are there any suggestions to what i can do to prevent my cat from killing rodents & such?... she lives outside and always brings stuff to our doorstep or leaves them in the yard. i know that it's not good to discourage this behavior because it is a sign from them to you in identifying you as a "leader", but i need help-- it's not just 1 or 2 rodents, it's like the whole yard is a dead zone.
2007-10-17 08:48:57 · 10 answers · asked by h_chick4 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
can you please just answer if you know there's anything to do... i gathered as much as it's her instinct. i can figure that out for myself. also-- she hasn't been an outdoor cat at all till this summer. and this just started. i'm planning on bringing her in for the winter, but anything i can do until then would be greatly appreciated.
2007-10-17 09:14:21 · update #1
Cats will often take dead animals that they have caught - mice, rats, birds, etc., and bring them into your house. They will leave them in random places - on your bed, near the door, near their food, wherever. Your cat is not trying to send you a Godfather-type message. Cats just don't understand why you wouldn't be pleased with something as interesting and useful as a dead mouse. To them, they are bringing you food. The basic theory is that they are giving you a "present" - you give them food, water, and affection, and they are returning the favor with something they caught. Cats often do this in the wild for others in their family groups.
The easiest thing to do is just to throw it away and move on. It's kind of gross, but your cat is not trying to do anything wrong and it is trying to show affection. It is best just to pet the cat and let it be - it wants affection, and punishment for a friendly gesture will only confuse it.
2007-10-17 09:37:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe there is anything you can do to stop your cat from doing this. It is a natural behavior for the cat, and let's face it, it cleans all of the rodents out of your yard! :) You just have to discard of the bodies, but eventually there may be few rodents left for your cat to present to you. Keep in mind that your cat feels very proud of himself/herself when he/she presents you with such a delictable treasure and expects a similar reaction from you. Make sure that the cat knows you are pleased and proud of it and perhaps it won't bring you quite as many b/c it'll see that you are already pleased with it and it doesn't need to keep bringing you "presents".
2007-10-17 09:14:05 · answer #2 · answered by cygnet611 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I realize that you don't want all of these rodents on your doorstep. However, cats instinctively hunt, and them bringing you food IS a sign of leadership. They're just helping to control the rodent population. Better on your doorstep than in your cereal box right? You must live near a field or farm. Just be patient and the population should "should" diminish.
2007-10-17 09:00:10 · answer #3 · answered by Marine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'd rather have rodents!?
There is one thing you can do: make your cat an indoor cat. It is healthier and safer for your cat anyway, protecting it from disease, attack, or accident. Otherwise, there is nothing you can do. What that cat is doing is natural. The only other thing you can do is get rid of the cat and get yourself a rabbit or something.
2007-10-17 08:56:36 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunatley there is nothing you can do to stop your cat from doing this. It is a natural thing that they would do in the wild, it's just that you feed it and the cat jus wants to bring you presents as a thank you.
2007-10-17 08:56:30 · answer #5 · answered by ruby 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Uh, dear one - that is what non-domestic cats do!
I gather he/she has been ioutdoort cat since birth. Pity
Only way I know of to stop behavior is to make kitty an "indoor cat" The transition will not be easy.
2007-10-17 09:06:17 · answer #6 · answered by dwhelper 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is his/her natural predatory instinct, not too mention he is bringing you the trophy to show off and make you proud.
2007-10-17 09:43:26 · answer #7 · answered by Special Ed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't think there is anything you can do. it's their instinct to kill and catch things. you're only option would be to keep your cat inside.
2007-10-17 08:57:35 · answer #8 · answered by aceraimee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
one of my cats does that too ... she kills birds and mice all the time
.. the other day she ate a pigeon !!!!
i don't know a way you can stop her because if i did then i would stop my own cat
2007-10-17 09:50:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
he loves you and wants to bring you gifts..
2007-10-17 08:56:04 · answer #10 · answered by ♥just me♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋