to think a dead baby mouse shouldn't cause a breakdown?

[deadmousesage]

Got a lodger in May, a female teacher in her late 30s. Lovely person who said she had always had cats and missed them so would look forward to living with the 2 here.
huge garden which she loves and the cats obviously have a cat flap.
2 days ago one of the cats bought in a dead baby mouse it had killed.
I got rid of it and apologised and saidit happens only a few times a year as both cats lazy.
however lodger has had a complete meltdown, said she can't eat or sleep and is not able to concentrate at work.
I'm at a bit of a loss, I know it's horrid but not that bad for someone who has had cats?.
She now wants them.shut in the kitchen when she is home.
Much as I like her I think she would be better somewhere else?.
She has been crying and shaking Tec for 2 days?
Aibu?

I guess that I meant - and excuse the 'shorthand' - that she was deep into that behaviour and couldn't find a way to break out of it. (Or didn't wish to.)

I'd take her a stiff drink and leave it at that. She doesn't suit.

I did wibble a bit at the half grown dead rat in my hallway one morning but the cat and I discussed it calmly and he hasn't done it again

did the cat leave the mouse? On her pillow with a note saying "you're next"? If not, then yes a slight overreaction from your lodger

Hilarious

And cat looks deadly to me... I wouldn't trust it

I have indoor cats but often get presented with dead socks, my mums cat used to "steal" things he once brought home a cake... am quite sure if allowed out into the wild :) I'd be given dead things by my three, one is always telling off the pigeons.

very much an overreaction on this persons behalf, but some people are weird. I had a landlady who had decided to evict me so she could move back into the house just as I discovered a rat... Very much alive one but something had to be done about it she called in floods of tears begging the rat to be saved because of his feelings... It was pissing and shitting over the kitchen, and was kicked out the back door on his first visit but him and his friends were about to move in, I expect they have now all been adopted.

I don't even let people move my cats out of a seat so you wouldn't see me locking the cats in the kitchen

omg, get rid of lodger, but make her think it's her idea.

I don't know about indoor cats hunting.

At my previous house the mere presence of the kitten removed any trace of the mice that used to watch TV with us in the living room. Not sure he ate them or they were too clever to stick around.

He is an excellent giant cockroach (don't ask) detector but not so much on the killing.

"She now wants them.shut in the kitchen when she is home."

^^ Maybe you could fit her room with a human sized cat-flap, and shut her in there whilst residing at your home?

Seems she is happy to leave.

All does not sound well but the op is not responsible. Part on good terms is all you can do.

mantra ^ "loved" a little too much" is your cat called Lenny?

I had two cats and neither must have loved me much as they never bought me gifts but I have to say, I'm as squeamish as fuck, so do have a lot of sympathy. Birds? Bunnies? Rats? Mice? Voles? You women are awesome.

I had a cat that brought me daffodils. That was nice. Neighbour was not impressed

Sounds like there's more to this than just the mouse.

Currently there are 2 dead shrews in my living room. I'll put them out in a bit. I've had rats, bats, various birds, glow worms, mice and once found a live vole in my potatoes.

I only really want the cats to kill mice and rats but they're farm cats. It's Ragnarok for small mammals and reptiles out there.

cats left it in the fireplace

I guess they wanted you to cremate it.

This morning we found two dead mice, a dead bird & a vole (still alive). The vole bit the husband who was trying to rescue it from the cat, & then rushed out the front door dressed only in his pants to set it free.

With the live things I generally trap them under a shoebox. Then slide cardboard under the box, pick the whole lot up and release the vole/ shrew outside.

Thanks for all the messages, she will be a lot happier somewhere else and if I do interview for a new lodger again I am seriously going to ask what would you do if one of the cats bought you a present...

1. cry, shake and not eat
2. be disgusted and get rid of it
3. tell me to get rid of it ASAP

Either 2 or 3 fine, funny it's not a question I thought to ask before!!

I had that reaction when I discovered real ones living in my house and in had to trap them. I'm hardened now to furry body disposal

That's odd! Sounds a bit highly strung to be a teacher. Our school had a stray snake last year.

How can you not know that cats do this? Mine bring in mice, birds, frogs, a lizard on one occasion!

Do you think she might be unwell/have an underlying mh condition which this has brought to the surface.

I think this is possible too. I'm sure she doesn't enjoy being so anxious. The comments about her being a "fruit loop" or "unhinged" are unkind. She's clearly highly-strung and upset, and if she was a lodger of mine I'd gently point her in the direction of the GP for some support.

It's all ended ok thankfully.

Cats can keep possession of their sofa...

We had a stray 5 ft python in our town a few month back. It escaped from a house near a school. People were posting to Facebook that they were afraid to take their children into school in case the snake ate them

My child wanted to go and find it and hug it

The reason I asked if she was still at work was ...surely she managed to hold it together int he classroom but was oh so distressed at home.

That smacks to me of drama llhama-ing

Glad you have got rid