how to stop my cat bringing in dead / half dead birds!!!!!!!!!

July 27, 2008 3:53pm CST
im really getting fed up with this now, my cat keeps bring dead birds into my home or even worse half decapitated ones and then proceeds to try and kill them under the kitchen table i have locked his cat flap now so he can only go out and not come in, until he has been checked by me so he has nothing in his mouth but how can i stop him from doing this so he can return to coming and going in the house as he pleases?
2 people like this
12 responses
@philjas (1134)
• United States
27 Jul 08
I have to agree with the others, the only way to totally stop this is to make your cat an indoor only cat. If you absolutely can't do that, I think the freedom of his cat flap will just have to go and you'll only be able to let him in on your approval.
2 people like this
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
27 Jul 08
I'm afraid the only way you can stop this is to keep you cat in. As was said, he is saying thank you and I love you. When you think about it, it's nice that he does this from his point of view. He probably can't understand why you don't like it. If he isn't allowed out, he can't bring his prey inside. Talking to him won't work too well, but you can try that.
2 people like this
• Malaysia
20 Oct 08
I had a cat named Jebat and he used to bring in lizards and birds into the house too. I think cats have a unique nature and hunting is one of their natural habits. We can't change the way they behave. Even though we feed them until they couldn't eat anymore, the urge to hunt and kill will still live in their body and soul. It is already in the blood and the urging will only stop when they die or become sick and no longer able to do so. Don't worry so much, what you are doing now is the best for both of you. You get what you want and your cat gets what he wants too. Well... I don't know if there is someone like a trainer who can train cats not to hunt and kill? Maybe in this way cats will stop from doing their nature. I have heard too that if we barren the animal by surgery maybe the male cats will never have any urge to do the hunting and killing anymore. An appointment with a vet will help too. Hope you'll be able to overcome this problem soon.
@skydancer (2101)
• United States
27 Jul 08
We have a friend whose cat was doing the same thing - killing birds and other small creatures and bringing them to him as a present. Cats are natural hunters like that so it is almost their offering and how the express their love. I believe what our friend did was put some sort of bell on the cat's collar, which let the birds know the cat was coming, and in turn scared them way. It seemed to be working pretty well for him. I don't have much experience with outdoor cats though, as I have only had one cat (I still have her) and she has always been an indoor cat. She's allowed on the screen porch, but she is not allowed outside (although she's gotten out a few times by accident). Once a mouse came into the house somehow, and she killed it, and brought it to my mother, but other than that, I don't have much knowledge of outdoor cats and their killing animals. I do know they're doing what's natural for them though. Good luck with your cat!
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
27 Jul 08
He's quite the little hunter isn't he! He loves to bring you gifts! You know that's the highest compliment a cat can pay his owner. Unfortunately, they don't know that their owners don't like their "gifts". I thankfully have indoor cats. They wouldn't know what a bird is! I'm not going to tell them either! Once a cat gets to hunting I don't think you can unteach them so good luck trying you poor thing!
1 person likes this
@Shymer (1)
• United States
22 Oct 08
Have you ever tried the Catbib? It worked for my cat that was a feral cat until it decided to stay here!
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
28 Jul 08
Unfortunately your cat is doing this to show you how much he loves you. The only way to make him stop is to make him think you don't appreciate him and that's mean...it's just like the 5 year old that lovingly gives you a bottle of horrible smelling perfume, you wear it anyway and thank them so you don't hurt their feelings. I guess, when your cat does this, you could remove his present and put it outside. Eventually he may get the hint that his gifts do not belong in the house.
@Sheribabe (445)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I've always heard it's because they are showing they love you and are sharing with you... but it's really nasty!!!! I wish I could tell you I knew a way you could tell him "NO THANKS, but I don't have a clue....!!!! At least he loves you... Cats are strange and silly pets....
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
28 Jul 08
my pet Scoots - Are you a preditor????em]happy[/em]
I'm not sure that it is a sign of love or not. We had a stray cat that hung around our house, we did not love the cat the cat did not love us. I think they do this to show that they are maintaining their territory. This cat would bring rabbits to our door. They do not eat their captures. Cats are preditors, and that is what they do, they hunt down these small animals just for the victory. Just like human hunters, they do it because they can
@Vladilyich1 (1454)
• Canada
28 Jul 08
Believe it or not, I've trained my cat not to kill her prey. With enough praise, she learned to bring me "presents". Unfortunately, I end up with live lizards, birds, rabbits and chipmunks that I have to catch and release.
• United States
28 Jul 08
The only solution is to keep him in the house. That way, the birds are safe, and he is as well.
@BinaryKat (735)
• United States
6 Oct 08
I agree with everyone else. You can either keep kitty indoors from now on, or if he does bring you a pressie to show I love you mom, say good kitty and pet him.Then once he is out of sight, throw pressie in the garbage lol. I had to do that with my four indoor cats when they found waterbugs occasionally in the house.