We all know from childhood that the cat is the main enemy of the mouse. But in real life, not every mouse is ready to catch a mouse. Domesticated animals are often afraid of rodents and do not know what to do with them. And they have no desire to change their usual diet.
Each kitten acquires the skill of catching mice from its mother cat. If she taught him this vital activity, then in the future an adult animal will be able to catch rodents for food without any problems. But such a skill can only be imparted by homeless or village cats who themselves go hunting every day.
Cats have long helped humans in the fight against mice and rats, for which they were held in high esteem in Ancient Egypt and Rus'. It is believed that the ancestors of this animal themselves came to humans, after which they were domesticated, but to this day they have retained their independence.
A well-fed city cat is not inclined to catch, but the hunting instinct lives inside it. Therefore, under favorable circumstances, it may well become a “thunderstorm of mice.” Just before you start learning, there are a few things to consider.
Cat breed
The debate about which cat breeds are better at catching mice continues to this day. In fact, each of them has a hunting instinct, even the most pampered Persian beauty. The simple fact is that some animals manage to train their skill, while others, due to lack of practice, have long lost it. Thus, it is believed that Siamese, Bengal and Siberian cats, British Shorthairs and Maine Coons make good mousecatchers. But still, not every owner will decide on such experiments, because purebred animals require special care and feeding.
The palm belongs to outbred cats, which are often forced to catch mice for the sake of survival. They successfully pass on their hunting skills to the next generations, which is why many summer residents prefer to keep ordinary muroks. Many of them “walk on their own” in search of food, and only come home to sleep. Urban mongrel cats are also not averse to hunting. However, they will not always eat rodents. They much prefer to leave dead mice and rats under doors or hide them in their shoes.
If you want to have a ready-made mousecatcher cat, look for a kitten in the village. Just remember to check your pet's health with a veterinarian.
How to let your cat know what is expected of him
If it is important for the owner for the cat to fulfill its direct natural purpose, it is worth trying to teach it to be a hunter.
Advice from experienced people contains different sequences of actions. The first ones recommend starting with developing a feeling of hunger. By keeping the animal on a “starvation diet” for some time, you can provoke it to go in search of food on its own.
Other experts recommend starting with developing the skills of agility, swiftness, attentiveness and tenacity. When a cat feels strong, she will become interested and want to show it in hunting. For training, you can use an artificial mouse, which you can quietly pull on a string, teasing and captivating the future hunter. You can pick up a live mouse that is not the first freshness, for example, the one that the neighbor’s cat caught.
According to others, the instinct to catch mice should be developed through stimulation. For each mouse caught, the animal should receive some kind of reward (a treat, a favorite pastime, a toy, etc.). Then he will have a natural interest in a process that promises new pleasures.
Finally, the fifth group of “cat experts” is of the opinion that the cat is an extremely intelligent animal. It always understands what is expected of it, but it doesn’t always want to do it. If you praise her, please her in every possible way, celebrate all her good deeds, but at the same time make it clear what is expected of her, she will definitely thank her for her kind attitude with caught living creatures.
Gender of the animal
It is believed that females are more prone to catching mice than males. The fact is that cats have a highly developed sexual instinct, which sometimes prevents them from fulfilling their hunting duties. But the cat, on the contrary, is more inclined to hunt, because She has a nature to feed her offspring in the future. Of course, during estrus, the pet is unlikely to think about mice, but this period does not last long, and soon the cat is ready for exploits again.
In general, animals of both sexes will be able to catch mice, it’s just that males will do it more for fun, and females, even sterilized, will obey the survival instinct.
Cat health
Only healthy and active cats can catch mice. If the animal has undergone castration or sterilization, then its hunting instinct will be preserved, but the desire to stretch its legs and catch a mouse may be very weak. To preserve it, do not overfeed your pet. This will also protect him from various diseases in the future. Encourage your animal to lead an active lifestyle, buy him a sports development complex or walk him more often.
Some summer residents are sure that in order for a cat to catch mice, you need to deny it homemade food. As a result, a hungry animal will be forced to go hunting. But in fact this is a misconception! Well-fed and happy cats also catch and kill mice, they just don’t eat them. But hungry people are often impatient and may not be the most successful hunters, especially if they have not caught rodents before. Denying food can ruin your relationship with your pet: it will get scared and harbor resentment. Therefore, we advise you not to starve your cat, it is cruel. As a last resort, you can slightly limit its diet, but only if the pet is completely healthy.
Why does a cat find no interest in hunting?
The cat, although it is a domestic animal, remains a predator by nature. She must get her food by hunting, for example, by catching mice. However, any instinct must be reinforced in practice, otherwise it fades. If for several generations an animal has not been required to perform this type of activity, it simply loses its natural skills. When a cat's day consists of sleep, balanced and tasty meals, and slow walking around the apartment, she has no need to go hunting. Thus, the first reason is elementary laziness, which develops quickly and for a long time in cats. The look of such animals is slow and calm, their movements are smooth and graceful, and their paws are not strong.
Since the time the industry began to offer healthy cat food, the need to feed live food has disappeared. All nutritional components come from an artificial product with a balanced composition, including separately for kittens. Feed contains vitamins and microelements, biologically active substances, proteins, fats, carbohydrates. This is often enough for the full functioning of the body and a decent appearance. This is reason number two.
Mice health
Catching mice and rats is a definite risk to your cat's health. Rodents are often carriers of various diseases and parasites. In addition, they are often poisoned with poisons, which can lead to the death of the pet. If an animal eats whole rodents, then the likelihood of infection with dangerous diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, etc. increases. Therefore, the health of the mousecatcher must be kept under strict control: timely treatment for fleas and worms, and the necessary vaccinations.
So, we hope you have decided whether to teach your cat to catch mice. If the answer is yes, let's look at how this can be done.
Be prepared for the fact that, despite all your attempts, the animal will remain indifferent to the hunt. Cats have very different personalities and not all are suited to the task at hand.
Popular rat catcher breeds
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As already mentioned, in the matter of choosing an animal for catching rodents, the breed is not the least important. There are a number of felines that are endowed with a strong hunter gene. If we consider purely physical data, they will differ in the above characteristics.
Russian blue
One of the most prominent representatives. The Russian Blue is not one of those who will sit in ambush for hours and watch its prey. She attacks quickly and swiftly, almost always overtaking her target.
Russian Blue has a good upbringing. A cat will rarely allow itself to scratch furniture and wallpaper, or stir up flowers. Representatives of this breed have a good memory. Having learned to hunt once, they will do it constantly.
Siberian cats have good health, well-developed muscles, powerful paws and an elongated neck. Their thick, long fur has a dark, striped color. These are one of the few long-haired representatives that are excellent hunters.
Siberian cats easily and quickly overtake their prey, and their long claws do not allow it to escape. They are very patient and can stalk their prey for hours, waiting for the best moment.
In relationships with people they prefer to maintain a distance. They are not as trusting and attached to humans as other breeds. The Siberian cat easily gets used to any change of environment, therefore, even if the pet is moved to a private house, it will quickly get used to it there.
Important! The Siberian breed does not require special care. A distinctive feature is that they need regular walks in the fresh air (even in winter)
Maine Coon
The Maine Coon is a breed that was originally bred to control rodents and other pests. The main advantage is their size. Such dimensions help to fight even the largest enemy. They are fluffy and come in a wide variety of colors. A characteristic feature of this breed are medium-sized straight ears with a tassel at the tip.
For your information! The most interesting thing is that Maine Coons can get along with domestic rodents (like hamsters), but at the same time catch pests.
Maine Coons do not like confined spaces; they need freedom, a place to play and run. Therefore, it is best to keep such large animals in a private home. It is also worth remembering the special care that representatives of this breed require.
Cymric is not known for its large size. The main difference is that they almost completely lack a tail. This feature resulted from incest. However, such moments do not prevent Cymrik cats from being the best hunters. Experienced breeders recommend keeping representatives of this breed in spacious premises. This is exactly what a private home is, where they can fully realize their potential and splash out their energy.
Despite the lack of a tail, the Cymrik is distinguished by a very agile body and long llamas. The hunter quickly and easily overtakes his prey.
Note! Cymrik has been a rat catcher since birth. Cymric
Representatives of this breed are often confused with yard murziks. According to historical data, the European Shorthair comes from Ancient Rome and even then established itself as an excellent hunter.
The color is silver marbled or gray. They love a lot of space, but can live in a city apartment. Quite unpretentious in care.
Important! They prefer to keep their distance from other animals and children.
Kurilian Bobtail
Representatives of this breed appeared in Russia relatively recently (at the beginning of the 20th century). These animals were brought from the Kuril Islands. Very affectionate and devoted to people. Their character traits are reminiscent of dogs.
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Why are they good hunters? Precisely because of his affection. Even as a kitten, the Kurilian Bobtail tries in every possible way to please its beloved owner. Therefore, it is worth preparing for the fact that all the caught prey will be brought home and demonstratively eaten.
The breed is distinguished by a small tail and body, similar in structure to a lynx. The hind legs are longer and more powerful, which allows them to quickly gain speed when chasing prey.
How to teach a cat to catch mice - step by step instructions
It is best to teach a kitten to catch mice. But you can teach this to an adult cat. The scheme will be approximately the same.
- Catch the mouse yourself and show it to the cat. Give your pet the opportunity to look, smell, and play with the rodent. For the first acquaintance, you can use a dead mouse. It is important that at this stage the cat learns who she will have to deal with in the future.
- Carry out a series of active games with a dummy mouse that is as close as possible to a real rodent. Tie it to a rope and give the cat the opportunity to “hunt”. At the same time, develop your pet’s dexterity, because mice are very sneaky animals. Using bait, train your cat to overcome various obstacles. You can do this in places where you often encounter rodents. Just remember to keep your cat safe.
- Provide your cat with a scratching post so she can keep her claws ready, and regularly provide dry food or large pieces of meat to self-clean her teeth and keep them sharp.
If a cat becomes interested in mice, then perhaps she will soon awaken a desire to catch one of the individuals as a gift for you.
How to make a cat catch mice
Some owners don’t even pay attention to the fact that their pet is constantly catching mice or rats in the house. For others, such an event is almost incredible, given the same number of rodents in the home. It also happens that a cat is terrified of mice. But the main task of the small predator living in the house is to protect a person’s home from rodents, so he needs to be forced to start hunting.
Young cat If the animal is still young enough and simply has not yet had time to gain the necessary experience under the strict guidance of its mother, then the owners will have to invent a kind of game for the pet. Don't put off learning for too long. As soon as possible, you need to buy a special toy made from mouse fur from a pet store. If the cat immediately begins to show interest and hunt her, then you can move on to the second stage. Here you will have to purchase a live mouse or rat. Without feeling the taste of fresh meat as a reward for its own efforts, the cat will not be so eager to watch over a rodent hiding under the floor or in the wall. The mouse is released within sight of the pet, but care should be taken in advance to ensure that it cannot escape. Usually, only one or two procedures with a pre-caught mouse are enough. It is also important to change your diet a little, removing canned food, meat, fish and fatty foods.
Adult cat If there is a need to get mice to catch from an adult cat, then you need to decide which category the animal belongs to: - the animal used to catch mice, but now prefers to ignore it - the animal has never been distinguished by its hunter skills. In the second case, it is almost impossible to get your furry pet to want to hunt mice. To do this, he will need a serious emotional push, but it is impossible for a person to predict what they will become. If the cat used to be an excellent hunter, now you should take a closer look at its diet. Preservatives, large amounts of indigestible and fatty food make the cat feel constantly full and heavy in the stomach, which gradually develops into laziness and various diseases. A hunter is like an athlete. A strict daily routine and proper nutrition are important to him; as soon as his owners provide him with this, they can begin to try giving him a live mouse for training. The animal does not lose its old skills; if it is in suitable shape, then on the very first evening after training it will become a threat to mice in the house.
