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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

Tips for keeping hunting cat indoors?

26 replies

Puy · 15/06/2022 23:07

I think our cat will have to become an indoor cat as she keeps on bringing in birds. We’ve tried keeping her indoors when birds are most vulnerable and she wears very loud bells. Not sure what else to do, she’s obviously just a brilliant hunter. I feel a bit cruel making her be an indoor cat when she’s used to being able to go outdoors but we’re not sure how else to stop her from injuring and killing things. I had a couple of cats many years ago and never experienced this -they killed a couple of house spiders but that’s about it-so not sure what else to do as I know it’s just her instinct and some cats will have it stronger than others.

Could anyone suggest anything else we might not have thought of? Or if we do make her become an indoor cat, any tips to make it less stressful? She really doesn’t like not being able to go outdoors, will she get used to it in time? Is there another solution?

OP posts:
AmandaHoldensLips · 15/06/2022 23:10

We had a cat like that. Total carnage. Wiped out whole families of birds. Killed every living thing it could get its evil furry hands on. No way could we keep her inside. No doubt she would have killed us too.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 15/06/2022 23:19

Catio or Cat fencing for your garden?
A collar with a bell attached?
keeping her indoors at least overnight
and allow out during the day only?
Although I have house cats, they have been so from when they were born - so know nothing else, I have had outdoorsy cats and suspect you will find it near impossible to a) keep her in b) keep her stress free and happy if permanently confined as she knows what outside possibilities there are for her.

WiggleButt · 15/06/2022 23:21

Take a look at www.onlycat.com/ if you don't want to keep her in - it's a cat flap which has a camera that detects if a cat is carrying something and doesn't let them in if they are!

Original poster
Puy · 15/06/2022 23:48

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 15/06/2022 23:19

Catio or Cat fencing for your garden?
A collar with a bell attached?
keeping her indoors at least overnight
and allow out during the day only?
Although I have house cats, they have been so from when they were born - so know nothing else, I have had outdoorsy cats and suspect you will find it near impossible to a) keep her in b) keep her stress free and happy if permanently confined as she knows what outside possibilities there are for her.

She has loud bells on and is only allowed out during the day now. My cats from years ago were mainly indoor cats with minimal access to an outdoor area/Catio type thing. They were happy with a little play but mostly just having cuddles or napping, but this little one is completely opposite- she’s has been desperate to go outside from a very young age, loves exploring, runs around the house doing zoomies and is sooo loud letting you know what she wants. That’s what I worry about, I think she would get stressed/depressed having to stay indoors.

OP posts:
coffeecupsandfairylights · 16/06/2022 07:27

I have indoor cats so I'm not against keeping cats inside, but I don't think it's right to keep them in when they're so used to being outside already - you will just make her stressed and miserable.

Re. the bird issue - can you just lock the cat flap so she has to leave her finds outside?

violetbunny · 16/06/2022 09:09

Get a birdsafe cat collar:

www.birdsbesafe.com

Original poster
Puy · 16/06/2022 09:27

coffeecupsandfairylights · 16/06/2022 07:27

I have indoor cats so I'm not against keeping cats inside, but I don't think it's right to keep them in when they're so used to being outside already - you will just make her stressed and miserable.

Re. the bird issue - can you just lock the cat flap so she has to leave her finds outside?

Thanks for the suggestions.
We don't have a cat flap, she uses a window to get in and out but I’ve tried leaving a gap too small for her to fit through but big enough for me to hear her asking to come back in, which I thought was working well then found dead birds in the garden.
Its not just the inconvenience of having to catch and release birds or dispose of dead ones, I don’t like the fact she is regularly killing and injuring wildlife wether or not it’s brought into our home.
I agree now being kept indoors would make her stressed and miserable.

OP posts:
TheVolturi · 16/06/2022 09:30

We had a serial killer cat. She used to bring all kinds of creatures in, and she didn't actually kill them mostly, just really badly injured them and tortured them so it was up to me to sort the poor things out. Cats are evil.

Original poster
Puy · 16/06/2022 09:31

violetbunny · 16/06/2022 09:09

Get a birdsafe cat collar:

www.birdsbesafe.com

She has one of these.
Thank you though, I only learnt about these fairly recently.

Tips for keeping hunting cat indoors?
OP posts:
Original poster
Puy · 16/06/2022 09:39

TheVolturi · 16/06/2022 09:30

We had a serial killer cat. She used to bring all kinds of creatures in, and she didn't actually kill them mostly, just really badly injured them and tortured them so it was up to me to sort the poor things out. Cats are evil.

Oh no! Ours is like that, she likes playing with them. We’ve bought her so so many different cat toys and the only thing she’s interested in this one a piece of string/rope she’s had for months now that she carries around all the time like a dog with a ball…or alive stuff!

OP posts:
watcherintherye · 16/06/2022 09:42

It’s just ‘nature, red in tooth and claw’, I’m afraid. You would be trying to smother your cat’s natural instinct, if you tried to keep them inside.

I have felt better about my cat’s hunting, since accidentally discovering that any little rodent bodies left outside get recycled via either magpies or crows.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 16/06/2022 14:33

Its not just the inconvenience of having to catch and release birds or dispose of dead ones, I don’t like the fact she is regularly killing and injuring wildlife wether or not it’s brought into our home.

Unfortunately that's just part of having a cat. It's what they do when they're allowed out to roam.

jaundicedoutlook · 17/06/2022 15:05

Bells only make them move more stealthily. I'd consider a catio.

HarlanPepper · 19/06/2022 08:21

Hello OP - did you not find the collar made any difference at all? I came to this forum to look for suggestions because I have a similarly prolific bird killer, I had just bought a bright ruffle collar like your cat has in the hope it will make a difference (though I know he will be absolutely appalled by it)... I'll be gutted if it doesn't help.

Mine kills the birds instantly so at least he doesn't torture them - that's something I suppose

Original poster
Puy · 19/06/2022 11:48

HarlanPepper · 19/06/2022 08:21

Hello OP - did you not find the collar made any difference at all? I came to this forum to look for suggestions because I have a similarly prolific bird killer, I had just bought a bright ruffle collar like your cat has in the hope it will make a difference (though I know he will be absolutely appalled by it)... I'll be gutted if it doesn't help.

Mine kills the birds instantly so at least he doesn't torture them - that's something I suppose

Just as I was replying to this she brought in another bird. That’s number 5 this week (although I believe 2 were baby birds so may have been taken from a nest). She’s had the collar around a week and no difference at all. No difference to when she just wears a regular collar with loud bells.

They are highly rated and had great reviews though, so I think for most it usually makes a difference.

I’ll keep the collar on her incase it starts to work somehow…and not just because I think she looks adorable/hilarious in it (she doesn’t mind having it on at all).

How long have you had your collar for and has it worked so far?

OP posts:
HarlanPepper · 19/06/2022 15:08

Our collar hasn't arrived yet - I ordered it from Etsy, so it'll be here in the next couple of days. He doesn't have any sort of collar at the moment - I did try a one with a bell on it previously but he seemed to find it distressing and I worried I was being cruel so I took it off. I've since read that I should have given him more time to get used to it - he only had it on for about half an hour.

I'm hoping he'll mind the ruffle collar less since it's just bright rather than noisy!

Kittyshopping · 19/06/2022 15:30

I’m a real cat lover and I’ve had both expert killers and those that are rubbish at catching wildlife. It is completely random what you will end up with. She's not going to change her basic nature. I would be thinking of rehoming to a more rural setting to be honest. Heartbreaking though that is.

AnnaMagnani · 19/06/2022 15:31

Our serial killer goes out at 10:30 am and comes home at 6 or when he feels like it No catflap

It's cut down the birds to about 2 a week although he eats some so it might be more. This we can live with. He'd be unbearable as an indoor cat.

SquirrelSoShiny · 05/07/2022 16:50

We're having the same dilemma at the minute and I hate it. All previous cats have been too terrified to hunt. Our new cat is a bird murderer extraordinaire. He escapes every collar / bell and begs to go outside constantly.

I'm actually starting to really dislike him for it which I know is awful but I was just naive about how predatory some cats can be. He's catching two - three birds a day at the minute and yesterday I heard one screaming in terror in the hedge, it was awful and I couldn't save it.

The first time I did it I wondered was he hungry so I won't let him out till I've fed him but he literally eats two bites, then goes wild until he's allowed outside. He then causes carnage and strolls back inside to eat his food. I think if I keep him in, he'll destroy the place.

I'm seriously thinking about re-homing him to a farm or similar if someone will take him. He'll be much happier that way. He's only 18 months old so still a teenager for a while. Is there any hope of him growing out of it? Or is he just hardwired to be a killer?

Beamur · 05/07/2022 16:55

I've found changing diet for a higher protein food has curbed my hunter. She still has the odd mouse but only occasionally. The hunting instinct seems to have diminished as she got older too.
My younger cats are not allowed to go out at night. They rarely bring anything home.

SquirrelSoShiny · 05/07/2022 17:02

@Beamur funnily enough I wondered if a food change might help. Any recommendations for a decent brand? He's on generic Lidl / Felix atm but I'm prepared to throw money at the problem!

He also seems to hunt most around lunchtime rather than dusk - he's not out at dawn.

SquirrelSoShiny · 05/07/2022 17:04

One saving grace: he's had such a horrified reaction each time that he never tries to bring them inside BUT he does hide them under play equipment where of course the little feathery corpses freak out any and all DC.

SquirrelSoShiny · 05/07/2022 17:11

@Puy where did you get your Birdbesafe collar? Did they ship from USA?

MeridianGrey · 05/07/2022 17:26

Leave the poor cat be, it’s doing what comes naturally.

Starcatty · 05/07/2022 17:32

I’ve got an indoor/ outdoor cat who is a prolific hunter. I tried locking the cat flap at night but he forced his way through it. I’ve realised that by letting him come and go as he pleases ( he mainly hunts at night and sleeps during the day) it’s greatly reduced the number of birds he brings in. Now it’s mainly mice but at least he eats most of them. He also wears a collar with a bell but he can move without it making a noise. Its a reflective collar so makes me feel slightly better about him going out at night. We live in a quiet area though so cars are no so much of an issue.