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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Rescue cat - can you request a non-hunter?

33 replies

ProphetOfDoom · 27/03/2016 20:19

Have finally said I'd consider getting a cat or even a pair of cats from a rescue centre but only the lazy, idle sort!

My nightmare would be to have a prolific hunter as I am bird-phobic and am not overly fond of rodents either - is it possible to get a non hunting cat or just the luck of the draw?

OP posts:

Vinorosso74 · 27/03/2016 20:25

Indoor cat would solve that problem.
Older cats tend to catch less but there's no guarantee on that. Keeping them indoors at night would help.

Original poster

ProphetOfDoom · 27/03/2016 21:21

Thank you Vino, that's what I thought they would have to be - indoor cats. My mother had an indoor cat who was unfriendly & quite bonkers so that might be colouring my viewpoint.

I think the dcs have a fond notion of their family & friends' cats who go outside & don't have to deal with litter trays. But some hunt & some are so pampered as to be warm laps of sleep!

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/03/2016 21:26

Voluntary house cat. One of ours was a house cat by choice.

You could leave the door open and she'd stay in.

RobotMenu · 28/03/2016 01:01

Cat proof the garden? It would seriously limit the hunting area.

Original poster

ProphetOfDoom · 28/03/2016 10:15

How would you cat-proof the garden?

I spoke to a man at the nearest animal rescue centre and he has one in mind but I think it has to be kept indoors because of a disease and from the sound of it needs quite a lot of vetininary care. I'm not sure I want to commit to lots of ££ from the off or have what sounds a poorly cat for the dcs first pet.

OP posts:

HarHer · 28/03/2016 10:50

Hi,

Our kitten comes from a long generation of farm cats whose main purpose in life is to hunt. She is an indoor cat but her hunting instincts are fully primed. She is happy inside, but she has the full repertoire of hunting behaviour and needs masses of stimulation. In my opinion, cats hunt and there is nothing we can do to stop that behaviour. It is an inherent part of being a cat and if we are going to create a healthy environment for a cat indoors, it has to include opportunities to play/hunt. Children are great playmates for cats, but if our kitten is anything to go by, play can get savage if the children don't recognise when to give the cat a little space.

hollinhurst84 · 28/03/2016 17:33

Mine is a rescue cat who came to me as indoor but can now go out (misdiagnosed with FIV)
He ventures out for ten minutes a day or so and then legs it back in to miaow all the news at me
He's hunted a crisp packet. And nothing else

nellyflora · 28/03/2016 17:41

Lol we had an indoor cat (Birman) he had never been out for first 3 years of his life, his mother had never been hunting either. We moved to the country, we let him out. Turns out Birmans are fine outside (breeder said they would not cope) turns out they can be prolific hunters. Currently getting a baby bunny a day from my now 9 year old ex house cat 😒 He is very happy and healthy, I'm very cross with him (I still love him really). It's pure luck. My old bermese never cought a thing. just get a nice cat and hope for the best!

OnlyLovers · 28/03/2016 17:46

He's hunted a crisp packet. And nothing else

Yeah right: he's got a whole mausoleum outside somewhere; he's just not telling you.

maybebabybee · 28/03/2016 17:49

I also have birmans - 2 of them. Not interest whatsoever in going outside. Think it depends on the cat!

hollinhurst84 · 28/03/2016 17:53

Only - this cat couldn't hunt more than a crisp packet
He spent 4 years as a stray and is now very much "been there done that, I sleep on you and comfy. No go outside"

hollinhurst84 · 28/03/2016 17:55

Here is the worlds softest cat

Rescue cat - can you request a non-hunter?

willowcatkin111 · 28/03/2016 17:57

Try an exotic. They love to play but none of ours have ever deigned to do anything as basic as hunting
But then my half Persian is the best hunter out of our current menagerie so definitely luck of the draw - but do avoid farm or ex feral cats

WhoKnowsWhereTheChocolateGoes · 28/03/2016 17:57

My two rescue sisters have brought in a sum total of one dead frog and about half a dozen worms in the 2.5 years we've had them. They do stay in at night but we don't shut them in till we go to bed so they are out in the dark in winter, but they never stay out for too long. So you can get lucky.

OnlyLovers · 28/03/2016 17:58

Aw!

hollinhurst84 · 28/03/2016 18:08

Yes our stable cat came as "feral" (you've never met a softer cat)
She's part Siamese and an absolute vicious hunter. Even had a go for a pheasant

Wolpertinger · 28/03/2016 18:12

Depends where you live. I thought mine didn't hunt much when we lived in London.

Moved to the countryside and they became crazed serial killers.

willowcatkin111 · 28/03/2016 18:14

Or try a pedigree society rescue / welfare. Our Somali rescue girls very rarely go out and are scared of the rodents / birds / rabbits the hunter brings us (usually alive to teach the youngest what to do!)
Hollinhurst reminds me of my first baby who only ever hunted a fried egg

SisterMoonshine · 28/03/2016 18:16

I don't think white cats are very good at hunting. And they tend to be unpopular because of the hairs, so chances are the rescue will have some.

Polyethyl · 28/03/2016 18:20

Nope, white cats can hunt. My father's siamese (very white bodied) kills daily.

I really don't think you can know whether a cat is a hunter or not whilst they are trapped in a rescue centre. You only find out once you release them into your garden.

Polyethyl · 28/03/2016 18:23

The prime minister's cat was sold to him by a rescue centre as being a good mouser - and if the press are to believed his's completely useless and it is the Chancellor's cat who does the mouse killing work around Downing Street.

Make of that what you will!

Clobbered · 28/03/2016 18:26

Even an indoor cat can present you with the occasional 'trophy' if you are unlucky enough to have little furry visitors.... (voice of experience!)

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 28/03/2016 18:39

I agree it's pot luck. Our rescue was described by the rescue we got him as a hunter - he savages cat toys (and occasionally arms, though that's improving) but he's yet to bring us any presents from the garden, despite having free access all day up to about 9pm, when we lock the cat flap. We do have a bell on his collar, mind you, so that may be cramping his style - though I suspect he's just well fed and lazy.

Sadik · 28/03/2016 18:52

Personally I would suggest going to the rescue centre, explaining that you have a rat problem, and you want a big, evil tom-cat.

You will be sent home with a big, soppy tom-cat who spends his days lying upside down in a patch of sunlight with all four feet in the air . . .

My only other thought is that if you're bird and rodent averse you wouldn't mind the dcat eating a few now and then . . .

hollinhurst84 · 28/03/2016 18:56

Yes to Sadik - brilliant suggestion
I wanted an indoor cat, I got one with FIV and flu. He has neither and doesn't have to be indoor
Stable cat came as "totally feral". It claws it's way up to your shoulder and wants to be carried around like a baby

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