Natural behaviour?

Re: Natural behaviour?

Jenny T — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:38:40 GMT

Things that don't work-

Keeping the cat well fed
Toys in the house
bells on collars
alarms on collars- the serious hunters have been found to learn to hunt with them on

Hunting is not only a natural behaviour, but it is also really important for a cat's mental well being that it is allowed to indulge in predatory behaviours.

It can help though to keep the cat indoors during dawn and dusk. Cats are most likely to hunt then as the small fluffy creatures will be more active at this time.

Do keep in mind that cats do act as a control on, especially rodent, populations. These types of small animals do massively overproduce offspring in order that only a very small number survive to reproduce themselves.

Re: Natural behaviour?

Louise B — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:12:17 GMT

Hi, what's your client tried so far?

Re: Natural behaviour?

chris beasley — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:51:18 GMT

Do you have children Caro!

I totally understand where you are coming from but the whole family has to live together and attempt to make every thing work! A cat eating rats and leaving them all around the house could make life a little uncomfortable.

Re: Natural behaviour?

Mrs Dot Dot — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:52:45 GMT

Haha Caro! Frank and candid opinion!

Re: Natural behaviour?

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:33:40 GMT

I am afraid my answer is straightforward. If your client is not satisfied with natural behaviour then they should rehome the cat to a farm where it can be it's self in a very natural behaviour and she could get a furry cat toy to stick on a shelf.

Re: Natural behaviour?

chris beasley — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:23:20 GMT

Thank you everyone for your frank and candid opinions.

I like the idea of a liberator collar. Looks like its worth a try. Will let the client know

Thanks

Re: Natural behaviour?

Claire Cameron — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:35:08 GMT

You could try the Liberator Cat Collar? We have had clients use these successfully

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/shop_store/Liberator_Cat_Collar_p1252.html

"The new Liberator is an audio visual alarm cat collar which prevents cats from catching our essential garden and bird life. Unique and fully endorsed by Rolf Harris, this collar is the answer to the appalling loss of wild birds - research suggests that approximately 70 million birds are killed in the UK alone. Occasionally sounding "Liberator" is non invasive to cats and humans and does not inhibit the natural hunting instinct nor does it prevent rodent catching. Now even cats can do their bit for conservation! "

Re: Natural behaviour?

Vicky RVN — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:17:08 GMT

That cat bib looks like a crazy idea. Not surprised it comes from a country who use claw caps and will declaw animals! Doesn't let them act on their natural behaviour. If you don't want 'presents' don't own a cat, simple as!

Re: Natural behaviour?

Polly P — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:13:19 GMT

I don't know, I guess I am just very in favour of cats living as naturally as possible, and their hunting and proud behaviour is a part of that, as icky as it might be.

Aside from that, they claim the bibs come off easily, but I have seen a cat that hung itself on a fence from it's collar (a safety collar too, the ones that are supposed to release) and I just could not consider putting anything on my cats.

I was bad enough with the buster collars after their spey/ neuters, repeating over and over it was all for their own good!

Re: Natural behaviour?

Kim Buckley — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:01:19 GMT

That bib looks ridiculous! lol

Re: Natural behaviour?

loopylou711 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:44:40 GMT

Can i ask why people would be so opposed to the cat bib? Ok i think it is hideous but if the cat would wear it andtolerate it, it comes of easily if cat was stuck and prevents cats catching things then what would be the problem? I get that its horrible and personally am all up 4 the circle of life and all that and if my kitties were outdoors they could bring me what they liked but i doubt they would catch anything lol

But whats the problem if it works and is safe and you don't want your cat to hunt??

Sorry jsut curious!!

Re: Natural behaviour?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:15:40 GMT

[quote user="Polly Player"]

Oh my lord that thing is almost as big as the cat!

Agree ref. the snagging danger and not to mention I bet the cat would appreciate it about as much as a buster collar!

[/quote]

obv agree!

so erm.. is there a solution to outdoor kitties who hunt? (no offence but) disregarding the bib?

Re: Natural behaviour?

Polly P — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:10:06 GMT

Oh my lord that thing is almost as big as the cat!

Agree ref. the snagging danger and not to mention I bet the cat would appreciate it about as much as a buster collar!

Re: Natural behaviour?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:54:21 GMT

[quote user="Kerry Haigh RVN MBVNA"]

haha yeah just still can't use a computer properly thats all

oh dear I've just found this tho'

http://www.catgoods.com/

[/quote]

catbib?

i havent read it yet - but a bib - i wouldn't put it on my kitty - collar injuries are a big enough risk, without giving them something dangly looking to snag on stuff!

Re: Natural behaviour?

Kerry Spain — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:44:35 GMT

haha yeah just still can't use a computer properly thats all

oh dear I've just found this tho'

http://www.catgoods.com/

Re: Natural behaviour?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:36:51 GMT

LOL!

If you weren't already a 'mammoth poster', I would say you were just trying to up your post count

Interesting tho - will look into the collars!

Re: Natural behaviour?

Kerry Spain — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:34:34 GMT

eurgh! 2 posts??

Re: Natural behaviour?

Kerry Spain — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:33:59 GMT

They don't seem to upset the cats in any way shape or form but they do scare off rodents and other small critters

I can't seem to find any examples on the net but I'm sure we bought ours from a local pet shop

Re: Natural behaviour?

Kerry Spain — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:33:46 GMT

They don't seem to upset the cats in any way shap or form but they do scare off rodents and other small critters

I can't seem to find any examples on the net but I'm sure we bought ours from a local pet shop

Re: Natural behaviour?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:23:09 GMT

[quote user="Kerry Haigh RVN MBVNA"]

[quote user="chris beasley RVN MBVNA"]

I recently had a client bring his cat to a nurse client because it was bringing home mice, rats , birds etc. We discussed all things but I was at loss what to advise. The cat brings in gifts 4/5 times daily and often eats the rats in the house.

As they also have a small toddler they are worried re infection.

Any suggestions

[/quote]

They could try the little electronic cat collars which make a high pitched noise which warns prey that there is danger. They do work I've had them on my cats before.

[/quote]

Ohhh - never heard of them!

How do they work? Is the high pitched noise audible to the cat? Or only the prey?

Re: Natural behaviour?

Kerry Spain — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:17:45 GMT

[quote user="chris beasley RVN MBVNA"]

As they also have a small toddler they are worried re infection.

Any suggestions

[/quote]

They could try the little electronic cat collars which make a high pitched noise which warns prey that there is danger. They do work I've had them on my cats before.

Re: Natural behaviour?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:47:26 GMT

I think it is just part of kitty ownership ... it wouldn't bother me apart from lil' man.... Though he is learning about death, and the circle of life due to our over enthusiastic DLH!

One more thing - tell them to worm & flea regularly if they got a hunter and a toddler! I know you know that, but a lot of public don't! Scary!

Re: Natural behaviour?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:43:40 GMT

Ohhhh I can sympathise with your client!

Spring has definatley sprung in my cats' world - averaging 3 dead mice a day in the last week!Nothing over the winter - they went as far as to drag a squirrel home one summer!

I keep the cat flap shut during the day so they can't bring their 'presents' home, but boy kitty will headbutt his way thru the catflap, just to leave me a carcass in the bedroom doorway! Just what I want after a day at work!

I don't know what to advise - my kittie is neutered, has lots of toys at home and wears a bell......... he still brings me dead things though! And I have a little one, so understand your clients' concerns.

Is there anything we can do to curb a kitties instincts? I reckon not, but I REALLY hope someone will have a solution!

Re: Natural behaviour?

Carol Cottrell — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:34:00 GMT

Tell them to get a fish instead, they clearly aren't cut out for cats!