Cats catching mice
Cats love to catch mice. And as natural hunters, they're
very good at it. Your cat won't hunt because she's hungry -
she's far too well fed for that! She actually does it as a
natural instinct.
This shouldn't cause you a problem, but you should
discourage her from disturbing garden wildlife. A collar with a
bell will act as a warning for any unsuspecting birds, giving
them the chance to fly off before the cat gets too close.
Unwanted gifts
On the odd occasion, your cat might also leave you a little
gift of a mouse, or sometimes something bigger, on your
doorstep. Cat researchers aren't entirely sure why cats leave
dead prey for their owners, but they think it's for one of two
reasons:
- As a sign of affection for their owner.
After all, they love chasing, killing and playing with dead
mice, so why shouldn't you?
- As a result of her parenting instinct.
Mother cats will teach their kittens to hunt by bringing
back dead or wounded animals for their youngsters to 'practice'
with.
So your cat may actually be trying to teach you how to
hunt!
The manner in which cats go about their hunting could also
be a factor. They like to wear their prey out, stalking and
chasing until whatever they are hunting is exhausted. And they
generally prefer to do this when on their home turf.
Prevention
The only effective way to keep your cat from hunting is to
keep her indoors. Of course, this may not always be practical,
especially if she is accustomed to being out and about.
You could try stimulating her with more play at home.
Activities that simulate hunting like chasing toys or playing
with other cats may give your cat the 'fix' they need to keep
them from hunting outdoors.
Remember to dispose of anything that's been caught straight
away. If you don't dispose of her trophies, she will think that
it's OK to carry on bringing them back. A pair of rubber gloves
might come in handy for this particular job!