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

Original poster

Now he's killing squirrels...

58 replies

Clovertoast · 17/05/2021 16:40

My 2 year old cat has started bringing me dead animal gifts. Countless mice, 2 birds, a fish from the pond, now a squirrel!!
He's standing outside with it in his mouth waiting to be let in.
Any ideas how to stop this.
Is it food related?
Incidentally He's constantly hungry.
Badgers for food all the time, eats through tin foil and the bread bag if its left out, he's even worked out how to press the catch on the bin to eat leftovers !!
Help !!!

Now he's killing squirrels...
OP posts:
justanotherneighinparadise · 17/05/2021 16:42

God that’s awful!!!

Cailleach · 17/05/2021 16:43

You get 1000 points and a certificate from The Ministry of Cats for bagging a squirrel. Have you seen how fast those things move?!

Mighty hunter ain't the half of it....

As for the rest, well...you've just got yourself a Proper Cat there, is all. Enjoy!

Original poster
Clovertoast · 17/05/2021 16:45

I can't believe it!! He's such a fat bugger !
The rescue home said he was lazy!!!Hmm

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 17/05/2021 16:46

Our cat was bringing us mice all the time, we added a bell to her collar and it stopped it.

I'm impressed with a squirrel though, I used to have a cat that lovely plopped worms in my lap !

TomHarksPiranhas · 17/05/2021 16:46

Oh no, that’s horrible, I feel your pain though, mine brought in a baby rabbit today, she was so pleased with herself!! I’m not even sure how she got it through the cat flap.

Mayzee · 17/05/2021 16:48

My cat is the same. She was murdering a beautiful yellow bird earlier- it’s awful. There is large barn behind our house so the yard is littered with mice bodies daily.
Nature is cruel sometimes.

CMOTDibbler · 17/05/2021 16:52

We've had loads of squirrels unfortunately, dcat3 is a very prolific hunter of everything.

WaltzingToWalsingham · 17/05/2021 16:55

Are you in Scotland, OP? Dies your cat have a thick, blunt-tipped tail? I wonder if he's a wildcat hybrid - he looks very large, and he's clearly an expert hunter.

There is some research to suggest that cat foods containing a little more protein can help curb hunting urges, as can playing with your cat.

The equation to work out protein content is:
Crude Protein
‐------ x 100 = protein %
(100 - moisture content)

You can find the crude protein and moisture content of your current cat food on the label; by converting it into %, you can compare with other brands to find a more filling one.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 17/05/2021 16:58

He's trying to do his bit for the environment, as Grey Squirrels aren't native. And must think that you're a bit poor, as proven by not feeding him as much as he wants (in a cat's mind), so you need building up with some Tree Rat Fricassee and the occasional Shubumkin.

Is he on bog standard cat food? The low protein/high level of crap food that Whiskas and Felix punt out would leave mine hysterical for food all day, but stuff with more protein/actual meat makes them contented and less murderous towards one another. The Woodmice under the shed still get massacred every Autumn, though. It's the idiot cat's way of earning his keep, I think.

I also give him little puzzles - snacks in a bundle of toilet roll inners to hoik out, for example - and lots of toys to murder, like a kickeroo, a squishy soft mouse and flying feather wand toys, which cheers him up without any additional deaths occurring at 6am Sunday morning.

MelissaVonStressel · 17/05/2021 17:01

One of ours got a paw to one and knocked it out of a tree - it just ran up the next tree and was gone before he'd managed to get himself down because he can only go up trees, his dismount is um, not great to watch. We were having dinner and he was so proud we had all seen. That's with a massive bell as well.

Original poster
Clovertoast · 17/05/2021 17:04

@WaltzingToWalsingham no I'm Surrey. He is very big though.
The rescue centre said they thought he was part maine coon. He's a beast.
I checked with the vet whether i was feeding him enough, they said yes.
He has a pouch of food morning and evening and dry food available all day.
I think he just loves the hunt.....Confused

OP posts:
Faranth · 17/05/2021 17:05

We had one that would regularly catch squirrels. Trust me, you haven't lived 'till they've released a fully grown and incredibly pissed off squirrel inside the house - those things have big teeth!

Managed to get the thing outside and it kept trying to come back in the windows to have another go at me!!

Roselilly36 · 17/05/2021 17:06

He loves you so much OP, showing you gratitude, rather rude not to accept the gifts 😂 squirrels are a complete PITA, rats with tails. My cat was a proper hunter, but he never caught a squirrel despite many attempts. But had my fair share of rats & frogs.

gingercat02 · 17/05/2021 17:06

We had 2 frogs last summer, both of which were still somewhat alive, we released one away from the house but the second one was too injured 😭

RandomMess · 17/05/2021 17:06

Quick release collar and a few bells.

Have to say love squirrels were the worst. Thank goodness no reds where we live.

eatsleepread · 17/05/2021 17:08

Fucking hell, what a bruiser Grin
I sympathise, OP. I also have a huge rescue grubber!

Biggles001 · 17/05/2021 17:10

Have you tried a collar with a good bell?
Incidentally, our old cat was a terrific hunter. She would bring all sorts in, but the only animals she wouldn't eat after she killed them were squirrels. Not sure they taste that good !

BagORats · 17/05/2021 17:11

That's a proper cat and no mistake. Did he let you take the squirrel or did you have to trade a finger for it?

wigjuice · 17/05/2021 17:11

The squirrels take the piss here, I'm sure they have a death wish. Tease my cats mercilessly. Have you checked him for any scratches or wounds?

Now he's killing squirrels...
fantasmasgoria1 · 17/05/2021 17:13

I had a large cat a few years ago that once caught a squirrel. He would catch the odd large bird too such as a magpie. Its simply a cats nature. The cat I have now catches mice usually but has caught a few birds the largest being a thrush kind of size.

Bargebill19 · 17/05/2021 17:13

I think you’ve answers your own question! He has two pouches per day plus dry food. Mine are less than half his size, judging by your picture and are indoor cats. They young eat three pouches plus dry food and treats each day. The older two (13yr) eat two/three per day plus treats and a small amount of dry food. They are all ok weight wise according to our vet.
Feed him... or learn to skin squirrel and make yourself a hat?!

chaosrabbitland · 17/05/2021 17:14

my largest tabby brought in a dead squirell once , iv had countless huge rats carefully placed outside the door for me to find when i open it , little mice tons of and birds , luckily iv managed to catch him a few times and save the birds who thankfully seem ok and fly off and we did get him away from a lovely little brown mouse he was playing with , we brought it in looking half dead , dd was ever so upset ,so it was placed in a box in the bathroom on some paper towel , and a miricle , half an hour later it was up and running around , there were no visible injuries so we released it in a wooded area quite away from the house and tiger was kept in for the next few hours ! my dd named the mouse hope . there have been some wood pigeons as well which is awful too as i love those birds , he injured one once and i had to phone the rspca to come , it had to be put to sleep as hed damaged its craw , i was sooo sad , i hoped it would be ok . cats are such buggers but nature of the beast and all that

Elbels · 17/05/2021 17:15

Our cat is about a quarter of the size of yours and went through a squirrel phase last year, thankfully she doesn't seem bothered this year.

She did push a pigeon through the cat flap though which was a sight to behold as again, she's about the same size as a pigeon.

wigjuice · 17/05/2021 17:16

Btw, one of my childhood cats brought a coy carp home once.

MyHusbandTheIdiot · 17/05/2021 17:16

@wigjuice that’s not a squirrel, that’s a monster!! It’s the bloody size of the cats 😱