Can't deal with the live mice anymore, is a cat collar cruel/safe?

[Sunshineandrainbow]

Cat continues to bring mice in that then sit under sofa etc I can't stand being in the same room so retreat to upstairs. Live birds which fly about until I am brave enough to open the door.
Cat has never had a collar, would it be too late to introduce one now with double bells on it, cat is three. Can you recommend a nice soft one.
Or should I put the cat flap on one way, he has outdoor shelter but no food outside and I am at work all day.

We had to do it - similar reasons. She got used to it!

We made a huge fuss, shouting and roaring at the cat. He got the message eventually.
If there's a shelter outside (box style then one way is an option.
Prime mouse catching times are twilight and early morning so the other option is to keep them in until it is properly dark. Making dinner time later will have the same effect if you have a greedy one.

If you have a collar make sure its the one that unclipped easily if they get stuck, rather than a buckle , pets at home do them. However.... bells don't stop hunting. My cat would deliberately go super slow and sneak up rather than charge.

Your best bet is to get a lockable cat flap. Also keep them in from dusk (as per cats protection guidelines) as dusk and dawn are prime hunt times.

I had an old ice cream tub with holes in the lid, and an old teatowel, to catch any beasties mine brought in.

I keep a humane trap outside (so it doesn't smell of indoors) in case DH isn't home (he's gifted at catching rodents!) and bait it with chocolate (maltesers especially) and in no time at all, mousey is in the trap.

Quick release clasp are the words I was looking for. Some are also reflective. Give the collar a quick test as some can be a bit stiff to release.

www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-rope-reflective-cat-collar-blue

We have the cat flap on one way and that largely solves the problem. She appears on window ledge to get in. In the cold winter nights we just lock it completely and shut her in

I wouldn't use a collar because 1. Risk of it not coming loose if caught on something (the clasp can get stuck over time with dirt, fur and even flea drop residue), and 2. Clever hunty cats learn to not set the bells off.

Instead, try to keep indoors during prime hunting hours and do lots of play to re-channel those hunting instincts.

Ultimately though it is one risk of having cats, with one of mine I had the catflap into a porch and could shut the door to the house which at least contained things if I wasn't around, next cat never brought anything home alive (luckily as he was a ratter) and current cat has caught one mouse in 2 years (but she does have a curfew).

I would never put a collar on my cats - the risk of strangulation is huge even on those so-called easy release ones.

There's also no guarantee it'll make any difference whatsoever.

There are research studies which looked at the effectiveness of bells to stop predation. They found that they help reduce bird predation but not rodent. It’s as if the mice aren’t bothered. My own experience was this - I tried a collar on my cat and it made no difference at all.

Things that are proven to help: locking them in before dusk and not letting them out until after the sun is up eliminates the main hunting time. Feeding a high-protein food also was shown to reduce predation so it’s worth looking at the quality of the food you use.

my cat lost a leg when it got tangled in a quick release collar that didn’t. Keep them in dawn to dusk.

Please dont use a collar. Get rid of the catflap.

We don't use collars , I really don't like them .
Our cats are in at night , they migrate indoors for supper .

Our female came in and deposited a live mouse on the floor (thanks and all that Missus)
I think its disappeared now , (and I know there's never A Mouse)

I'm sure mine could stealth silently , the boy especially can slink like a tiny serpent !