Cat bringing in live mice

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ArgyllCat
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Cat bringing in live mice

Post by ArgyllCat »

Hi all,

New to this forum and looking for advice.
I have a speyed female 8 years old and has only recently (in the last 6 months) started bringing home’presents’. She has always killed or played with her prey outside and never taken it in so im a bit confused as to what has changed.
Obviously I am not overjoyed of finding a mouse running through the house and trying to catch the damn things are a nighmare as the cats lose interest if it goes under the fridge or a cupboard!
What Im wondering is why she has suddenly decided to bring them home and what is the best way to try and stop the behaviour. At the moment both cats (male cat had never taken anything inside....so far!) can only get into the kitchen at night from outside when it starts getting dark (my logic is that at least there is only one room the mouse can get into!)
She is an inside/outside cat - free to come and go through the cat flap whenever she wants. The problem is do I lock her in at night (not sure she remembers what a litter tray is!) or do I lock her out? Or would locking her in cause her more stress - she is very timid but is completely different cat and happy outside - even in rain and thunder! she has a den in our hedge. Tbh I am getting more stressed wondering if she has brought me a present every morning!
Sorry for the long post - the joys of a cat owning you! Any advice welcome!
Thank you.
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Ruth B
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

Post by Ruth B »

Welcome to the forum, I'm not sure I can give much advice but i can sympathise, my 5 year old lad is quite a good mouser as well, there have been a few times when i have been chasing mice around the landing in the early hours of the morning. He used to be very good at killing them, but at the start of the year he had to have most of his teeth removed due to a medical condition, he just has 3 canines left, I'm not sure if that is why he can't kill them as easily as he used to or if he just doesn't bother. I recently had the bathroom renovated and the plumber was rather amused when I explained that I wanted all the pipe work out of the way and there was to be no nooks or crannies for mice to get into. It proved it's worth the other week when I had 6 mice brought in over 4 nights, including 2 alive, both were caught fairly easily once i got them into the bathroom and the cat outside. I don't know if there is anything you can do in your kitchen to block off some of the runs and limit where a mouse can go, you might then be able to work out systems where it is allowed to run in on area where you can set up something to catch it in.

As to why she has suddenly started bringing them inside, the house is the 'den' area for a cat (in my house the upstairs landing in particularly is) it is the place she feels safest and so is where she brings her kills. It could be that something has happened and she no longer feels as safe outside which is why she is bringing them in.

As for keeping her out or in, my instinct is that I could never shut one of my cats outside, they also have a cat flap and can come and go as they please. If i ever had to make a decision I would have to keep them in. You might want to set up a litter tray for her anyway, most cats will use one, though you might have to experiment with the type of litter she likes, they seem especially popular if the weather turns bad, (if you are in the UK that doesn't seem likely in the near future) but some just seem to prefer the option of an indoor toilet, at least it might mean that you find out if she is willing to use one.

Sorry I can't offer a lot of help but I thought it might help to know you aren't alone in the struggle.
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Ruth B
Thank you so much for replying.
With the weather in the UK so warm just now both cats are out most of the day and night. Only coming in to feed then go out again so trying to keep them in would be a nightmare. Plan B is, as you have suggested, to block as many nooks and crannies in the kitchen as I can and hope that if she does bring something in, it doesnt have many places to hide and she will eventually catch it. I never thought about something spooking her outside and maybe she is not as comfortable as she was. She did have a spat with one of the local cats but they have been doing that for a few years now and she just chases it out the garden. I know this is typical cat behaviour - I just wish she wouldnt bring it home! but it is helpful to know I am not alone...! Thank you again for replying.
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fjm
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Definitely not alone! I think worst was the moles that meant moving all the furniture and lifting the carpet when they burrowed their way to the middle - we had two in one afternoon!
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Wow fjm, that would be my nightmare! Its not the fact they bring things in - which is bad enough - its the clean up and tear the room apart to find them! If anyone discovers a cat flap that stops them coming in with prey they would make a fortune!
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Mollycat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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My old Henry used to bring critters in. I once had to relieve a paralysed mouse of its suffering, and managed to catch and release another one fit and healthy (if a little stressed) hiding under the TV after spending 24 hours in a house with 3 cats!
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fjm
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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I was on my way to bed one evening when something rather large scuttled across the dark kitchen - RAT! I found cardboard boxes, barricaded the corner it had run into, put on heavy gloves, moved the brushes and dust pans and aaaahhh - it was a baby bunny. Same size, but very different reaction! I put it in a box overnight and released it into the fields next morning.

Tilly's most recent gift was a very new mallard duckling. I was busy in the garden when she came by making her Come-and-see-what-I've-got prrrrp at the top of her voice. I made her drop it and off it dashed with Poppy the poodle in hot pursuit, followed by Tilly and then me. The duckling wriggled under a neighbour’s gate where the animals couldn’t follow, so we all dashed round to the gate at the far side of the garden to see if it came out there - pure Mr McGregor! I eventually calmed the pack of animals down, and the duckling was restored to the stream next door, close to its nest.
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Its the thought of something scuttling about the room that gives me the shivers. Never been good with mice/hamsters etc so its more of a challenge for me to try and get it out the house! Though I have perfected the art of chair walking to get to the fridge!! I do feel so much better knowing its not only my cat!!!! 😃 Just hope she doesn’t progress to anything else! 😱
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Mollycat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

Post by Mollycat »

Oh we had a frog brought in once, very much alive and hopping about. That was fun to catch ... and even more fun explaining why we were late to work. Thing is, there was no pond anywhere nearby.
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Ruth B
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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We had a cat which specialised in frogs, we only had her for a few months as she wouldn't settle with the resident cats, but in those few months she must have decimated the local frog population. Three frogs a day was her norm, once she managed 6, fortunately she did kill most of them, but if you have ever heard a frog screaming, it is a sound you never forget. At the time we didn't have a pond but there was an area of long constantly wet grass at the end of the garden, and I think that is where the bachelors holed up as the neighbours had a pond and used to get a load of frog spawn in it, even after we put in a pond we never got much frog spawn. One problem with frog catching is that they release a substance on their skin that is slightly toxic and I think slightly psychotropic, I think she must have almost become addicted to it and wanted her daily high.

As for mice, live ones during the night here tend to go out the bathroom window, I have a catching kit I keep in there consisting of a plastic tub and a sheet of strong card. Mice have the wonderful trait that terminal velocity isn't for them. There are many accounts of mice falling down mine shafts and being entirely unhurt. I just have to make sure that one of my other cats isn't sat under the bathroom window waiting for the 'mouse from heaven' to arrive.
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Mollycat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Not 100% on the truth of this but I seem to remember moths have a fine powder coating on their wings, that is slightly hallucinogenic to cats and possibly addictive. Our moth demon was Misha and you only had to say MOTH and she would look around for it. We had a spider fiend before that, Felix, who didn't like it with us and moved out after just a few weeks, but he would spend hours waiting for one to come out.
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Ok, Im back looking for advice again! I now have a kitty cam that I have set up to record movement in the cat flap so I know when Kacey brings something in. Anyway she brought in a live mouse early hours again! Luckily my blocking of all possible hiding places in the kitchen seems to have worked and the mouse had nowhere to hide from her. She played with it for about 10 mins then it obviously died/was killed and she lost interest. Kitty cam failed just after this 🤦‍♀️
Came down this morning to find the mouse had been decapitated and all that was left was its head... yuk!. No sign of the body or any obvious kill site. Would she have eaten the body, legs and tail and just left the head? I have been everywhere in the kitchen and cant find any remains....
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susand
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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She might have eaten it. If not and it’s in the house somewhere, just wait a few days and follow your nose to find out where it is! If you don’t want so many presents, try a collar with 2 bells. Apparently cats can learn to control one bell but can’t control 2. ‘Kitty Collars’ will make you a bespoke collar with an extra bell at no extra cost if you ask them. You can find them online. My cat Walter hardly catches any birds now I’ve got him a double bell collar and not so many mice. He still gets just as many frogs though, the little so and so.
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Susand, thanks you for the reply. My two cats are locked in the kitchen now when it gets dark with access to cat flap if they want to go out so I know the remains could only be in the kitchen (unless she took ot out again?!)Its not a big room and have checked everywhere but no sign of the rest of it. Just cant believe she would have eaten everything from the neck down!!! My male cat hardly comes in at night and is a big stupid lump so wouldnt have seen it if it was presented to him. He prefers baby rabbits - which thankfully he leaves in the garden for me to find!
Thanks for the advice on cat bells. She has one quite loud one but will try putting on another one and will look for Kitty Collars online.
Im not sure having a kitty cam (when it works) is better or worse - maybe my ignorance is bliss! Much as I love the little darlings Im not enjoying this ‘phase’ (hopefully!)
Thanks.

Edit: just order a couple of collars from Kitty Collars with two bells.... thanks!
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Ruth B
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

Post by Ruth B »

It isn't uncommon for cats to eat all or part of their kills, finding the odd head or tail left is normal for some reason. Gross as it may seem, if you can't find the rest of the body it is probably in one of the cats.

Cats naturally eat most of what they kill for food, they actually need to to get all the vitamins and minerals they need. It is why when someone decides to feed their pet cat a raw food diet they have to include bones, skin and offal as well as the meat and fat otherwise they can end up deficient in things.

I'm glad to hear you have at least managed to block off the hiding places, even if your cats don't kill any brought in it will make it much easier for you to deal with in the morning.
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Ruthb, thanks for replying. I feel better (or worse) knowing that she could have eaten it all. Just as well we love the little rascals!
Thanks everyone for all the help and advice. I will no doubt be looking for more soon.......😃
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Hi guys, Just an update - if anybody wants one- as I think Ive solved the riddle of the missing beheaded mouse..yuk! Kitty cam caught Kacey bringing in another live one last night which she played with then somehow passed it over or lost it to Riley (dopey male cat) who promptly grabbed it and left through the cat flap with it in his mouth! I think he ‘stole’ the remaining part of the mouse the last time and took it outside though I cant be sure. Im very grateful for Riley taking it out but would rather there wasnt any in the kitchen to begin with!!!
Killer cat has upped her game and is bringing in live presents every few days now....🤦‍♀️
I am hoping this is just because the weather is warmer and she will be less active during the winter..????
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susand
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

Post by susand »

Did the double bell collar not help ArgyllCat? Sorry you wasted your money if that is the case. If it's any consolation, in my experience, things generally quieten down in the winter as I think neither the cats nor the wildlife are quite so active. That has been the case with all the cats I've ever had anyway.
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Hi susand, i havent received the new collars yet but im hoping that they will make a difference. Surprisingly Kacey didnt appear at all through the night last night so no mice in the kitchen. She has spent the day curled up on the sofa snoring so Im expecting an active night!!
I will let you know how I get on when the new collar arrives. If that doesnt work next thought is a cow bell....!?! 🤔
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Mollycat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

Post by Mollycat »

Cats stalk very very quietly, the bells will only go off when she breaks cover and only give her intended prey a millisecond advance warning. Sorry to say I think it's unlikely to make a great deal of difference.
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Mollycat - i think you are probably right but I live in hope! I think she would manage to hunt even if I put bells on her four paws and tail..!🤷‍♀️
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susand
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

Post by susand »

Well, the double bell certainly cramps Walter’s style. He brings me far fewer presents than he used to before I got it.
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Mollycat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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susand wrote: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:22 pm Well, the double bell certainly cramps Walter’s style. He brings me far fewer presents than he used to before I got it.
Ah that's good (we don't seem to have a like option on posts!)
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

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Hi guys,
Ive been hesitant to write this as I dont want to tempt fate but it has been over a week now and no mice running round my kitchen.
I caught Kacey early one evening with a dead mouse in the kitchen and did what you are not supposed to do. Screamed, shouted and gave a very strong lecture which resulted in her picking up dead mouse and hi tailing it out the cat flap!! I had already decided to buy an outside cat shelter and the following day the new collars with two bells arrived.
Susand if you read this thank you for the advice on the cat collars - they are loud! She can still go into stealth mode but not as easily or for as long.
So far - 10 days later - she hasnt brought anything in during the night (they are still banished to the kitchen at night) so Im not sure if it was my lecture, the cat bells, the threat of an outside cat house or if she has just killed the whole mouse population within a 10 mile radius!!
Anyway thanks for all your advice and fingers crossed I havent jinxed it by telling you......😃
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

Post by scottymol »

Hi all,I hope this helps somebody? I have found a solution that works for me. After suffering with the same problems with mice, rats, birds etc, some dead some alive ( around 50/50) he is an avid hunter, I had to find something that works or think of locking my cat out of his home all night which isn't something any of us want to do.
My solution was to buy a fabric pet cage/tent/playpen (it is mesh and see through) and adapt it to fit around my cat flap in the door.( Pics included below).
I set up a very cheap motion sensor so I know when he is in. Acts like his own doorbell.
I put the tent up at night when cat goes out and when he comes back in he and his catch is enclosed by the tent I am alerted and either dispose of mouse or rather macabre wait for him to finish the kill or rescue it is an option.Or just unzip roof and he can hop out. If we go to bed and he's still out I put his bed in their.
( I added another door with zips for ease of use.
It cost around £30/£40 for everything all you need is some adhesive Velcro and some really basic sewing.
Stick Velcro to tent door, match it up too cat flap and stick Velcro around cat flap. I have sewn Velcro around tent door as it can come off when removing from cat flap. No more mice in the house, works a treat.
Look at Pics self explanatory.

(Sorry for method of photos, was only way I knew how. Just right click on image and open in new tab)

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Last edited by scottymol on Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ArgyllCat
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Re: Cat bringing in live mice

Post by ArgyllCat »

Hi Scottymol,

Sorry cant see the images on phone but thanks for your advice.I have two cats who ‘tolerate’ each other so the pen would need to be quite large and not sure they wouldn't end up scrapping with each other in a smaller space (it doesnt take much to spark it off) but definitely something to think about.
I must admit I have enjoyed the lull over the colder months but I am now back on mouse watch..!
Thanks.
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