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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have told off my cat for killing a bird ?

56 replies

Summerfruit · 04/06/2010 18:30

Its the second one in 2 days, yesterday it was alive and she tried to bring it into the house but I have rescued it in time. Today, I was too late. If I tell her off will she get the hint ??

OP posts:
Original poster
Summerfruit · 04/06/2010 18:34

And I think it was 2 robin chicks...the mum or the dad is always on the fence morning and evening

OP posts:
misdee · 04/06/2010 18:35

YABU

she is a cat, itys what cats do

worldgonemad72 · 04/06/2010 18:35

No shes wont get the hint, put a collar on with a bell attached.

CarGirl · 04/06/2010 18:38

Had the same issue here. Darling Cat #2 is now wearing the collar of shame with bells on. He caught and ate a mouse yesterday but no more birds since he wore collar.

LetThereBeRock · 04/06/2010 18:39

No she won't get the hint,no matter how many times you tell her off. She's a cat it's her instinct.She can't help it.

She probably thinks that you're very ungrateful,refusing her lovely present. I do sympathise though as it can be very distressing.

Original poster
Summerfruit · 04/06/2010 18:40

I defo going to buy her a collar, cant bear seeing dead birds.Not necessary

OP posts:
violetbat · 04/06/2010 18:40

If you like birds then get rid of the cat. cats and birds do not go together.

LoveBeing34 · 04/06/2010 18:40

No might as well teach her to walk backwards

Megatron · 04/06/2010 18:48

Not a chance. She's a cat so she'll do what she likes. And won't give a shit. Cats rock.

sanielle · 04/06/2010 18:55

Agree with everyone else I am afraid. Especially about getting her a bell!

Megatron · 04/06/2010 18:56

I swear I heard my cat tell me to fuck off under is breath the other day. I feel like an intruder in my own home when he's in one of his moods.

Original poster
Summerfruit · 04/06/2010 19:05

I get the point ! I love Annabelle (the cat in question) too much to get rid of her ! I'm just sad that my sweet little girl turned into a serial killer but as you have said it is nature, at least I have rescued one yesterday !

I think she brought the birds thinking she will please Mummy ! I'll get a collar for her BUT...will it stop the mice to get scared of her ???

OP posts:
Eskarina · 04/06/2010 19:53

My cat is particularly good at the silent F* Off too. And she is very definitely Not Speaking To Me at the moment. DH is away and he's normally the one to feed her, cue cat on hunger strike. I think she thinks I've buried him under the patio or something.

Do think carefully about a bell though. The lady from Cats Protection told us NOT to put a collar on our cats as they get lots of cases every year of cats managing to get them caught and hanging themselves. Can you do anything to keep birds out of your garden so the cat is less likely to get at them? If it is chicks in a nest then they're unlikely to be able to escape from the cat even if they do hear it coming.

mrswells · 04/06/2010 19:57

Have you tried putting the cat in time out - perhaps that will be more effective than just telling it off?

MadamDeathstare · 04/06/2010 20:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FelicityMintcake · 04/06/2010 20:04

Do you mean a collar with a bell?

MadamDeathstare · 04/06/2010 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FelicityMintcake · 04/06/2010 20:12

I always take the bells off my cat's new collars. I think a bell would drive me (or a cat) nuts.

Birds take their chances in our garden though.

ClaireDeLoon · 04/06/2010 20:15

You can get snap open collars that come apart when pressure is applied. Safer than the elasticated ones. I only have one cat that wears a collar and he wears this type. The downside is you do lose them though.

Cats can get very stealthy at being able to have a collar with bell and stalk prey without it jangling.

My cats do the slient fuck off thing too, one in particular just looks at me, blinks slowly then looks away as if he finds the sight of me repulsive. He's giving me a bit of a complex tbh.

OhExpletive · 04/06/2010 20:20

Please don't put a collar on your cat. Even the so-called easy release ones can cause truly horrific injuries. I really, really dislike them.

Cats kill things - they're hunters, they're carnivores, and it's totally normal. Unpalatable to us, perhaps, but normal and a cat which hunts is a cat which is able to truly express natural behaviours and is likely to have an excellent standard of welfare as a result.

Also no point punishing an animal after the event. No point in punishing a cat full stop, actually.

Sorry OP, not what you wanted to hear.

Glitterknickaz · 04/06/2010 20:49

Yep, YABU, it's natural feline instinct.

ConnorTraceptive · 04/06/2010 20:54

My cat used to have a collar with a bell that was also magnetised for the cat flap release. Didn't stop her from killing things. Would often find her with a bird in her mouth and a beer bottle lid stuck to her bell

Vallhala · 04/06/2010 20:58

In that case, OhExpletive, my cats must have the best standard of welfare in the country.

So far this year, at a rough count, the ValCats have had three pigeons, several blackbirds, 5 mice, 3 shrews (one living and saved), 1 baby rabbit (bastards!) saved and released to his mum, one further mouse, deposited in the washing pile and not discovered until it had been washed at 40 degrees with Persil, half a jay and a couple of starlings.

But as you say, hey, what can you do? Cats don't understand that it's wrong and have no concept that they might be offending, none at all, they're far too arrogant for that.

BikiniBottom · 04/06/2010 21:06

My mother used to send our cat to coventry when it brought dead animals in the house. She (my mum) would take the huff and refuse to talk to the cat. The cat obviously didn't give a flying fuck and got on with licking its bum. I have always vowed never to turn crazy like that. So while I can't resist swearing at the furballed fiend when it pukes up half a dead mouse on my carpet, I have resisited the urge to get especially bothered by it. Its a cat, that's what they do.

ShowOfHands · 04/06/2010 21:15

In the last week our cats between them have brought home 2 moles, 1 pigeon, 3 rats, 2 voles, 1 blackbird and a dormouse. DD (3) thinks they're sleeping friends.