cat bring mice in the house?

Question

this is my second question as dealing with my poorly bramble.i have another cat fatface and he is fixed very loving catches birds and eats them but mice he brings into the house norm not hurt and they run around he will ob kill them in the end but sick off mice running around he brings them in the house in his large mouth (hence fatface )wont hurt them but then plays its every day now found bits of a mouse in my shoes so many times he is a natrual farm cat but how do i stop him cant lock the catflap coz of poorly bram who is bagpuss really

oh just too add he has a bell on his collar like a cow bell really big and noisy just hes so quick hes ony 2 so guess got this for yrs to come he is is like a cartoon cat gobbles the mouse in his mouth with tail hanging out and i have to get it out guess i cant stop him

Answer 1

'Fraid there's nothing you can do to stop a cats natural instinct!

Answer 2

Your cat is exhibiting perfectly normal cat behaviour. There is not much you can do about it (nor should you try to). Collars with bells DON'T work (you have found that to be the case, so get rid of the collar) DON'T leave him out DON'T put down traps or poison DON'T keep him in (except at night) Just put up with it - he will only be catching mice in the warm weather. I've had cats for 31 years, and have 3 at present. Only 1 of mine brings mice in (and frogs, fish and shrews), but we ensure that she doesn't get upstairs with them. We usually manage to catch the live prey, in a large jug or glass, then release it back into the garden (keeping her indoors for an hour, to give the creature a chance to escape). Often, though, the prey will die of the shock anyway

Answer 3

I don't know how old Fatface is but I reckon the older he gets, the less this will happen. My cat Lizzy used to catch loads of mice, bring them in and eat them. Like you bits sometimes ended up in shoes. Not great. But there really is nothing you can do. My point about getting older stems from the fact that Lizzy now doesn't tend to catch either mice or birds ..or if she does, she never brings them in. I really do reckon it's because she's getting older and really can't be bothered with the palava of it all. She's now 11 and I first noticed the lack of mice and birds about 5 years ago.

Answer 4

Dont be upset, be honoured.

The birds are just his natural survival skills coming out.

The mice that are still alive are being brought home are to teach you vital survival skills. This is what they do to teach their family how to hunt to survive.

I accept this as a great compliment that my cats think of me as their family.

Also he is carrying out a vital enviromental service, the Council should have him on wages. I would nickname Fatface 'Pest Control'.

Mine are nicknamed, Neighbourhood watch (always looking out the window, from behind the curtain, like a meerkat). Securicor( guards the cat flap like a bouncer) and Pest Control (well you know all about that one).

Hope this makes you feel a little better about it.

Answer 5

Instinct tells him to catch and practice on mice. You just don't like the side effects.

Next time put the mouse into the bathtub and show him the mouse there. Lots of cats prefer their prey to be contained so they can come back and play later. Otherwise if this isn't an option that he can pick up on just invest in a bunch of mouse traps and set them where he can't get his paws into them and let that take care of any free range pests he catches and releases.

Answer 6

It's that old hunting instinct. He catches and takes the prey to a safe place - in this case his home - for later. I remember years ago I had a cat who used to sleep on the bed with me and one night I woke up and saw two beady eyes peering into mine on the pillow. It was a little mouse. Now I'm not scared of mouse, but was startled to say the least. I've never moved so fast, I jumped out of bed, the mouse jumped in, the cat jumped in after it. So much activity, even my little Yorkies got in on the act. I'm happy to say I retrieved the mouse unhurt and released it over the fence. It probably wasn't so lucky next time, but at least it lived to face another day.

Answer 7

Mostly when a cat brings a mouse in they are stunned for a while, catch him in the act and say no, then carry them to a safe place, like a garage or shed the cat can't get to. He's only trying to bring you a present, but he needs to realise you're not all that grateful.

Answer 8

Cats do this, it's in their nature! They bring you presents, and if they bring live presents, it may even mean he's trying to teach you to hunt, just like a mother cat will bring prey for their kittens. My cat does this, brings mice and sometimes birds in, but as soon as they're inside she doesn't chase them anymore... she just watches how I chase them instead. She probably thinks I'm terribly bad at it too, which is why she keeps bringing me more to practice on!

Answer 9

I read somewhere that when cats bring a 'catch' home their telling you they love you and the 'catch' it a gift... I don't think there's anything you can do to stop him from hunting. To him its a natural thing to do. Something moves he wants it

Answer 10

It may be natural but it's inconvenient!

Get both of them collars with a bell on - they will find it very hard to catch anything once their prey can hear them coming.

Answer 11

The cat is telling u how much he loves you by bringing you mice.In his mind he is probably thanking you for feeding him and returning the favour by bringing you food. My cats bring me stuff all the time when you have cats you get used to it.