So my cat (was a rescue and I've had a cat before) is becoming an expert hunter.
She's on a prescription diet (via the vets) because she is hungry all the time and is overweight (from stealing food mostly - she will eat pretty much anything).
She hunts (free access to the outdoors, we live on a very quiet road) and then brings in her catches to show us and then eat them.
I literally can not get those catches off her, she's the most stubborn and badass cat I've ever known. I actually think if I threw a bucket of cold water over her she wouldn't let go of her catch. She would cruise through the bush tucker trials without blinking.
She's learnt I try my best to get them off her if they are still alive, so mostly she brings them in dead now.
I usually manage to get her into the kitchen/diner and shut the door on her and deal with the mess when she's done.
However I have a small child and I hate the idea that my cat is bringing in amongst other things rats and eating them and leaving the entrails etc on the rug.
Obviously I clean up as best I can and discourage dc playing on the rug.
But I feel absolutely grossed out about rats. I've had a prolific hunting cat before, but she never brought in rats. This one does.
I know I could have no rug. But there's a sofa in that room too, so I'd rather leave the rug there so at least she doesn't use the sofa as her dining table!
Any ideas. I couldn't shut her in permanently, she's a rescue and she has tasted freedom for too long. Plus she's got way too much energy and needs to go out.