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Soon-to-be dead cat

animal_lover Aug 02, 2004 02:10 AM

My 2 year old female cat just recently started killing mice and birds. My mother wants her euthanized. The cat has tried bringing in her kills, and my mother gets very angry when she sees this. Yesterday, when I walked into my room after being away for 2 hours, there was a dead mouse on my light blue carpet. It's head was barley attached to it's body, held togethor by only some bloody muscle tissue. There was blood all over around the mouse. That's not the worst part though. My brother, who was home, did not notice the cat and the mouse come in. He also did not watch the family chihuahua. It was the dog who brougth the mouse to my attention. She led me upstairs, where she then started to sniff and touch the mouse. I am very afraid that she might have messed around more with that mouse than she should have. The dog has not had her rabies shot yet, and I'm too afraid to tell my mom about the mouse.Now what?Plz help me out!
-Janine

Replies (16)

DestanyF Aug 02, 2004 09:35 AM

I really don't know anything about this, I've never had a cat that liked to hunt, save for playing with the occassional critter, but not to bring home prey. I can't believe your mom wants to kill the cat just for acting on her normal impulses. Is your cat spayed?
I've heard (it's rather common knowledge) that cats bring home dead animals as gifts for their owners. That's about all I know about it. I suppose you could try keeping the cat confined, or give her toys that will fulfill her need to hunt, but I would GUESS that now she knows the real thing it would be very hard to deter her.
Is your mom just sensative to finding these things because they creep her out? Or is she upset that the cat is killing things? I really wish I could be more help, but I'm sure there will be others that know more about this than I do.

Destany
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Myrtle - Queen Diva Mommy Cat
April - Little Miss Beauty Pagent
Mina - Professional Kitty Acrobat
Ringo - Brat Extraordonaire

PHMadameAlto Aug 02, 2004 09:03 PM

Have you tried putting a collar with a bell on it? That might help. Hunting is instinctive to cats and there is no way to deter it other than to keep her inside. She is bringing the prey back to you as a token of her affection for you.

You will need to talk to your mom about the fact that the dog got into the mouse and then talk to the vet. The odds are remote that the mouse had rabies, but it is wise to be safe. Your vet will probably recommend a rabies titer if rabies is a problem in your area.

Please ask your mom to consider finding a good home for this cat rather than putting her to sleep. Pets should not be considered "disposable" items.
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

DestanyF Aug 03, 2004 10:02 AM

>>Have you tried putting a collar with a bell on it?
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Myrtle - Queen Diva Mommy Cat
April - Little Miss Beauty Pagent
Mina - Professional Kitty Acrobat
Ringo - Brat Extraordonaire

DestanyF Aug 03, 2004 10:03 AM

That's a great idea! If I ever have that problem, that's what I'll do.

Sorry, don't know what happened to the last post!

Destany
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Myrtle - Queen Diva Mommy Cat
April - Little Miss Beauty Pagent
Mina - Professional Kitty Acrobat
Ringo - Brat Extraordonaire

Astilover Oct 06, 2004 01:00 PM

It is wrong to think that a cat is disposable, especially if the cat is doing as nature tells it to, hunt prey. You would do your cat a big favor by getting it spayed/neurtered and keeping it inside. Cats live longer healthier lives by being indoor cats and that would eliminate the cat getting to birds and mice to bring home for you. If you must get rid of the cat, please find it a good home or take it to a rescue who could place it in a home for you. You have to let your mother know about the dog getting into the mouse in case there is a chance of rabies.

JaimeMarie Aug 04, 2004 01:09 PM

My sister was bit by a mouse when she was 4 yrs old. My mom called the doctor and the vet's office. They both confirmed that the mouse would not have rabies. Because if something with Rabies bit the mouse the mouse would have died.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

animal_lover Aug 05, 2004 06:39 AM

Wow, i never knew about that: if the mouse had rabies, it would have died when it got bit. Thanks for the fact.

ButchNSunny Aug 05, 2004 08:59 AM

Well... not exactly. Rabies is spread when rabid animals bite other animals... So animals don't die as soon as they're bitten. They live a while (maybe a few days) and might have the chance to bite someone else and spread it. Rabies eventually affects the central nervous system, essentially causing it to shut down.

Either way, euthenizing a cat because of its natural behavior is just plain wrong. Do people euthenize babies (humans) for pooping in their diapers? It's what they DO!

Just keep the cat inside and you'll avoid the entire issue. Or if your mom can't handle it, please find this cat a good home.

JaimeMarie Aug 05, 2004 01:21 PM

>>Well... not exactly. Rabies is spread when rabid animals bite other animals... So animals don't die as soon as they're bitten. They live a while (maybe a few days) and might have the chance to bite someone else and spread it. Rabies eventually affects the central nervous system, essentially causing it to shut down.
>>

Not exactly what I was saying. I was saying if something with Rabies bit a mouse. The mouse would die because it's so small. That the animal with rabies would kill it. Not the rabies it self.
Hmmmmm not sure if I am making sense.

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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

ButchNSunny Aug 05, 2004 04:47 PM

Oh, I understand you now... You're saying that if something (anything, basically, rabid or not) bit a mouse the mouse would probably die from the bite, not the rabies.

That makes sense.

I'd say the bigger concern in this matter is the poor "soon-to-be-dead cat." Poor guy. Hopefully they can find him a good home.

animal_lover Aug 05, 2004 06:38 AM

There is no way I am ever going to put another collar on Kitty. I have learned my lesson. Kitty sometimes got her paws stuck in the collar, although we have no idea how. When we even so much as took a baby step toward her to help her, she goes completely pschyco. This is when she is the most dangerous. She hisses, growls, scratches mercilessly, and even attacks people.The last, and final time she got stuck, it got to the point where my sister had to use heavy duty, extra padded gloves to hold the cats claws down, and hold her neck in place so it wouldnt move. I don't think I was more afraid of the cat then when I had to reach below the cats chin to unlatch the collar. That was when my mom first got the idea that it would make her happy if the cat was put to sleep.She doesn't understand how attached I became to kitty as I bottel fed her, watched her crawl up the side of my bed to take her spot beside my head as she fell asleep, etc... Sorry this is sorta long. I just wanted to explain why the collar idea won't work.

animal_lover Aug 05, 2004 06:25 AM

Yes, my cat is spayed. She looked really funny when she came back. I thought that to get your female cat spayed, they only had to take a little part or something. But here in Germany, they took out EVERYTHING. I mean, there was just this big hollowness where she used to have organs. SHe hardly weighed anything when she came back.
I have tried several times to keep her in the house, but I can't stop her. People come in and out of our house all throughout the day. They never look to see if the cat walked out or anytthing. Just yesterday, I told my brother and his friends to close this second door, so that the cat wouldn't be in the hallway to go throught the front door. Well they didn't listen. Usually my cat comes back when I call her, but since my brother is an idiot, he didn't want to tell me that kitty went outside, so she was out for a long time before I found out. Well, kitty ended up spending the night outside for the second time. I couldn't wait around forever until she finally walked home.
My mom doesn't care about the dead animals. I think I know the reason why she hates the cat so much. You see, I'm not really I hugging, kissing person. I will only show affection to my animals, but mainly just my cat. I'll tell kitty I love her before I leave to go to work (just in case something happens to her beofre I get back). When my mom wants me to hug her or say I love you, then I just can't do it. My dad is the same way. I just don't see how she can be so jealous of a cat.
I know this is long, but I want to add just one more thing. I was stunned when kitty brought her first kill home.Before this, kitty ran away from everything; fake toy spiders, bees, beetles,and just about anything else that moved. I was always afraid that if she got lost, she wouldn't survive because she was afraid of mice and everyhting else. So i was sorta happy and proud of her when she showed me what she brought.Sorry this was so long. You have helped me figure out several things. Thanks.

JaimeMarie Aug 05, 2004 01:24 PM

Trying not to be rude but how old are you? Will you be able to move out on your own soon and take your kitty with you?
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

animal_lover Aug 06, 2004 12:52 AM

Its okay: I am about to turn 16. My dad doesn't give a crap about the cat. He is really mean towards animals. He told me that when he was in Afghanistan, he used a granade (i don't know if its spelled right), to blow up some dogs that came near his humvee looking for some food. I cried later that night in my room. I realized that that was when I started seeing the real him. The army has changed him, and not in a good way either.

I'm trying to keep everything low key about kitty's doings. She is mostly out of the house anyway now, she is a wild cat. I would like to tell you all something. Since I started posting about my cat, I have had so much support and ideas, and they've made me decide that my loved cat is not going anywhere near a death-shot. I don't care what I have to do, but I'm not gonna let that happen.

animal_lover Aug 06, 2004 12:54 AM

I forgot to answer the second question. I am taking the cat with me in two years. We will be moving to the states in less than a year. If all goes well, I'll be moving out right after I graduate, and I'll be taking Kitty along with me. I am already saving money for an apartment and college. I am working more toward the apartment first, because I'd like to be settled in before going to school.

JaimeMarie Aug 06, 2004 10:26 AM

Good luck at finding an apartment. Word of advice. Just don't get a dog. I have been having the hardest time finding a place that allows dogs.
What do you want to study in college?
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

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