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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

Clueless cat?

33 replies

maggiethecat · 08/01/2021 11:23

Our rescue cat Lola likes being out in the garden but is very cautious. I did wonder when we got her a few months ago if she would bolt when let out but she seems fine just being in the front or back of the house.

She loves bird watching (from inside and outside the house) and I've seen her climb a tree after spotting one but I get the feeling that she wouldn't know what to do to catch one or even if she did what to do with it 😆

Aren't cats instinctively supposed to be able to hunt?

OP posts:

Allergictoironing · 08/01/2021 11:48

My thick-as-shit borderline special needs (vet's definition!) clumsy-as-fuck Boycat turned out to be a fearsome mouser when some moved in to the conservatory, so she may well surprise you!

Of course once they were dead, he lost all interest in them (no fun any more) so at least I had (mostly) entire bodies to dispose of and not disemboweled half eaten remains.

Beamur · 08/01/2021 11:52

My newer 2 cats don't seem at all interested in hunting. They go out but apart from one frog (poor froggy) haven't brought anything in. My older cat tried to show them the ropes and brought in a few dead or maimed mice which they were briefly giddy about then lost interest. They also really enjoy looking out the window.

TheLongRider · 08/01/2021 11:52

Apparently not all cats are hunters, it depends on whether their mum taught them. Allegedly, I read it in a cat book a long time ago.

Original poster

maggiethecat · 08/01/2021 12:13

We do wonder about her previous life and come up with all sorts of theories! Maybe she never had much outdoor exposure and at about age 3 now doesn't really have a clue

OP posts:

Namechangelegalquestion · 08/01/2021 12:50

Sorry I only came on here to say how gorgeous she is.

Fluffycloudland77 · 08/01/2021 12:53

I’ve read they need to be shown the killing part too. Otherwise it’s just a toy.

Vinorosso74 · 08/01/2021 13:36

Ours isn't much of a hunter. We've had him nearly 3 years. We have had two mice, one of which had a broken leg and the other must have escaped when a flat 2 doors down was being cleaned up-the place was overrun with mice apparently so one must have got out and one blackbirds.
We adopted our last cat when she was 6 and she sis go through a phase of hunting bit not much except for wiping out a mouse family over a week or so we had a dead mouse each day. She was quite efficient! I don't think she caught anything once she got passed 9 or 10!!!

bruffin · 08/01/2021 13:47

Ive got a 11 year old rescue, who has barely hunted in the 10 Years we have had , she often sat and chatted to the birds but never caught any

Then we have a stray we have had for a year, who was very young when we found her and is an expert hunter. She brings home pigeons almost as big as she is . She didnt start hunting straight away but then started with a vengence bringing home something every day

Original poster

maggiethecat · 08/01/2021 14:22

I suppose if they're fed and taken care of there's no real need for them to do it for themselves!

Bruffin - I reckon ours is quite chummy with the birds in the garden

Namechangelegalquestion - thank you! she is lovely - very calm and follows me around.

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 08/01/2021 16:19

Mine are not hunters at all. Thank god! However Cheddar absolutely astounded me by catching a bird a few months ago. It had been taunting her for a while.

vanillandhoney · 08/01/2021 16:42

I think most cats that hunt are taught to do so - either by their mum or other cats.

Most domestic cats have no need to hunt now. Mine even insist on being picked up and put on the side to eat their meals - there's no way they would move enough to hunt

Want2beme · 08/01/2021 16:45

Don't be under any illusions. She's a born killer

purrswhileheeats · 08/01/2021 16:56

Lola is beautiful, love the reflection of her face in the window 😻

bruffin · 08/01/2021 17:07

Who'd have believed this is such a killing machine she looks so angelic and innocent .

Original poster

maggiethecat · 08/01/2021 19:50

If she hears the chirping birds she'll make a fuss to go out even if it's freezing cold and will just sit there for ages.

Bruffin - she looks like a silent assassin!

Thanks Purrswhileheeats - she was probably looking at one of her bird mates through the patio door 😆

OP posts:

SnowmanDrinkingSnowballs · 08/01/2021 19:54

I have two litter mates and they were taken from their mum when only 6 weeks old so very much doubt she taught them to hunt. One is lethal but the other looks very confused by his brothers activities. I guess some of them do just have the instinct.

dun1urkin · 08/01/2021 21:04

Ours were born in foster care, and were inside cats until 18 mths old. They are both hunters (and killers) in the spring time, mainly fledglings

I wish they weren’t, but they are.

Anyway, wait until the spring and then make your judgement

Original poster

maggiethecat · 09/01/2021 00:42

Not that I'm wishing for her to hunt but she seems very attracted to the birds and spends ages sitting in the bushes so I just wondered if she's figuring out what to do

Probably just having a chin wag

OP posts:

Wintersunn · 09/01/2021 01:13

She’s gorgeous OP.

Mine isn’t a a hunter at all either. When she’s outside on the lawn and a bird flies overhead she freezes in fear and crouches down like she’s worried of being picked up and carried away. Not much chance as she’s podgy but of course doesn’t know that

QueenPawPaws · 09/01/2021 01:17

Mines loves sitting in hedges and watching bird TV on my phone with his paws neatly tucked under him
He couldn't catch a cold. Tried to catch a spider once by waving his paw at it and just looked confused when an earwig ran over his paw
How he survived 4 years stray is beyond me

Original poster

maggiethecat · 09/01/2021 12:51

Bird TV! Need to look up that channel

OP posts:

QueenPawPaws · 09/01/2021 14:48

@maggiethecat search videos for cats on YouTube, there is all kinds! Even apps for the phone, I had a fish game one he adored

elfycat · 09/01/2021 15:24

@Allergictoironing do we have the same cat?

Mine's got something about his face and eyes that remind me of photos of cats with chromosomal abnormalities. He's stupid, runs full pelt into walls and then looks confused that they didn't move. Clumsy to the point where if he's walking across the top of the bed DH and I cover our heads. it could be from a head injury. I got him after he was thrown downstairs/kicked by previous owner, and that's what they'd admit to in public

Superb mouser and the only cat I've ever owned who can catch birds. It's like he's ALL cat instinct and there's no brain-power for anything else. Lucky for him he's cute and affectionate.

elfycat · 09/01/2021 15:26

Should add... he caught a bat! A honest to goodness half bat on the stairs with DaftCat showing off and chirping proudly.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/01/2021 15:32

Bags are agile as fuck so good for him. Poor cat being thrown and kicked though.

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