unethical?
Do you think it is dangerous to my kitten's mental or physical health?
Have you ever done this?

Answer 1

This is SOOOOOOOOOO not a good idea!! First of all, your kitten will quickly kill the mouse and then he'll still be bored. And if one mouse escapes, you have mice in your house.

Besides, it IS unethical. It's one thing to feed a snake (although I'm VERY much against live feeding) but this is sacrificing an animal FOR FUN.

The BEST thing you can do for your kitten is to get another kitten. I know, I know, you said no more pets -- but you said it was because of your time restraints. Another kitten won't take much more time! And you will feel MUCH less guilty when you don't have time for them, because they can keep each other company!

The BEST pet for a busy person is TWO cats. They keep each other company when you aren't home, they keep YOU company when you are home. The best exercise for a cat is another cat. Plus, it's SOOOOOOOOO much fun watching them play and snuggle together!

Please consider it. Like most animals, cats are happier when they have company of their own kind.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Man, am I glad I'm not a pet-store mouse in your town! :-)

You'd be surprised how much activity a cat will get out of kicking around a rolled-up ball of aluminum foil, or a ping-pong or other lightweight ball.

Cats can be fairly self-sufficient. Our cat likes to run laps around our house, most often at 3 or 4 AM, when at that quiet time it sounds like a miniature HORSE galloping!

Answer 3

If your kitten gets bored of his toys he will also get bored of the mice, once he's killed them....which he will eventually.
I really think that's a terrible idea, personally....like the others have said, you may have some mice escaping. Also, it's one thing what happens in nature, where cats hunt to survive....I think it's totally different where a cat has live mice just to "play with"....I think that's cruel and unethical.
I've had pet mice and my experience has shown me they're intelligent, sensitive and lovable animals, even though they're so underrated. Please get your kitten some more interesting toys....there are so many available....maybe try looking on the Internet.
Good luck.

Answer 4

Poor kiddy. Many cats are like this.

Here are your answers:
I would not get mice because they will make holes and have babies

No, i don't think it is unethical.

not all the times

yes, but only for a short while.

Answer 5

1. No. Get a dog to chase the cat--and let him eat it when he catches it.
2. Not unethical at all--I'm sure people go to Petco and buy live bait for their kittens. Be sure to tell them why you're buying the mice.
3. Nah. The kitten could turn out like Charles Manson or Jeffrey Dahmer, but when he got bored, you could buy him some people to chase down.
4. ARE YOU SERIOUS?????????????

Answer 6

1: YOU SHOULD GET ONE MOUSE AT A TIME SO THE KITTEN COULD PLAY WITH GOT TO THE PET STORE AND ASK FOR FEEDER MOUSE.
2:NO
3:NO IT IS GOOD FOR THE KITTEN SO IF IT GOES OUT SIDE IT KNOWS HOW TO CAUGHT FOOD.
4:WELL MY CAT BRINGS HOME MOUSES FOR MY OTHER CAT WHO DOESN'T GO OUTSIDE TO PLAY WITH BUT WHEN THEY ARE DONE PLAYING MY OLDEST CAT WHICH IS 7 YEARS OLD EATS THE MOUSE.

Answer 7

If your cat is normal, it just might EAT the mice. That's what cats do, so ethics aren't a question here. Aren't you over-reacting just a wee bit about your kitten's mental or physical health? The kitten is likely healthier in many ways than you or I will ever be.

Answer 8

it's cruel to intentionally put the mice in harms way. one of my cats used to just toss the mice that had escaped the tank around and when she was sone neither was the worse for wear but that is unusual for a cat to do. why don't you get him a beta in a bowl. they only need to be fed once or twice a day and cleaned out once a week unless your cat drinks out of the fish bowl.

Answer 9

Well my answers would be instead of a real mouse get him a mechanical one! I have seen them at the pet stores in the kitty toy aisles. Mice can carry diseases that will harm your kitty.

Answer 10

my cats chase birds and kill em outside. but my cats love me so much they bring me the dead birds. dont worry just get some feeder mice.