Stopping Your Cat From Hunting

Domestic cats generally hunt to satisfy their need for physical activity and even those that live inside will find ways to practice their hunting skills. But what happens when Felix brings home more than you can handle?

Keeping Your Cat Indoors

Many native animals are nocturnal, and most gardens are teeming with action while you are sleeping. Keeping cats indoors at night will go a long way in reducing the impact that night hunting can have. Your cat probably won't like this at first and you may have to re-introduce the kitty litter, but after a while, your cat will adapt to the routine and settle down. Restricting night-time activity not only reduces hunting, it will also protect your cat from unfriendly feline neighbors. It might also decrease the incidence of unwanted litters, which in turn, will reduce the number of domestic cats contributing to the feral population, which poses a greater threat to wildlife. There are many kits available for building secure cat runs.

Mother Cats Help

Some people say that hunting is not instinctive for domestic cats and that a kitten born to a non-hunting mother will probably never learn to hunt. Keeping the kitten indoors for the first few months will further halt the feline from associating or becoming familiar with wildlife.

Using Cat Bells

Placing a bell on the collar of your cat is important, but some cats are ingenious enough to work out ways to silence the bell when stalking. So, why not try two bells and a small mirror. The mirror works by sending off quick flashes of light, which can warn prey that another presence is around. Two bells will cut down the chances of your cat being able to silence just one.

Cats and Gardens

Trim bushes near bird baths and other resting places for birds. If your garden is sparse, plant more trees to attract more birds. Yes! The higher the number of birds the greater their rate of survival as increased numbers create a more efficient early warning system.

Cat Trivia

The cat was first domesticated in Egypt where it was prized for its hunting instincts. They were excellent in controlling rodent infestations especially around the grain stores, which in turn protected precious food sources. Their success brought them much admiration and in some cases, god-like status. In fact, in ancient Egypt, killing a cat was a crime punishable by death. Often cats were mummified and embalmed mice were placed with them in their tombs. In one ancient city, over 300 000 cat mummies were found. News of their hunting prowess reached far off shores, and thereafter cats became not only welcome guests on boats as valuable mousers, but welcome rodent controllers wherever they went. Even today, the domestic cat is appreciated for its ability to control rodents within the home and barn.