I have 2 cats. Around 4yrs old. Have always been house cats previously as we lived in a busy area before with no garden. I didnt want them to get run over and so kept them inside.
We moved and now have a biggish garden and have patio doors which theyve spent the last 6 months looking longingly out of.
I decided to let them out. At first when i was in the garden, then ive left the doors open only for short periods of time when im at home.
Theyve mainly stayed in the garden. All good.
But now theyve started going out purely to hunt. I came downstairs to find a bird literally in shreds in my kitchen. It was awful and i felt so guilty. i know its nature but it was awful.
Theyve just caught another and luckly the door was closed as its windy so theyve left it outside (and ill remove it when they leave it alone) but id rather not be doing this every day!
Can i stop them? Is it cruel to stop them? I like the birds being in my garden and dont want them to get eaten, but i cant now keep the cats in since theyve had a taste of the outside.. send help!