Gifts from Cat

c.p.w.g.w

So this morning, leaving the house and there was a a mouse dead at the doorstep...Killed by an animal a cat by the looks of it.

Now we do have 2 cats, but don't leave the back garden(still under a year), furthest they've went is the neighbours back garden.

Looks like one of the neighbours cats seems to have left us a gift, has anyone ever seen/heard of it before.

Lady Haywire

It was probably one of your cats OP. Regardless of them being young & not leaving the garden they could have been lucky and caught it by chance. They're at an age where they're testing their hunting skills on anything that moves, be it prey or not.

c.p.w.g.w

Lady Haywire wrote: »

It was probably one of your cats OP. Regardless of them being young & not leaving the garden they could have been lucky and caught it by chance. They're at an age where they're testing their hunting skills on anything that moves, be it prey or not.

But they hadn't been left out yesterday, they aren't left to come and go yet, they are primarily house cats and we leave them out for 60-90 spells every couple of days. And when they are outside i'm normally out in the back or kitchen keeping one eye on them...busy enough road about 150 meters from the front of the house

Lady Haywire

I dunno, it'd just be very odd for a neighbours cat to leave something at another house, especially one that smells of cat. I've seen my lad go out the window and come back in 10/15mins with a mouse so it's entirely possible.

c.p.w.g.w

Lady Haywire wrote: »

I dunno, it'd just be very odd for a neighbours cat to leave something at another house, especially one that smells of cat. I've seen my lad go out the window and come back in 10/15mins with a mouse so it's entirely possible.

One of the Neighbours cats regularly visits my back garden and sits on the window ledge and my male cat will seat on the other side nuzzling the window.

We never leave windows open when the cats are in the room, my OH is very reluctant to leave them get out

Lady Haywire

Ok, was only suggesting what might have happened. But if you're sure it was the neighbours cat that's grand.

c.p.w.g.w

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Ok, was only suggesting what might have happened. But if you're sure it was the neighbours cat that's grand.

Well it definitely wasn't either of my two, but i have never heard of it happening before, found it all very strange. But so is the cat visiting the kitchen window most days

twomonkeys

I think you’ve answered your own question here. Seems like its your neighbours cat. As it comes and sits on your window it obviously treats your house and garden as part of its domain and therefore is leaving gifts on your doorstep. Unusual when its not your cat but its behaviour (sitting on your windowsill) explains it really. Don’t really know what else your trying to ask in this thread?????

Annasopra

You have never heard of dead mice on doorsteps before?

Really?

Yes OP it is very common

Ashbx

OP only a couple of days ago, you said that you got your cats initially after spotting rodent droppings in your house. So im a bit surprised you now suddenly claim that you didn't realise cats hunted for rodents! Was that not the purpose of you getting your two cats?

Anyway, im pretty sure it was probably one of your own. And unfortunately, this is something you may have to deal with from time to time as an owner of an outdoor cat. Sure my dog once brought home a dead mouse so you're not alone!

c.p.w.g.w

Ashbx wrote: »

OP only a couple of days ago, you said that you got your cats initially after spotting rodent droppings in your house. So im a bit surprised you now suddenly claim that you didn't realise cats hunted for rodents! Was that not the purpose of you getting your two cats?

Anyway, im pretty sure it was probably one of your own. And unfortunately, this is something you may have to deal with from time to time as an owner of an outdoor cat. Sure my dog once brought home a dead mouse so you're not alone!

Yes when I bought the house over 11 months ago.

I know cats hunt, but the gift wasn't from either of my two, that's my surprise...Why would a car that isn't mine do such a thing?

The cats are kept inside for the majority of their time and when outside are supervised. Also the days leading up to the gift the cats hadn't been outside.

Windows aren't left open so they can't get out. The rodent issue hasn't reoccurred(in the house) since the cats moved in. But we do have a small rodent problem in the estate due to students bins being left open and over full.

But thankfully no signs in my back garden

twomonkeys

I dont know why you’re still questioning this??? Your neighbours cat is the likely culprit. It’s already been explained to you why thats likely, and that its not that unusual. You’re not witnessing some kind of strange, out of character behaviour....its entirely normal.

jenn1984

Very common occurrence at my house. We let 3 of our cats outside (2 females, 1 male) - one of the females leaves us mice while the other female leaves birds. Squeak (the bird lover) tried to come in the window with a flapping robin still in her mouth yesterday, eventually she decapitated it and left it's remains outside. Nasty but normal.

Lady Haywire

Not to stray from the op's post but I too have a female cat called Squeak who loves birds....is yours a tabby? :pac::D

jenn1984

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Not to stray from the op's post but I too have a female cat called Squeak who loves birds....is yours a tabby? :pac::D

Lol - no she's a tuxedo/black & white cat. She "Eh Ohs" like the Teletubbies so we called her Squeak

BengaLover

Cats will keep a mouse alive for as long as it amuses them. Once the mouse dies they play with it a bit and then lose interest. Sounds like said victim expired on your doorstep..

Alun

BengaLover wrote: »

Cats will keep a mouse alive for as long as it amuses them. Once the mouse dies they play with it a bit and then lose interest. Sounds like said victim expired on your doorstep..

Not necessarily, I've found many a half-eaten mouse in our garden.