Cats and Rodents

[OriginalTaste]

So, we have a one year old cat, he has just discovered the joy of rodents...

Current tally, 3 mice, one baby rat..

How do we deter him? If not from doing it, from bringing them home? Little mite looks so pleased with himself when he sits next to them on the patio!

I find they grow out of it - usually with middle age. So you probably only have 6 or 7 years of it to put up with .

Haha Oh well, I'll start the countdown now then!!

Our 7 month old rescue cat has so far in the last month brought in through the cat flap that is one story up and through railings : 1 live big bird, 2 live (not for long!) mice, 1 grass snake and in the garden he’s killed numerous lizards, a shrew and we’ve managed to distract him from playing with 2 more grass snakes.

Mine have massive extra bells on their collars. They are 5 now and getting better all the time. The bells make no difference, the amount of stuff they bring in is still plentiful (and alive). However, last night the security camera caught one of them going after a massive rat and not getting it, so they aren't always successful. I've seen them run home from 5 houses away with live mice in their mouths, determined to share the joy with us.

Bless them! I mean, it's not so good for the animals they encounter...!

We gave up yesterday and put a collar on him. It took him about five minutes to get used to it, but he looks decidedly miffed that he now sounds like a walking cat toy!

I doubt it will stop him, but it might mean it's not a daily thing...! I hate to think he thinks we're ungrateful, mind!

I am hoping we don't have too many surprises - not sure I could handle snakes and lizards @Nevergiveuponyourdreams!!

I bet they were so proud to show you their catch @FricasseeTurnips!

Even quick release collars are dangerous. My Bengal was very strong but got his leg caught in it and his bottom canine tooth.

I don’t like it either but it’s just nature. If we didn’t have the modern world we’d be hunting too.

My 2 are nearly 11 and we are still getting "presents" through the cat flap most weeks and sometimes several in a week. The dead ones are bad enough but the live ones terrify me !

I try to praise my cat for her mousing skills. My garden backs onto barley fields, and I get inundated with field mice.
She is my major defence against them invading the house, particularly in the autumn after the harvest, when they seek alternative accommodation!

We have tried being indifferent, making no fuss, and we have tried praising him (as in, that's great - you've done enough no need to do more), but it's his natural instinct and comes with owning a cat, I know.

His collar is elasticated, not quick release - we did get a quick release but it was so hard to pull open, and he's not a big cat. The elasticated one seems ok, he can stretch it over his head and it will stretch if it gets caught, so we're not too worried..

With the exception of his first mouse, everything else has been dead, and he's not brought anything in yet (yet!!)..