My cats animal hunting habits got out of hand. What do I do?

Question

Recently, he's been sticking to killing mice, rats, and bugs, but today, he killed a rabbit that was TWICE HIS SIZE! I have no idea what to do! My father says he'll get my cat put down if this continues, but I don't want that to happen. I'm desperate! Any ideas?

Recently, he's been sticking to killing mice, rats, and bugs, but today, he killed a rabbit that was TWICE HIS SIZE! I have no idea what to do! My father says he'll get my cat put down if this continues, but I don't want that to happen. I'm desperate! Any ideas?

He's an outdoor cat, he's longhaired, and if you keep him inside too long he starts tearing everything up, getting sick from eating butter and bread he sneaks from the kitchen, and he goes crazy, gets scared, and runs around the house, especially when he goes upstairs. Plus he sheds. And he won't play with toys or tear up dolls. Inside, he goes after your legs. He loves it outside, and he's been neutered, so the running away and getting his back legs run over problem is gone.

He gets sick from fear if you keep him in a cage, and he yowls pitifully, making it impossible to get anything done, including sleep. It's hard enough to put him in a cage for boarding while we're on vacation.

Anything that goes on his body, particularly around his neck, he can get off, and he will. Even those "no-escape" cat collars.

We feed him more than the vet says to, and we only bring him in to get cat food, then we take him out to feed him.

We feed him canned food (Friskies), because dry food makes him throw up.

My dad knows it is natural, but he still can't deal with it, and my cat doesn't bring them alive, he brings them dead. And, we don't find the animals, he does.

He doesn't eat the animals, he leaves them on our porch as "presents", and gets blood and guts and all everywhere. It's really gross.

Plus, again, the rabbit was TWICE the size of my cat.

Oh, and so you know the scale of things, in the past week, he's killed three chipmunks in addition to the rabbit. We have hundreds of dead animals in the government-owned detention pond in our back yard.

I know I have too many excuses, but my cat is DEFINITELY not like other cats. Harnesses, he'd bite his way out of them, and we can't always be around to hold the other end of the harness. Plus he's too free spirited, and, if he didn't get out of the harness, it give the poor little guy a heart attack, he's pretty old. Any way to communicate to him that we don't want his so-called "presents"?

Oh, nevermind about holding harness. Didn't quite understand what you meant at the time I wrote that, but the rest is true.

If we cut his claws, he would get killed, because he still fights even after being neutered.

Great idea about the farmer thing, I can only hope I can manage to give him up. But I guess it's for his own good, though. Thanks!

Answer 1

This sounds like an amazing cat!! I'd take him if I could. The others are right that many many people would love to have a working cat like this. Don't let your dad put him down. Find him a home on a farm. He'll keep mice out of the barn and rabbits out of the crops. What farmer wouldn't love that?? If your dad won't let you keep him, he will find a good home. He is a special cat.

Answer 2

I think your father is being absolutely unreasonable. Unless the rabbit was domestic and belonged to your or a neighbor then I don't see what the problem is. Even so, the rabbit should have been in a proper enclosure or supervised.

He is doing what cats do. A cat like yours is considered VALUABLE and an asset to most households! Point that out to your father. If he is still threatening and unyielding then there may be something else behind him wanting to get rid of the cat. Don't let your dad put down a great cat. Find a home that will appreciate a terrific "working" cat that earns his keep.

So sad. Sorry you're having this problem with your dad.

Answer 3

first of all, your father needs a reality check. Put the cat down simply because a cat is doing something it does naturally? Give it away don't euthanize.. *sigh* I hate how people jump to the ultimate solutions as an answer.

talk to your father about fencing in the yard, or a portion of the yard so the cat can get out but the wild life is safe. See link.

You could try belling the cat (aka putting a bell on it) but most cats work around that..

I always think of prey as presents, showing you how much the cat loves you. I'm sorry your father is not so understanding.

Answer 4

Keep him INSIDE. It is his nature to kill, and your dad is just wrong to kill an animal just because it is being the animal that it is.

Keep it indoors, or if you can't do that, get a collar with a bell on it so the animals can hear it coming and can get a headstart. (but make sure it is a breakaway collar, cats can get caught on stuff and choke if the collar isnt' breakaway)

EDIT: Honestly, you find an excuse for why all of our ideas wouldn't work, from what youve said, it sounds like the only choise would be to put to cat up for adoption and give him to a family that won't kill him for acting like a normal cat does

Answer 5

Really you cannot make him quit. All cats have the instinct to kill little critters. You could try feeding him a canned food to take away the meat craving. Sorry your Dad is so unforgiving, but it is a natural thing. Hide the bunnies when you find them, or tell the cat to get when he brings them up to the house. I do that to my cats because I don't like to see it. But it probably won't help. Tell Dad its natural, Good Luck!

Answer 6

Wow u have the excuses for everything.The only thing i can say is the collar w/ a bell.

Or if he gets that off a harness.

HARNESS!he CANNOT get that off.U can put a bell on that so the animals know he is comming,and he may not like it and he may try to tear it off but its for his own good.

If he doent want to die and u dont want him to die.then get the harness and make him wear it.


GOOD LUCK!!!!!


AND IF THAT DOESNT WORK THEN DO NOT PUT HIM TO SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


GIVE HIM TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT IS OK W/ THE HUNTING!

Answer 7

FIrst off, maybe keep your cat IN, they don't kill stuff that way.
Second, try clip those claws short, perhaps ask your vet to show you how.
You can try giving him a higher grade diet since hunting is part instinct and part diet. Try Royal Canin or Science Diet. Mine are on that, and even though my young boy will try, it's half-hearted at best.

Answer 8

You can not stop a cat from hnunting, it is their nature. Cats do kill rabbits, it's not unusual. You need to keep prey animals in cat proof enclosures, or you need to find a new home for your cat.

Answer 9

Cat's are natural born hunters. It's doing exactly what nature intended it to do. Why is it his fault? I dunno, I'm a cat lover so I would hate to think that you're dad would kill it just because of the hunting instinct. Can you take it to a shelter or someone with a farm?

Answer 10

It is the cat's natural instinct to kill. If you take the prey from him and scold him, he will eventually stop going after prey. But he will no longer be a good mouser.

And if that don't work try Ritalin. 10,000 doctors prescribe it to normal healthy kids every day.