Have you ever had the nasty experience of finding some poor little dead creature slap-bang in the middle of your kitchen floor? Or, worse yet, has your 'oh so innocent looking cat' dropped a mutilated prey right at your feet and acted as if you should be pleased about it?
If things like the above have happened to you, you must have wondered why your cat does that. After all you feed her, and feed her well, don't you? So why does she feel the need to hunt wildlife, let alone bring the corpses or injured but still living creatures back home?
A well cared for domestic cat does not hunt through hunger. Just because she does not have the need to hunt doesn't mean that she doesn't have the instinct. Cats are predators. When cats first moved in with humans thousands of years ago it was because of their proficient hunting skills. The cats learnt that where there were humans there were also rodents. The humans learnt just how accomplished cats are at catching and killing, thereby keeping the rodent population down. It was to be many years later that felines became thought of as pets and were kept primarily for their companionship.
"So OK, cats are natural born hunters, but why do they have to bring their catch home?"
There is more than one theory on this, but the most likely explanation is that your cat views you as an incompetent kitten who needs schooling in the ways of hunting. Spayed females are the most likely to bring home their catch. Kitty may be deprived of the ability to reproduce, but she does retain maternal instincts it seems.
"So she thinks I need to learn to go out and hunt food. But why does she bring back half-dead mice and other creatures?"
Usually the first catch a mother cat brings to her kittens will be dead. She will eat the prey in front of the kittens - this is food, and this is how you eat it. Then mom moves on to bringing home prey that she has injured and mangled. She will finish off her catch in front of her kittens - this is prey, and this is how you kill it. Finally she will start to bring home captured but unharmed creatures. Mom will let the prey go in front of her young ones and demonstrate to them how she stalks, pounces and catches - this is prey, and this is what you have to do before you can kill it and eat it.
"Well OK, my cat thinks that it is not enough that I know how to use a can opener, she thinks I should know how to hunt. It's nice of her to look after my interest but dead, half eaten or mutilated little animals disgust me. And I don't like her killing wildlife especially birds. How can I stop her?"
You can't take away her hunting instinct. Punishing her in any way would be futile. Even showing your distaste at her activities will probably confuse her, she has done you a service and you are unhappy about it!
Cats will hunt. Some more successfully than others but they will do it. The only way you can prevent them from hunting wildlife is to keep them indoors. If you prefer your cat to enjoy the outdoors fitting her out with a bell (attached to a breakaway collar for your cat's safety,) will go a long way in preventing her destroying wild birds.
Larry Chamberlain lives in London, England, and has had a lifelong fascination with domestic cats. His web site -
best-cat-art
- provides information about all that is best in cat art. Also pages about cat and kitten care and information on cat breeds and types.
This author of this Article has choosen to make this article available with free reprint rights. Click here to copy this article.
» left by Anonymous (1 year 143 days ago.)
yes i found this article very interesting, in my area mice are now an endangered species as my cat continuously brings me two or three carcasses a night, She must think I am very stupid. But I love or to bits Respond to this comment
» left by Larry Chamberlain. (1 year 143 days ago.)
Your cat thinks the world of you, she is telling you that two or three times a night. I hope you remember to say thank you :-) Respond to this comment
» left by phil from United Kingdom (324 days 15 hours ago.)
Great reading, very helpful and funny. i have tried many bells on collars which hasn't worked.
Next step... is a cow bell... :-) Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (288 days 20 hours ago.)
The cat thinks you're a kitten that doesn't know how to hunt. If you react happily, and then take any prey the cat brings you and dispose of it out of her sight, she will eventually believe you have learned how to hunt and kill, and will stop bringing you prey. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (167 days 13 hours ago.)
My cat never goes outside and resorts to bringing her toys to me as if they were something she caught. It doesn't happen often but two nights ago she brought me 7 different catches ranging from feathers, balls, and various sizes of mouse toys. Last night she brought 5. So glad it is toys and not the real things. I think she is convinced they are real as you can hear her meowing as she walks the length of the hallway with her catch in her mouth. Not sure why she is feeling the need to do it so frequently right now.
» left by Emily from Wisconsin (91 days 18 hours ago.)
My cat is currently in the "bringing unharmed prey home" stage. He definitely went through the others first. The great part is, he is an indoor cat! The mice are coming from my basement! He brings them to me in the wee hours and sets them down either at the threshold of my bedroom or right next to my bed. They lay there a moment then jump up and start to scurry. My cat will play chase for a little while, then walks away to watch from a distance as I frantically move furniture and smack about with my broom. Apparently I am NOT learning fast enough!
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 View other articles written by Larry Chamberlain(1,837)
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