Little Gifts! Little Help Needed!

We don't want to lock them in the kitchen at night (where their door is), or
lock them outside, but we might have to..

I know you probably don't want to hear this, but I'll say it anyway. As long
as you let them outside, in their wild state (some prefer this) they will
continue to do this. One day, one of them won't bring you anything, because a
bigger animal will bring him/her home to their brood as a gift.

"David Wright" wrote in message
...
Hello,

Just wondered if anyone could share some advice on how to stop our two
cats
bringing home little "gifts" for us during the night.

Both cats (1 male, 1 female) are just under 2 years old. They have never
brought anything back before, but since our first baby was born and became
the centre of attention 14 weeks ago, we have had 4 mice, one bird and two
frogs. And, because they have a cat-flap door, we find the presents -
normally dead but sometimes alive - in the living room when we get up in
the
morning. The bird was the worst - feathers everywhere!

With the baby about to start crawling, we want to nip this in the bud to
avoid infections etc - we are trying to lavish attention on the cats
again,
so they don't feel so left out, but this morning (2am!) - a whole lot of
noise, and another frog. Still alive, and quickly back in the neighbours
pond. And me disinfecting the carpet whilst half asleep, not that
enjoyable
really!

We don't want to lock them in the kitchen at night (where their door is),

Why not?

or lock them outside, but we might have to...

I can't imagine how anyone could consider locking cats outside overnight as
being an option.

If you want to nip this thing in the bud - I suggest you either lock them in
the kitchen with access to their door at night, or lock them inside
overnight.

Your cats are displaying a behavior that's considered inappropriate, so it's
up to you do correct this, something I'm sure you'll do when your child
exhibits the same.

I don't have a catdoor, my cat is "in and out." She has a curfew of 10pm.
Though she knows the rules and abides by them, there are moments of protest,
but - such is life. Cats are like kids, and rule are rules.

Good luck with finding the solution to your problem! :c)

Judy & Matilda

"David Wright" wrote in message
...
Hello,

Just wondered if anyone could share some advice on how to stop our two
cats
bringing home little "gifts" for us during the night.

Both cats (1 male, 1 female) are just under 2 years old. They have never
brought anything back before, but since our first baby was born and became
the centre of attention 14 weeks ago, we have had 4 mice, one bird and two
frogs. And, because they have a cat-flap door, we find the presents -
normally dead but sometimes alive - in the living room when we get up in
the
morning. The bird was the worst - feathers everywhere!

With the baby about to start crawling, we want to nip this in the bud to
avoid infections etc - we are trying to lavish attention on the cats
again,
so they don't feel so left out, but this morning (2am!) - a whole lot of
noise, and another frog. Still alive, and quickly back in the neighbours
pond. And me disinfecting the carpet whilst half asleep, not that
enjoyable
really!

We don't want to lock them in the kitchen at night (where their door is),

Why not?

or lock them outside, but we might have to...

I can't imagine how anyone could consider locking cats outside overnight as
being an option.

If you want to nip this thing in the bud - I suggest you either lock them in
the kitchen with access to their door at night, or lock them inside
overnight.

Your cats are displaying a behavior that's considered inappropriate, so it's
up to you do correct this, something I'm sure you'll do when your child
exhibits the same.

I don't have a catdoor, my cat is "in and out." She has a curfew of 10pm.
Though she knows the rules and abides by them, there are moments of protest,
but - such is life. Cats are like kids, and rule are rules.

Good luck with finding the solution to your problem! :c)

Judy & Matilda

"Judy" wrote in message
...

"David Wright" wrote in message
...
Hello,

Just wondered if anyone could share some advice on how to stop our two
cats
bringing home little "gifts" for us during the night.


Your cats are displaying a behavior that's considered inappropriate, so
it's
up to you do correct this, something I'm sure you'll do when your child
exhibits the same.


Judy & Matilda



No, this is not "inappropriate" behavior -- it is something that we
"hoomins" may not like, but it is perfectly normal behavior for a cat. In
fact, from the cat's perspective, this may be seen as a compliment when the
cat brings gifts. Certainly, it is not something to correct because the cat
will have no way to understand what he or she is being punished or
"corrected" for. In my opinion, this is something that simply has to be
accepted if a person is going to have an indoor/outdoor cat.

MaryL

"Judy" wrote in message
...

"David Wright" wrote in message
...
Hello,

Just wondered if anyone could share some advice on how to stop our two
cats
bringing home little "gifts" for us during the night.


Your cats are displaying a behavior that's considered inappropriate, so
it's
up to you do correct this, something I'm sure you'll do when your child
exhibits the same.


Judy & Matilda



No, this is not "inappropriate" behavior -- it is something that we
"hoomins" may not like, but it is perfectly normal behavior for a cat. In
fact, from the cat's perspective, this may be seen as a compliment when the
cat brings gifts. Certainly, it is not something to correct because the cat
will have no way to understand what he or she is being punished or
"corrected" for. In my opinion, this is something that simply has to be
accepted if a person is going to have an indoor/outdoor cat.

MaryL

No, this is not "inappropriate" behavior -- it is something that we
"hoomins" may not like, but it is perfectly normal behavior for a cat. In
fact, from the cat's perspective, this may be seen as a compliment when
the
cat brings gifts. Certainly, it is not something to correct because the
cat
will have no way to understand what he or she is being punished or
"corrected" for. In my opinion, this is something that simply has to be
accepted if a person is going to have an indoor/outdoor cat.


I was just given a cat care book last weekend and it said that if you did
try to scold them, they would think their gift was inadequate and would
therefore try to find you a better gift.

No, this is not "inappropriate" behavior -- it is something that we
"hoomins" may not like, but it is perfectly normal behavior for a cat. In
fact, from the cat's perspective, this may be seen as a compliment when
the
cat brings gifts. Certainly, it is not something to correct because the
cat
will have no way to understand what he or she is being punished or
"corrected" for. In my opinion, this is something that simply has to be
accepted if a person is going to have an indoor/outdoor cat.


I was just given a cat care book last weekend and it said that if you did
try to scold them, they would think their gift was inadequate and would
therefore try to find you a better gift.

| With the baby about to start crawling, we want to nip this in the bud to
| avoid infections etc - we are trying to lavish attention on the cats
again,
| so they don't feel so left out, but this morning (2am!) - a whole lot of
| noise, and another frog. Still alive, and quickly back in the neighbours
| pond. And me disinfecting the carpet whilst half asleep, not that
enjoyable
| really!
|
| We don't want to lock them in the kitchen at night (where their door is),
or
| lock them outside, but we might have to...
|
| Thanks,
| David.


Please don't lock them outside. How about the kitchen plus another room?
The kitchen with food and water supply plus access to the outside would be a
fair compromise I think.
I need to go to the bathroom in the night but don't like to turn the light
on in order to remain half asleep. Do you know the feeling when stepping
barefoot on one of the gifts?? The present cats are good though, but the
last one was a terrible hunter.

Carola

| With the baby about to start crawling, we want to nip this in the bud to
| avoid infections etc - we are trying to lavish attention on the cats
again,
| so they don't feel so left out, but this morning (2am!) - a whole lot of
| noise, and another frog. Still alive, and quickly back in the neighbours
| pond. And me disinfecting the carpet whilst half asleep, not that
enjoyable
| really!
|
| We don't want to lock them in the kitchen at night (where their door is),
or
| lock them outside, but we might have to...
|
| Thanks,
| David.


Please don't lock them outside. How about the kitchen plus another room?
The kitchen with food and water supply plus access to the outside would be a
fair compromise I think.
I need to go to the bathroom in the night but don't like to turn the light
on in order to remain half asleep. Do you know the feeling when stepping
barefoot on one of the gifts?? The present cats are good though, but the
last one was a terrible hunter.

Carola

Quoth MaryL:
No, this is not "inappropriate" behavior -- it is something that we
"hoomins" may not like, but it is perfectly normal behavior for a cat. In
fact, from the cat's perspective, this may be seen as a compliment when
the cat brings gifts. Certainly, it is not something to correct because
the cat will have no way to understand what he or she is being punished or
"corrected" for. In my opinion, this is something that simply has to be
accepted if a person is going to have an indoor/outdoor cat.

Not necessarily - my cats are in/out, and they never bring gifts home for
me. Occasionally Calli will bring a mouse home to eat herself, and when I
point out to her that she shouldn't have brought it in she runs back
outside to finish.

I don't think it's a compliment; I think it's a matter of training - as in,
the cat is trying to train you to hunt, in the absence of suitable evidence
that you're capable of doing it yourself (or maybe because the cat notes
that you have "kittens" and need to know how to provide for them?) I don't
know how to persuade a cat otherwise, except to note that my three seem to
think that I'm quite capable of catching my own (and once Blackie and I
caught one in co-operation).

But a thought - do you feed them the odd scrap from your plate at mealtimes?
If so, they may be trying to return the favour... May not be that, but cats
are quite intelligent enough to figure these things out.
--
Gwenhwyfaer (emails need [Private] in header)

some girls wander by themselves