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Auggie

(31,059 posts)
Tue May 29, 2012, 02:11 PM May 2012

My cat is hunting and eating a lot of wildlife

We give her Premium Edge Adult Finicky dried cat food, which she does eats, but she also likes to hunt birds and newts. Saw her devour a newt yesterday and this morning there was dead rat (yes, rat) on the patio -- minus a face.

She's an outside cat that her originals owners abandoned. She adopted us 10 months ago and we've been looking after her since. Super sweet and smart -- is inside at nights, likes people, and apparently, fresh meat.

I'd feed her wet food but I've heard that will destroy her teeth. Is it okay for her to snack on wildlife? I could confine her to inside but she'd hate that. What do I do?

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My cat is hunting and eating a lot of wildlife (Original Post) Auggie May 2012 OP
Cats hunt and kill regardless of if they are fed or not. onestepforward May 2012 #1
Many thanks Auggie May 2012 #3
I have a 16 year old going on 17 year avebury May 2012 #2
I really do hate to be preachy, but Curmudgeoness May 2012 #4
though it's totally natural it can be harmful TorchTheWitch May 2012 #5
I would also be wary of her eating a poisoned animal--especially that rat catbyte May 2012 #6
Thanks to everyone. You've provided sound advice and a lot to think about. Auggie May 2012 #7
My cat was abandoned and adopted me several years ago, and... TreasonousBastard May 2012 #8

onestepforward

(3,691 posts)
1. Cats hunt and kill regardless of if they are fed or not.
Tue May 29, 2012, 02:37 PM
May 2012

It's just their basic instinct. There is nothing you can do to stop it except keep your cat indoors.

I've had cats for over 30 years and they all have been kept indoors. They have all been happy and healthy. In addition, my vet bills are very low re: no flea treatments, no additional vet visits for injuries or diseases.

Cats are devastating to wildlife. In particular, they feast on animals that help control insects, like birds, frogs, etc.

I think it is great that you took in this abandoned kitty. Thank you! I hope you'll consider making her an indoor cat.

Perhaps some others will have some ideas too

p.s.
Dry food helps to keep cats teeth clean and wet food has more protein. You can feed your kitty a mix of both. That's what I do.

Auggie

(31,059 posts)
3. Many thanks
Tue May 29, 2012, 03:41 PM
May 2012

I'm assuming her entire life has been outdoors -- that's what we were told by neighbors. While it would be so much safer indoors it's also a little unsettling to take that away from her.

avebury

(10,946 posts)
2. I have a 16 year old going on 17 year
Tue May 29, 2012, 02:48 PM
May 2012

old cat who eats primarily canned food and her teeth are ok. She is a fussy eater and it became a matter of whatever she would eat is what she gets. I do put out dry food that she can free feed from but without the canned food I would have a hard time keeping her at her svelte weight of 6 pounds. I gave up years ago of trying to get her to put some weight on. She is an older girl but you would never know that based upon her behavior.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
4. I really do hate to be preachy, but
Tue May 29, 2012, 06:54 PM
May 2012

free-roaming cats are a major problem for wildlife. Please read this article before you decide what you should do:

http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/materials/predation.pdf

Besides the obvious problem of the killed animals, there is also the reduction of prey food for other wild animals if a cat is wiping out populations of rodents or birds.

There is also the chance of parasites being transmitted to the cat from wild animals.

Or the cat catching a mouse or rat that has been poisoned, which can also poison the cat (a sick animal is easier to catch).

Cats living indoors have a much longer lifespan (although I do know of some cats who lived long lifes outdoors). There are so many dangers for cats---roads, other cats, larger animals, dogs, nasty annoyed neighbors who could poison/kill them, etc.


There are lots of outdoor cats in my neighborhood, and I don't judge the people who made this choice. Some of these neighbors are good friends of mine. It is really up to you to determine what is best. I realize that this cat is not yours, you have just decided to care for it, and that is wonderful. I have knows some cats who had a hard life outside and after adoption had no desire to go back to that life. You never know. If you try to make it an indoor cat, make sure there are lots of toys to entertain her. And I suppose that the more time you can keep her inside, the less time she has to do damage outside---so maybe you can just try to keep her in longer.

Best of luck, whatever you decide to do.

TorchTheWitch

(11,065 posts)
5. though it's totally natural it can be harmful
Tue May 29, 2012, 07:22 PM
May 2012

Wildlife often carry parasites and diseases that can make your cat sick or even kill them. Rodents in particular are usually carriers of something you don't want your cat picking up. Dogs and cats get sick and die all the time from hunting down and getting their mouths on wildlife, and some things can be passed on to humans. I wouldn't let my dog get his face on any wild critters because of dangers of what he can pick up from them not just for him but for me as well.

It's hard to know what to do. If you hate the idea of keeping the cat confined indoors all the time because she would be so unhappy being an indoor kitty I guess you just have to decide what to do by weighing the risks. For me it would be a simple decision even if the cat hated it - for me the risk is just too great. But that's me. Is there any way you can let the cat be outside on occasion but somehow confined so she can't get any critters? That probably wouldn't be an easy thing to do with a cat especially since they can climb and jump. I dunno. I guess it would really come down to a decision of either letting the cat out and taking the risk or not. While this would be a simple decision for me personally, I can see it being a really hard "no win" one for others.


catbyte

(34,166 posts)
6. I would also be wary of her eating a poisoned animal--especially that rat
Wed May 30, 2012, 01:56 PM
May 2012

One of my neighbors lost a beautiful cat that was poisoned by a mouse she caught and it was awful--slow and painful. It took a while to figure out what happened. We had an indoor/outdoor cat who was used to going outside for over 15 years--just like your kitty. We moved to an apartment after my husband's health declined so we sold our house. The apartment was on a busy street and had to keep Junior in. It took a week or two to get him used to it. After being at that apartment for a year, we moved into an apartment on the same street as our former house. We rented it mainly for Junior to be able to go out. Well, we took him out and he didn't have the slightest interest in the Great Outdoors. He was perfectly happy indoors for the remaining 7 years of his life. He was 23 when he passed. Cats--who can figure them out, LOL?!?

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Leo, Taz & Nigel, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"Dogs Aren’t Luggage Even Though They Are Lower Life Forms--HISS!”


TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
8. My cat was abandoned and adopted me several years ago, and...
Thu May 31, 2012, 11:37 AM
May 2012

although I found her living in the yard and the garage over winter, she is now a very happy indoor cat. All but one of my cats over the years spent their young years outside, but they all adapted to the indoor life.



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