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Cat utterly traumatized by collar with bell

5 replies

PecanSandy · 29/05/2014 11:35

Hi - We have three cats, but only the youngest one hunts. She kills at least one bird every year (that I know of) and I feel horrendously guilty. This year she's been even more active, with tits nesting near the house. The final straw was the other day when she slunk past me through the kitchen with a tit in her mouth. I screamed, DS came from the other room to see what was wrong, Kitty dropped the bird, postman rang the doorbell, DS opened the door, I tried to cover the bird (still alive!) with a saucepan and slip a magazine underneath, bird flew into my face (more screaming, postman freaked out, Kitty dashed out between his legs) and across the kitchen. Luckily it landed on the windowsill and when I opened the window it flew out. Hope it wasn't injured.

That tore it - I went and bought Kitty a collar with a bell. We put it on yesterday afternoon and she immediately went berserk - tore around the house, up and down stairs, hissing and snarling, then disappeared outside for several hours. when she came back she crouched under the table and growled at us. Every time she moved and bell rang it terrified her and she tried to run away from it. She spent the night on my bed growling. This morning DS couldn't stand it anymore and took the collar off - worried that she wasn't eating or drinking. She's now up in the wisteria sulking - and watching the birds again.

What do we do? Put the collar on first without the bell, then add bell when she gets used to it (if she ever does)? Put collar and bell on and let her CIO (so to speak)? Or just forget it? Keeping her inside is really not an option.

Thanks for any ideas or experience.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 29/05/2014 11:42

Personally I would take the collar off, she's clearly upset by it.

Sparkling Cat doesn't wear a collar (she lost 5 in a week) and catches the odd bird/small vole. The boy tabby over the road wears a collar with a bell on and catches more.

Minnieisthedevilmouse · 29/05/2014 11:48

Id chill out a bit tbh. Too much angst over one bird every so often.

cozietoesie · 29/05/2014 11:50

I'd forget it. Some cats (including all I've ever had) just don't tolerate collars.

Maybe have a read of \link{http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/cats/birdfriendly.aspx\this} - and next year, put up some nesting boxes yourself in places that the cats can't get to. It can be done.

CatnipMouse · 29/05/2014 15:03

Have another go if you can face it! Try it with the collar alone first without the bell, with some cat treats or bits of ham as well for bribery, every time you put it on or take it off. Put it on for gradually increasing periods, just a few minutes to start with. Hopefully the snacks will create positive associations in her little kitty brain. Give her a good chunk of time to get used to it, a week or so, then put the bell on (more cat treats etc!) I agree some cats just won't tolerate it but it sounds a bit like it was all too much for yours in one go.

Try and get one of the self releasing collars so there is no risk of her getting strangled or getting a paw stuck in it. We get ours from pound land as our cat is good at losing his.

The bell probably won't stop the killing completely but hopefully it should reduce it. Although today I have had to clear up the mangled and soggy remains of a squirrel so even the loudest jangly bell won't always work.

RubbishMantra · 30/05/2014 03:55

Cats just learn to stalk carefully so the bell doesn't make the jingly noise. Teaches them to be even more proficient hunters IMO.

Meeting their predatory needs with interactive toys like laser pointers or fishing wand feathery toys may reduce the desire to kill. Certainly worked with my psychopath cat Smile

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