My cat caught a mouse...Now what?
So my just about 3 month old cat found and killed a small mice today. After getting over the shock of having to clean his “present” up, I started to worry if it would cause any harm to my cat. He was just at the vet last Thursday for his rabies and booster shot, but should I still worry about him catching anything bad from the mouse? Let me just say I really hope he doesn’t find another one.
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My outdoor cat brings gifts home all the time. Mice, rabbits, birds, chipmunks…she’s fine. Cats kill things, it’s what they do. Don’t sweat it too much.
But take that with a grain of salt. I’m not a pet expert, let alone a veterinarian.
Cats catch mice a lot, with no problems. I guess there is always a slim chance that something bad could happen, but I wouldn’t count on it. Just watch out for anything abnormal, and remember that it just means that your cat is being active and playful, and could even be bringing something to give to you as a present.
@Allibaby808: My cat, Milo, has caught this summer alone, 24 mice, 1 small bird and yesterday a bullfrog. You will have to get over shock and squeamishness and feel only awe that the mice population is being held in check.
Wash your hands with soap and water after disposal and scrub as though you were prepping for surgery.
you should reward her.
make her a good little hunter of those vermin
And tell him what a good boy he is, what a fine mighty hunter. If he gave it to you as a present, with or without head and tail, you must thank him. Cats are sensitive, you know.
I don’t think your cat will catch anything from the mouse.
I have only dealt with a baby bird being caught by one of my cats. That was quite traumatic for me. It’s gross, but it’s what they do.
I’d be more worried about you catching something from the mice the anything else
Now nature takes its course.
Milo here: Recently I was thoughtful and left Gail only two tiny feet and legs.
@gailcalled I scrubbed my hands and used two plastic bags to pick it up haha. I have told him he was a good boy… he is walking around all victorious it’s kind of funny and cute. I would rather know he is keeping them at bay than them roaming my apartment. I think some new treats are in order =]
thankfully the mouse was fully intact. I think I would be a little more freaked with just feet and legs
@Allibaby808: Just you wait. Eventually it becomes business as usual. I have to remember to look down when I walk in certain areas. Stepping on a dead mouse, even though I am inured, would not be pleasant.
my cats have left only the innards… I didn’t eat elbow macaroni for a year after that :x
One concern is the cat can become ill from eating a mouse that’s been poisoned. But I think cats are in it for mostly sport, not lunch.
Ya know, if you want to be SURE it never happens again, don’t let your cat go outdoors.
My cat left half a squirrel on the fence.
Yuck, guys, we are getting a little too…natural here.
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If you cat eats them, that can be an issue. Otherwise, you cat is a hunter and a good one. Welcome to cat ownership.
Dont worry, cats eat stuff and nothing will happen to them. My cat once eat whole rat, rat was almost bigger than my cat.
I repeat, if your cat eats the wild animals it catches, it can catch have negative health effects. You cat needs to be wormed regularly if it is eating things it catches.
“According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, up to 45 percent of all cats may be infected with gastrointestinal parasites. Kittens are especially prone to getting worms because, like human toddlers, they tend to explore the world by putting things in their mouths. A kitten or cat may ingest worm ova by coming in contact with feces from an infected cat, eating dirt or grass that has worm eggs on it, or eating birds, mice or fleas that are infected. An infected mother can also pass worms on to nursing kittens through her milk.”
Source
Most housecats kill mice but don’t eat much of them. I suppose its because the cat is already well fed at home but still has the hunting instinct.
That’s the cats way of showing affection.
Anyway just put the dead rodent in the trash can outside or something. Your cat will be fine.
@Quagmire We live in the city and our cat doesn’t go outdoors, we just happen to live next to a Pub so I’m thinking the mice carry over from there sometimes.
@The_Compassionate_Heretic he definitely is a spoiled little thing and fiesty so I think he just thought it was a more exciting play toy :)
@Allibaby808 Wait until your kitty get a little older, and brings you a live one, and lets it go inside, while then taking great amusement watching you run after it!
Whoa. I currently have 5 cats living here with me and none has ever caught a thing!
I suppose I should be thankful I have no prey living in my home.
We had two cats (sisters) who would play with mice by batting them back and forth to each other. They never killed them, though.
I had another cat who left the back half of a rabbit on my front porch while my parents were out of town for two weeks. I was 17 and completely freaked out! Fortunately, I have some friends who hunt and was able to call one for an emergency rescue. I got a lot of grief over that, but it was totally worth it.
@poofandmook: I never had two. I had one, and then I brought in two sisters…which made three. And now I have two additional fosters.
My 6 yr cat caught a mouse (in the house) and wanted to give it to me… I was still asleep.. but my dad took the mouse from him before he gave it to me…. question is…. What does it do to the fact my cat was giving me a gift for living with me..If his his gift was stolen from him… (note.. my cat thinks Im his mother) ** this is my cat first time seeing a REAL mouse (he is an indoor cat since he was extremely little)
Answer to your concern… I agree… wash your hands and dispose of the mouse… Maybe have your cat checked out just in CASE
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