Cats having a constant source of protein from the garden

[FluffyBoots]

MY cats are very very good at catching small fluffy things of the rodent variety. Think shrews and baby mice. They are a team to contend with, and often I come down at night and they have several holed up in different corners of the house. it is a nightmare. They often behead them and leave bits (they don't like the tails) of intenstine, often gall bladder.

I could leave them outside, but they are terrified if they can't get in and will shout a lot to be let in (my fault, that old talking to them thing when they were babies making them more vocal).

Should I

• YABU - allow them to bring takeaway's into the house. It is their home. I have ny own takeaways. YANUB - harbour them under lock and key so that they can't go hunting.

NOTE - Some of this may perhaps be tongue in cheek x

Only cat catflap is miraculous- uses AI to make sure they can only come in if they have no prey in their mouth. Been a total game changer for me

I keep mine in at night and during the day I let them in and out of the door so that I can see exactly what is in their mouths. We live in the countryside and our last cat was horrific - she had mice, rats and rabbits and she would bring them through the cat flap and let them go. I came down one morning in my PJs and bare feet and stood on the remains of a rat. That was when the cat flap was removed and the door policy instigated!! It does mean we have to be careful in the summer with open windows as our current female likes to bring her prey back to the house to eat it 😒

I dealt with that issue by getting up a few times a night to let my boy in and out. Yes, my sleep was broken, but no mice running around the house.

The welly thing is pure genius. Thank you. I'll give it a go. I came down this morning to a small furry thing copped out on the kitchen floor.

Can I ask how you help them on their way? I find this really difficult.

Your girls are clearly amazing hunters if they can catch bats!

Only let them back in the kitchen, assuming that's where the cat flap is.

I’ve just bought one of these, DH changed the cat flap yesterday for a microchip activated one. I’m hoping it will work

I’m low-key impressed that you can identify the gall bladder of a baby mouse!

My friend has one of these and it has changed her life. It takes a photo of them with the prey and doesn't let them in. I'm not keen on mouse chasing early morning so think it would be worth the money if our cat did this often. Our 'gifts' are usually dead and complete. Nothing can derail your composure by having to locate a mouse before work, OP. I feel for you.

Hi OP,

Another OnlyCat user here. Absolutely brilliant and it has given me such peace of mind in terms of my kitty’s comings and going too. Well worth the expense!!

Please, please, please keep your cats in at night. It will give the local wildlife a chance and helps keep your cat safe too.

They are like silent assassins

No idea domestic cats did this so regularly. I wonder why some do it and others don't . Even well fed cats do it ? I would absolutely hate this . No way could I deal with a cat bringing in a headless rat or a big bat . You all must have strong stomachs and nerves if steel.

Why not just say ‘shrews and mice’? Why add the ‘think’ in that context?

We had a mouse problem in the house last winter. Our cat is lazy birds will fly over him and he just looks. He did attempt to to follow a sparrow but tripped over a flower pot. He has had mice in the past. Had to get the council in re the mice. Told him he was past his sell by date and we were trading him in for a younger more efficient model. Came down the next morning one dead mouse in the kitchen. Next morning two mice neatly lined up. Third day one big one. He proved his point! No more after that.

What better way to start the day than chasing a small furry thing around the kitchen, or scraping intestines off the door mat. Where's your sense of fun!

It’s not easy at all. I tend to put them in a dog poo bag and swing it against an outside wall. I hate doing it but that’s only if they’re definitely not going to make it. If I think they have the slightest chance then they go in the recovery box with a fluffy sock for warmth.

I wish I had the answer - mine comes in with her catch hidden entirely in her mouth. She’s walked past me with a baby coal tit in her mouth to which I was none the wiser until chaos ensued upstairs.

Shes an utter menace and I am forever escorting alive / almost dead / totally dead things off the premises.

It's years of experience unfortuntely. And cats don't them. Ewww.

Sorry?

Have you had him tested for dyspraxia?
However, he seems to have overcome whatever disability he may have been attempting to overcome.

Oh God. OK. I've wondered about gassing them over the hob, and attempting not to pass out myself, I flushed one down the loo once and was horrified with myself. It was in a v bad way though.

I feel your pain.

You keep them inside because they're killing and hurting wildlife.

Why is this a question?

If a cat owns you then you surely have to allow it to bring all and sundry that it catches into its home?