Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/any alternatives to hunting?

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/30/2008


Question

Lucky and me
My cat Lucky was found a stray adult at least 5 years ago and we took her in. we- well I should say, I love her but my family is not so happy about her. she is an outdoor calico and she hunts she is not very playful with toys but she loves birds mice and moles, we have put up with it for quite a while I was just curious if there was a way to stop her from killing the creatures.

thank you
            ~briana

Answer
Briana,

What a pretty kitty (and owner too!).

Lucky is doing what she was meant to do. Calicos are hunters by nature! I have 2 and they are the only ones that hunt out of 13! It is their purpose in life I guess. If you take away her hunting, she would be VERY unhappy. It is also Mother Nature's way of keeping the population of birds and rodents down.

The cats catch the 'victim'....which is the best part for them....then they usually plays with it until it's dead. They don't have any reasoning ability and don't think "I just want to play with you for a while but I will let you live". They don't have any conception of what death is, and that biting a 'victim' or playing with it for a long time will kill it. They just play with it until it doesn't move any more.

I have one that will bring a mouse to the others for them to play with because they don't hunt! They try, but either they are too slow, or stalk something wagging their tail (right, like a bird wouldn't see a tail going back and forth!). One calico will go on a mouse or a pigeon 'run' and it (for real) won't take her 5 minutes before she's back with something!

BUT, here are some suggestions:

If your cat is eating what she catches, instead of just playing with them, she may be lacking something in her diet that she is getting from her 'kills', or she is may still be hungry. Keep a bowl full of a good quality dry food (like Iams) available for her all the time. Cheaper brands have more fillers that don't satisfy their hunger.

Try getting some little furry stuffed mice that you can throw and she can catch; get a pet laser light (PetSmart, Petco, etc,) where she can chase the 'little red bug' on the floors, wall, and ceilings...or outdoors at night is hysterical. They also love the sparkly craft balls that you get in a package in Wal-Mart's craft dept., or at a craft store. Mine carry those around in their mouth

Another thing that hunter type cats like, periodically for a treat, is a raw beef rib bone. I have the butcher cut some in half. The cats satisfy their 'fresh kill' instinct by pulling on the meat, the protein is good for them, and the fibers in the meat help clean their teeth. Not all cats are interested in them (some of mine aren't...one of mine won't touch meat, raw OR cooked) but the 'hunters' usually have fun with them. Sometimes they will growl at you if you look like you might take their prize away!

I have videos for my cats and they LOVE them! They try to hunt the birds, squirrels, etc. that are on the TV screen, and it's funny to watch. Here is a link to the ones I have:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)

http://petsittervideos.com/index.html

I hope this helps you understand your cat's behavior a little better and gives you some alternative ideas.

Tabbi  
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you so much that is so stange about it being only calicos thanks again!


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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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