Is it cruel to put a bell on a cat's collar?

[MimiSam]

Instinctively I think it must be, as hunting comes naturally to them. I don't like the many worms they bring into the house, but can live with it. I really don't like the mice they bring in, dead, alive or somewhere in between, but can live with it. BUT today we found a bird's head, just the head, in the hallway and I think I have reached my limit of tolerance. Would it be OK to put a bell on the cats' collars? Or does anyone have any other ideas please?

[Fluffycloudland77]

It's cruel. It's not effective either .

Keep the cat in at night & early morning to limit hunting but they will find stuff to kill.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Not cruel I meant, I haven't even had a drink tonight.

[MrsPiggywinkle]

Our cat had a bell for a while. I still came down one morning to find a pile of feathers and a beak. So I assume that means bells don't stop hunting....

[Nojustalurker]

Does not stop him from hunting but it does reduce it.

[cozietoesie]

I'm also wondering when you let your cat out? (A load of worms would suggest she's going out after dusk because that's mainly when worms come up to the surface of the earth.)

[backinthebox]

As far as I am concerned the only point of a cat is that it keeps the mice and rats down. Their next main trait seems to be crapping in my vegetable beds. If they aren't hunting, what's the point of them?

Nature is red in tooth and claw, and even cute kittys are part of it.

[Lesleythegiraffe]

I bought about 3 collars for my cat after being fed up of the "gifts" he was bringing me.

He lost them all so I gave up and (fingers crossed) have had no more gifts.

[Fluffycloudland77]

You can buy anti-hunting "bibs" but the cat may never forgive you.

[cozietoesie]

I used to keep The Lodger in overnight - dusk until breakfast and that (along with continuing attention to shrub position and wildbird food delivery) seemed to restrict his hunting to some small mammals. I never saw him with a successful bird stalk.

(Oh - and spare ribs from the local Chinese takeaway. I don't count those though.)

[frostyfingers]

When we moved I put a collar with a bell on our kitty - we moved to a farm and I didn't want him getting stuck in the sheds, someone else's car (he has a penchant for checking them out), etc. He was most indignant that the birdies flew away whilst he was stalking them, but then after about four days the collar vanished. He's never been particularly keen on catching birds - too much like hard work I suspect, and generally sticks to voles and mice (and one mole).

[Nataleejah]

Sure not cruel. It warns birds away, as domestic cats are a big threat to them.

[HoldOnHoldOnSoldier]

Totally cruel to put any collar on a cat imo with or without a bell.

[lottiegarbanzo]

Keep them in at night.

Bells do help but not every time.

[NeoFaust]

We put a bell on our cat. The slaughter of random animal life continued, but now with hugely muddy patches whereever the cat sat down, as well as many evil glares from our constantly washing cat.

Turns out he'd discovered that lying down in the muddiest section of the garden clogged the bell.

We removed the bell. The occasional corpse from successful hunting trips was easier to deal with than resentful constant mud from his unsuccessful ones.

[SooticaTheWitchesCat]

My cat has a bell on his collar, he still brings me offering though...

[rinabean]

Collars are cruel, and dangerous too. The safe ones a determined cat can remove itself, so what's the point? Cats learn to hunt around bells. The best way to stop them hunting is keep them in at dawn and dusk (which is when they're most anxious to go out, for this very reason, but there you go!) and keep them in at night for their own safety anyway. They get better (lazier) as they get older but betting on that ensures you get one that refuses to retire haha!

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

Sorry I thought the bell was for me so I knew where the darned puss was in the dark?

It's for....birds?!?

Don't believe you. Yabu! ( I know this isn't but really that noise should 'scare' a bird?!?)

[SooticaTheWitchesCat]

Mine is in from early evening before dusk until well after dawn but he still gets birds and mice. He is just determined I think.