Why does my cat keep bringing home dead mice?
By leaving a dead animal on the back porch, your cat is acting out its natural role as mother and teacher. You, her loving owner, represent her surrogate family. And frankly, she knows you would never have been able to catch that delicious mouse on your own.
Why does my Cat bring back dead animals?
Their instinct to bring animals back to a safer place to eat also means that sometimes the animals they bring back aren’t fully dead. “Some cats hunt with less gusto when they are well-fed, so your cat may just not have completed the hunting sequence that would kill the prey,” says Delgado.
Why are cats so good at killing rats?
Cats actually prefer birds and other smaller mammals and their young. Unlike rats, these animals are easy prey and the risk of the cat being injured while hunting is low. It is widely believed that cats are great at killing rats and making your rodent problem go away.
What should I do if my cat brings home a dead animal?
Delgado recommends using wand toys that allow your cat to act out those hunting instincts. If the deed has already been done and you’re able to ignore the dead animal that they’ve left for you, offer them catnip or a toy to draw their attention away from the animal so you can dispose of it.
By leaving a dead animal on the back porch, your cat is acting out its natural role as mother and teacher. You, her loving owner, represent her surrogate family. And frankly, she knows you would never have been able to catch that delicious mouse on your own.
Their instinct to bring animals back to a safer place to eat also means that sometimes the animals they bring back aren’t fully dead. “Some cats hunt with less gusto when they are well-fed, so your cat may just not have completed the hunting sequence that would kill the prey,” says Delgado.
Cats actually prefer birds and other smaller mammals and their young. Unlike rats, these animals are easy prey and the risk of the cat being injured while hunting is low. It is widely believed that cats are great at killing rats and making your rodent problem go away.
What can a rat do to Your House?
“Rats can gnaw through wood, insulation, and wires to create nests, and access food inside your home,” Cox explains. “They can also cause your appliances to short and are a common cause of house fires.”
