I want to rescue a cat but I don’t want it bringing in viditors

[Pichee]

Would love to rescue an elderly cat. But I could not handle them bringing home gifts. Is that just a no go then?

My dog is good with cats (friends with my sister’s). Wouldn’t want to deprive an outdoor cat and not many seem to be indoor.

My indoor cats have never brought me anything. Also as you say you wanted an elderly one you might be in luck as they often can't be bothered to hunt as they get older (there's always some exceptions as noted in other comments though!)

My 6 year old used to hunt quite a lot but seemed to give it up once the kitten arrived. Said kitten was born in rescue. He's now 15 months old and is Cat the Ripper.

They hunt less once they are old, like over 10, but I've never had a cat that didn't bring things in, some more than others.

I have had several cats o er the years- boys seem to be better hunters. My current boy is such an excellent hunter I don't like to be alone in the house over night for fear of what I might find on the kitchen floor on the morning. My previous girl cat never caught anything. An elderly girl should be a saf bet.

I’m fine with dead birds or frogs. Hate rodents.

I don't think you can really stop them, every cat brings something even if very occasionally as they get older. If you rehome an older adult the rescue might have some information on behaviour.
Does also depend where you live too, the cat we had previously brought us loads of presents when we lived near fields but then moved to a less rural area and he brought less!

Most cats don't bring in visitors.

Older cats even less so.

Definitely DO have a cat flap.

In the pandemic we all got a tiny taste of what it was like to have our movements and freedoms slightly restricted. Don't restrict your cats autonomy unnecessarily.

Cats need to be able to get back indoors to safety whenever needed, or just simply not be stuck outside in the rain. (Or indoors when there's a lovely patch of sun outside.)

My cat has been known the bring rabbits. And robins. And voles. We have never had a cat flap though so at worst he leaves them on the doorstep.

My old boy (15) brings me rats and birds in various states of vitality.

My bengal once dragged in a whole, freshly cooked roast chicken. He was very proud of himself that day.

My elderly cat could not give a single shit about pursuing visitors, never mind bringing them in. My one year old cat brings in bees, beetles, birds and rats. 🤢

My cats both elderly rarely catch anything and then when they do, they haven't a clue what to do with it let alone bring it inside
My older of the two has got absolutely nothing in his life with me .. he tries (badly) to assist the other fron time to time

We adopted an indoor cat. She's allowed out and she's a masterful catcher of anything and everything. I feel like we are a hostel for shrews.

Yes, my young male cat would bring in birds. I was upset for the bird but something about the way he would ignore the rest of my family and lay his treasure at my feet did warm my heart 😭

It totally depends on your cat. I have one that has brought me live bats, birds, squirrels, a magpie, frogs, mice, rabbits and rats 🐀. The other brings leaves back for me, and is very proud of herself.

This made me smile, because my 11 year old bruiser tom had both canines removed with a couple of other teeth and actually increased his hunting once he was recovered. It was like he was trying to prove he still has his mojo by depositing several presents on my doormat.

My cat now 16 used to bring home gifts when he was younger but years since he did it so hopefully you should be ok with an older cat. My worst gift was a still alive sparrow that flew around the living room, pooping everywhere as it went.

He has to have a cat flap as he won't use litter - we'd put a tray out but the "business" was neatly done on the newspaper surrounding it and none in the tray.

Now he's so bone idle he goes out for about 5 minutes per day and is probably too slow to catch anything thankfully.

They usually stop as they get older. My 12 year old cat has not caught anything for years and I think she would only ever manage is if it were elderly and poorly and dropped dead in front of her.

All my cats stopped doing that as they got older. But if you are averse to this don't get a cat.

This cat needs a medal, a parade, possibly a Netflix series

Don’t let it put you off rescuing a cat. I have two, one a natural hunter and the other one generally just catches butterflies. The hunter does mainly catch mice but rarely attempts to bring them inside, I think my dramatic shrieking led to him preferring to leave them on the lawn now. There are times of the year when it is worse - early summer, when baby mice are born. Also dusk. This cat is the only one I’ve ever had that has been a really good hunter, and I’ve always had a cat. There are ways you could help yourself if you are at home, by shutting the door and opening it when you see your cat come back, rather than giving it the opportunity to bring in whatever it likes.

See how it goes but if it catches things just leave the cat flap on out only so you have to let the cat in. All our cats have been fine with this.

None of our cats have ever caught anything at all to bring home. I think they've always been hopeful but they'd have starved in the wild!

Once came home and found my cat sitting out on the balcony with his friends, the pigeons.

He looked so ashamed

My cat is 7 and while a mouse fiend for a few years, seems to have retired completely now. There was a terrible mouse problem during the good summers we had (not much danger of that now).

I think you should be fine with a cat 8+. Don't ground-feed birds and keep the cat inside as much as possible in late May/June when the fledglings come out because they're easy pickings for even the laziest/oldest/most incompetent cat.