Author: Joseph Mercola
By Beth Taylor and Steve Brown
The natural diet of cats is meat.
Cats are meat eaters, designed to thrive on a wide variety of small prey animals, eaten fresh and whole. Their natural diet is high in water and protein, with a moderate amount of fat, and a very low percentage of carbohydrate.
Dry cat food is high in grain.
A diet of dry food is high in carbohydrate, between 35 and 50 percent. "Diet" and "Lite" foods have even more.
Dry food contains almost no water. Dry cat food is convenient to feed, and relatively inexpensive, but it's the opposite of the natural diet of cats. Cats have no dietary need for any carbohydrate.
Cats need to get water from their food.
Cats are descended from feline desert dwellers. They couldn't stroll over to the watering hole for a drink, and cat tongues are not very well designed for drinking water.
Cats are adapted to obtain most of their water from their prey, which contains more than 75 percent water. Cats who eat dry food consume only half the water they need, compared to those that eat wet food, and live in a state of chronic dehydration.
The common health problems of cats are related to diet.
There is increasing evidence, published in peer-reviewed veterinary journals, that many of the health problems seen in cats are the result of diets inappropriate for a feline. Dry, grain-based foods fed to a meat eater, over time, result in both chronic and life-threatening diseases, like these:
Obesity: Since cats are designed for a high-protein, moderate-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, it is not surprising that obesity is often seen in cats. Diet cat foods have even more carbohydrate than regular ones, and less fat, so they depart even further from the natural diet of cats, making it harder for them to lose weight.
Diabetes: The high level of carbohydrate in dry cat food contributes directly to the development of diabetes in cats. Blood sugar levels rise when cats eat dry food. When this is an ongoing event, insulin-producing cells "downregulate," which leads to diabetes.
Kidney disease: Kidney disease is the most common cause of death for cats. The kidneys require an abundant supply of water to do their job. Without water to process the byproducts of the digestion process, the kidneys are overloaded, become damaged over time and unable to do their job.
Bladder Problems: Cystitis, bladder irritation and bladder/kidney stone formation are also strongly connected to dehydration. If the body is well hydrated, these problems are minimized.
Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome and Disease: These problems are often characterized by vomiting and diarrhea and are very common in cats. Cats who eat a species-appropriate diet rarely suffer from these issues.
Dental disease: Dry food has a high sugar (carbohydrate) content, which has been shown to cause dental decay.
For cats to derive any supposed abrasive benefit from dry foods to be seen, they would have to actually chew their dry food. Since dry food shatters in their mouths and they then swallow the pieces, there's no abrasive action from chewing something hard.
Cats who eat dry food often have very severe dental problems. Many factors contribute to dental health, but it is clear that a high-carbohydrate diet is not beneficial!
The Solution: An Appropriate Diet for the Species
It's simple: Cats need to eat a diet that is high in protein and water, with a moderate amount of fat, and almost no carbohydrate.
Most of the health problems we've discussed here are either radically improved or eliminated by eating a diet that meets the needs of a carnivore -- one which closely resembles the nutritional balance provided by a mouse. For example, many veterinarians now treat diabetes in cats with a meat-based canned diet.
We'd like to go a step further, and prevent these diseases.
Feed your cat a meat-based diet!
We suggest you buy canned food that is designed to be complete, or complete frozen diets that have very little vegetable content. No grain sources should be listed in the ingredient panel. There are grain-free canned cat foods that have some vegetables in them, but vegetables should not be a major component (read our article on how to compute these percentages).
"All meat" diets are just that, and they will not meet your cat's nutritional needs alone.
Make the switch successful!
It sounds simple to just switch your cat's food. After all, meat tastes better than dry food, but your cat may disagree. Dry foods are designed to be tasty, and many cats are addicted to them. Often, cats are not open to the idea of variety, especially if they have only been fed one food (as we have been advised by pet food companies for decades). Creativity and patience may be needed to switch your cat.
Cats will starve themselves, and they are not good candidates for the tough love approach. Some very serious conditions can occur if cats do not eat for an extended period, especially if they are overweight. A slow switch will prevent problems.
Here are some ideas to help you along:
Establish regular feeding times and put food away in between meals. For many reasons, it's best for their bodies not to have food available all the time. If you have dogs, you know what to do with leftovers! Feed multiple cats separately.
Consider dry food to be a snack only, not left out all the time. Leave out just a few pieces as a treat. Consider this the equivalent of "kitty junk food."
Offer bits of other kinds of fresh food that you are eating. They may be refused, but one day, they won't. Your goal is to get your cat to consider things as food other than dry, crunchy items.
Cat whiskers are very sensitive. If food is served in a bowl that interferes with whiskers, it could be enough to keep the cat from considering the food. A flat dish works well.
Cats generally prefer their food between room temperature and body temperature. The dry food cats are used to eating is designed to be very smelly. Warming the food releases the flavors and fragrances. Cats choose food by smell, and wet food is a lot less fragrant than a commercial food they have been eating. This is often the reason that the second half of a can of food is refused: The first time it was room temperature!
Trickery has been known to work with cats. Put the food on your plate, or hide it in a location cats know to be forbidden. When in doubt, creativity helps!
Additions and Considerations
Add sardines for good fats, or use fish oil. A meal of sardines once a week or one small sardine a day adds omega-3 fatty acids in their best form-- whole food. Because cats can't use plant sources of omega-3s at all, animal sources are necessary. If sardines aren't appealing to you, use a fresh, high-quality omega-3 fish oil supplemented with vitamin E.
Digestive enzymes and a glandular supplement are good additions to replace the parts of prey animals we normally don't feed cats: The stomach contents and smaller glands.
We think that the optimum diet for cats is a raw meat-based diet. However, if you feed your cat a canned diet that approximates the balance of his or her natural diet, their diet will be fully hydrated, and you will be much closer to providing your cat with optimum nutrition.
If you choose to feed a meat-based canned diet, find a way to simulate components lost in cooking or processing.
One way to add live food is with "cat grass," very popular with cats. It's often available in the produce section at the grocery store, or you can grow your own from a kit. This addition often takes the burden off the house plants! Dry "green stuff" is another choice ("Barley Cat" is one product). It takes a very small quantity of a dry product to do the job. Too much can make urine PH too alkaline, and cause some of the problems you're trying to avoid! Tiny pinches of dry green stuff go a long way.
For cats, good diet can make the difference between "Old Age" at 12 and 23. Cats who eat dry food are often old and feel quite ill at 9 or 10. Healthy cats can live a very long time, and that's what we hope for your feline carnivore!
Contact Steve or Beth for more information at bat31@earthlink.net.
Dr. Mercola's Comment:There is indeed a special relationship that exists between pets and their owners that goes far beyond the sharing of a home together. Our happy-go-lucky, four-legged friends also provide us with constant unconditional love, devotion, friendship and something else that might not be at the forefront of most people's minds -- health benefits.
If you have a dog, I highly recommend you read their excellent book, See Spot Live Longer. Using philosophies similar to my own regarding the importance of nutrition, See Spot Live Longer presents solid evidence that a good diet is just as important for dogs as it is for us. When fed a proper raw diet appropriate for their body, hundreds of people, including veterinarians, have witnessed vast health improvements in their dogs.
Authors Steve Brown and Beth Taylor, both pet health and nutrition experts, provide an all-inclusive argument for feeding your dog a naturally balanced raw meat, bone and vegetable-based diet that provides much higher quality nutrition than any dry or canned dog or cat food. By convincingly covering all the bases, readers will:
Review case studies of dogs and cats with chronic illness that improved after fed a healthy diet of fresh food.
Dispel the myths that are sabotaging your dog's health.
Learn how the ancestral dog's diet compares to the modern diet dogs eat today.
Realize the canine anatomical digest process to better understand why and when our animals are at risk from different types of food and potential toxins.
Find out why dry and canned dog foods may be harming your dog.
Find out what real fresh foods will protect your dog from cancer and other disease.
Discover the importance of exercise and how keeping your dog fit will add years to its life.
Learn practical, cost-effective solutions to feeding your dog better for a longer and healthier life.
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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_16231_54.html
How to Train Your Cat
Author: chip_arm
The most effective cat training is best done early. If you bring home an older cat, start training as soon as possible and hope they didn't scratch much in their previous home. Kitten training is usually easier because kittens have not had much chance to form bad habits. When your cat is still young, he is more open and responsive to training.
To stop your cat from scratching, it helps to understand why they do scratch. Cats do not just scratch to sharpen their nails. They scratch so that they mark their territory. They want to let other cats that might come along know that this area is "taken". They also scratch for exercise, as you'll notice that they always stretch as they scratch. In addition, scratching helps the cats to remove older layers of their nails, so don't panic if you find pieces of nails around the house. This is quite normal.
You can purchase a number of different toys from all pet stores that will allow you to exercise your cats hunting abilities. There are balls that you can roll away from you that your cat can chase. There are even small soft toy mice on the end of a string that allow you to pull the mouse along the floor and again your cat can chase them. Spending at least half an hour playing with your cat in this manner will really help them to get rid of any excess energy.
Reward them for good behavior. Cats are creatures that love rewards and fear punishment. Cats will only do things that they find pleasurable and rewarding to do. Reward your cat for good behavior. Give rewards such as treats, sweet talking or gently stroking the cat to let him know that you approve of the way he is acting.
Never use any form of physical punishment such as hitting or swatting. Physical punishment will not train your cat to stop doing whatever it is doing; it will only train your cat to be afraid of you.
Do not use harsh or bitter tones to reprimand your cat; instead a gentle hug, caress, or a whisper has a longer lasting effect. Your relationship with your cat should be fun, rewarding, playful and interesting. Sometimes this change alone will solve your cat behavior problem. Cats when they are bored are known to become overly active and destructive. By playing with your cat daily and giving him regular relaxing massages can help to calm your kitty down. Cats normally stop using their litterbox when they feel neglected. With regular sessions of attention and play time, even litterbox problems can vanish almost overnight.
Cat´s don´t like water; that is a well known fact. However, any cat can be trained to tolerate a bath. Use the warm water, because a cat´s normal temperature is higher than humans. A hot bath for a human is a normal temperature for cats. If the cat shivers, the water is too cold; if he pants, the water is too hot.Choose a location that has a flat surface, so the cat will feel secure that he can stand easily. Add a towel or rubber mat to the bath surface so the cat won´t slip, creating more panic. Start with just enough water to cover his feet. For the first week, just dunk his feet into the water and immediately pull him out and dry his feet. Then give him plenty of treats and special attention.
As with training any animal, patience and time are going to be needed. Just stick with it and be consistent and you'll soon start seeing the benefits of your cat training efforts. More: http://cat-world.50webs.com
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_208295_54.html
The most effective cat training is best done early. If you bring home an older cat, start training as soon as possible and hope they didn't scratch much in their previous home. Kitten training is usually easier because kittens have not had much chance to form bad habits. When your cat is still young, he is more open and responsive to training.
To stop your cat from scratching, it helps to understand why they do scratch. Cats do not just scratch to sharpen their nails. They scratch so that they mark their territory. They want to let other cats that might come along know that this area is "taken". They also scratch for exercise, as you'll notice that they always stretch as they scratch. In addition, scratching helps the cats to remove older layers of their nails, so don't panic if you find pieces of nails around the house. This is quite normal.
You can purchase a number of different toys from all pet stores that will allow you to exercise your cats hunting abilities. There are balls that you can roll away from you that your cat can chase. There are even small soft toy mice on the end of a string that allow you to pull the mouse along the floor and again your cat can chase them. Spending at least half an hour playing with your cat in this manner will really help them to get rid of any excess energy.
Reward them for good behavior. Cats are creatures that love rewards and fear punishment. Cats will only do things that they find pleasurable and rewarding to do. Reward your cat for good behavior. Give rewards such as treats, sweet talking or gently stroking the cat to let him know that you approve of the way he is acting.
Never use any form of physical punishment such as hitting or swatting. Physical punishment will not train your cat to stop doing whatever it is doing; it will only train your cat to be afraid of you.
Do not use harsh or bitter tones to reprimand your cat; instead a gentle hug, caress, or a whisper has a longer lasting effect. Your relationship with your cat should be fun, rewarding, playful and interesting. Sometimes this change alone will solve your cat behavior problem. Cats when they are bored are known to become overly active and destructive. By playing with your cat daily and giving him regular relaxing massages can help to calm your kitty down. Cats normally stop using their litterbox when they feel neglected. With regular sessions of attention and play time, even litterbox problems can vanish almost overnight.
Cat´s don´t like water; that is a well known fact. However, any cat can be trained to tolerate a bath. Use the warm water, because a cat´s normal temperature is higher than humans. A hot bath for a human is a normal temperature for cats. If the cat shivers, the water is too cold; if he pants, the water is too hot.Choose a location that has a flat surface, so the cat will feel secure that he can stand easily. Add a towel or rubber mat to the bath surface so the cat won´t slip, creating more panic. Start with just enough water to cover his feet. For the first week, just dunk his feet into the water and immediately pull him out and dry his feet. Then give him plenty of treats and special attention.
As with training any animal, patience and time are going to be needed. Just stick with it and be consistent and you'll soon start seeing the benefits of your cat training efforts. More: http://cat-world.50webs.com
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_208295_54.html
How To Tell If Your Cat Has Fleas
Author: Rona Limsy
If you notice something blackish and small crawling around your cat's fur, you are probably right to suspect that they are cat fleas. When cat fleas strike, they can mean big trouble and it’s important to get rid of cat fleas quickly and thoroughly. A flea infestation of your home can happen in no time at all as the fleas lay eggs on carpeting. A cat flea treatment often isn’t enough and you’ll have to deep clean your whole home.
It is quite easy to notice the presence of cat fleas. Your cat may be scratching very frequently and more intensely than normal. You or your family may have red itchy spots on your ankles or stomach as well.
Comb your cat's fur near its tail and you will find small bits of dead fur and blackish dirt. This is the excrement of fleas. To test, tap the hair and dirt onto a white piece of paper and sprinkle over with water. If the little bits of crumbling, dark stuff dissolve into what looks like blood, you can be sure it is definitely a case of cat fleas. You might even notice the tiny black insects crawling or leaping about. It is critical that you send your cat for a flea treatment immediately, as you need to get rid of cat flea problems as fast as you can.
Your vet will be able to offer easy solutions for cat flea treatment. "Advantage" is one product that will help get rid of the cat flea problem without having to give your cat a bath in insecticidal solutions (also available at your veterinarian). The Advantage cat flea treatment is a spot-on treatment. The pet owner places a drop of the solution onto your cat's skin in between its shoulder blades. Reapply at scheduled intervals to ensure that all fleas are killed. That’s it! "Frontline" is another popular choice for spot-on treatments.
Natural options for cat flea treatment exist as well. However, these are far more painstaking than spot-on treatments. Washing your pet with 1 - 2 rounds of soapy water and then combing (once it is dry) with a fine-toothed flea comb can help get rid of cat flea eggs, larvae and mature insects from your cat's fur. You’ll probably have to comb your cat every night for several in order for the cat flea treatment to be effective. Wiping a lemon-juice repellent on your cat's fur can help to remove any cat flea hitchhikers on your kitty, though you’ll still have to remove the eggs and larvae by hand.
Whichever treatment you choose, for the cat flea treatment to be effective, you’ll need to thoroughly vacuum your home and steam-clean all upholstery as well. Wash all bedding, throws, or blankets the cat is in contact with in hot, soapy water. Secure the vacuum bag in a plastic bag before throwing it into the outside garbage bin.
Prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can try these natural remedies to get rid of cat flea worries before the pests invade your pet. Feed your cat garlic in its meal and add a dash of apple cider vinegar to its water. If it doesn't want to drink it, then just use the apple cider vinegar as a spray to deter fleas by misting your pet every now and then.
To get cat care information, click http://www.My-Pet-Cat-Page.com
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_143299_54.html
If you notice something blackish and small crawling around your cat's fur, you are probably right to suspect that they are cat fleas. When cat fleas strike, they can mean big trouble and it’s important to get rid of cat fleas quickly and thoroughly. A flea infestation of your home can happen in no time at all as the fleas lay eggs on carpeting. A cat flea treatment often isn’t enough and you’ll have to deep clean your whole home.
It is quite easy to notice the presence of cat fleas. Your cat may be scratching very frequently and more intensely than normal. You or your family may have red itchy spots on your ankles or stomach as well.
Comb your cat's fur near its tail and you will find small bits of dead fur and blackish dirt. This is the excrement of fleas. To test, tap the hair and dirt onto a white piece of paper and sprinkle over with water. If the little bits of crumbling, dark stuff dissolve into what looks like blood, you can be sure it is definitely a case of cat fleas. You might even notice the tiny black insects crawling or leaping about. It is critical that you send your cat for a flea treatment immediately, as you need to get rid of cat flea problems as fast as you can.
Your vet will be able to offer easy solutions for cat flea treatment. "Advantage" is one product that will help get rid of the cat flea problem without having to give your cat a bath in insecticidal solutions (also available at your veterinarian). The Advantage cat flea treatment is a spot-on treatment. The pet owner places a drop of the solution onto your cat's skin in between its shoulder blades. Reapply at scheduled intervals to ensure that all fleas are killed. That’s it! "Frontline" is another popular choice for spot-on treatments.
Natural options for cat flea treatment exist as well. However, these are far more painstaking than spot-on treatments. Washing your pet with 1 - 2 rounds of soapy water and then combing (once it is dry) with a fine-toothed flea comb can help get rid of cat flea eggs, larvae and mature insects from your cat's fur. You’ll probably have to comb your cat every night for several in order for the cat flea treatment to be effective. Wiping a lemon-juice repellent on your cat's fur can help to remove any cat flea hitchhikers on your kitty, though you’ll still have to remove the eggs and larvae by hand.
Whichever treatment you choose, for the cat flea treatment to be effective, you’ll need to thoroughly vacuum your home and steam-clean all upholstery as well. Wash all bedding, throws, or blankets the cat is in contact with in hot, soapy water. Secure the vacuum bag in a plastic bag before throwing it into the outside garbage bin.
Prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can try these natural remedies to get rid of cat flea worries before the pests invade your pet. Feed your cat garlic in its meal and add a dash of apple cider vinegar to its water. If it doesn't want to drink it, then just use the apple cider vinegar as a spray to deter fleas by misting your pet every now and then.
To get cat care information, click http://www.My-Pet-Cat-Page.com
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_143299_54.html
Keeping Cats Out Of Your Garden
Author: Andi B.
Your first line of defense when keeping cats out of your garden is to make sure that you have your boundaries secure. If there are any gaps in your fence, you should make sure that you block them to prevent any low access. Cats are very agile animals, and can jump very high. Normally they can jump a fence, which is why you should also invest in string or taut wire across the top.
If a cat has made his way into your garden, it may be hard to get him out. Most people choose to use dogs, simply because dogs are known to dislike cats. There are several dog breeds out there that completely dislike cats, such as pit bulls and Dobermans. Cats are completely fearful of these breeds, and will flee if they see them around.
All cats are known to despise water as well. If you spot a cat in your garden, water almost always gets him out. All it takes is a bucket of water or a well aimed squirt with a garden hose to make him run away. After you have hit the cat with water several times, he should get the hint not to come back anymore. If he comes back, simply squirt him or throw more water on him until he gets the idea.
Protecting your plants is a different story. Mothballs are said to be very effective, as cats don’t like the smell. You can use mothballs around your plants, garden borders, or even along the fence. There are other repellents that you can use as well, such as cayenne peppers, tobacco, lavender oil, citronella oil, mustard oil, and even lemon grass oil.
If you visit your local hardware or lawn store, you can find motion activated sprinklers. They work great in keeping cats out of your garden. Once you install the sprinkler system and a cat comes into the area, the detector will pick up the cat’s presence and immediately shoot out a jet of water that will douse the cat. In most cases, all it takes is a few times of exposure to the sprinkler before a cat learns to stay out of that area.
Sound devices that feature high frequencies are also a great way to scare off cats, although they aren’t annoying to humans. You can find several different models, such as those that stay on all the time, and those that are motion detected. To use this type of device, you’ll need to make sure that the model you have is strong enough to cover the entire area. If you model you are using is strong enough to cover your entire garden, it should suffice in scaring off any unwanted animals.
You can also use commercial repellents as well. Commercial repellents use scents to keep cats away, and shouldn’t be used near any food crops. Due to their high chemical content, commercial repellents can pollute your crops. You can find them at your local department store, with several varieties to choose from, many of which will fend off other animals from your garden as well.
If you have a garden, it can be very annoying if cats and other animals decide to make your garden their home. If you stick to your guns and do your part, you can prevent them from bothering your garden or your crops. Once you have secured your boundaries around the garden, you should try using water first. If water doesn’t seem to work, you can look into another method, such as commercial repellents.
Article by Dog-and-Cat-Training.com
Visit http://www.dog-and-cat-training.com/cat-training/ for more cat training articles, over 100 dog and cat tips, and more!
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_145804_54.html
Your first line of defense when keeping cats out of your garden is to make sure that you have your boundaries secure. If there are any gaps in your fence, you should make sure that you block them to prevent any low access. Cats are very agile animals, and can jump very high. Normally they can jump a fence, which is why you should also invest in string or taut wire across the top.
If a cat has made his way into your garden, it may be hard to get him out. Most people choose to use dogs, simply because dogs are known to dislike cats. There are several dog breeds out there that completely dislike cats, such as pit bulls and Dobermans. Cats are completely fearful of these breeds, and will flee if they see them around.
All cats are known to despise water as well. If you spot a cat in your garden, water almost always gets him out. All it takes is a bucket of water or a well aimed squirt with a garden hose to make him run away. After you have hit the cat with water several times, he should get the hint not to come back anymore. If he comes back, simply squirt him or throw more water on him until he gets the idea.
Protecting your plants is a different story. Mothballs are said to be very effective, as cats don’t like the smell. You can use mothballs around your plants, garden borders, or even along the fence. There are other repellents that you can use as well, such as cayenne peppers, tobacco, lavender oil, citronella oil, mustard oil, and even lemon grass oil.
If you visit your local hardware or lawn store, you can find motion activated sprinklers. They work great in keeping cats out of your garden. Once you install the sprinkler system and a cat comes into the area, the detector will pick up the cat’s presence and immediately shoot out a jet of water that will douse the cat. In most cases, all it takes is a few times of exposure to the sprinkler before a cat learns to stay out of that area.
Sound devices that feature high frequencies are also a great way to scare off cats, although they aren’t annoying to humans. You can find several different models, such as those that stay on all the time, and those that are motion detected. To use this type of device, you’ll need to make sure that the model you have is strong enough to cover the entire area. If you model you are using is strong enough to cover your entire garden, it should suffice in scaring off any unwanted animals.
You can also use commercial repellents as well. Commercial repellents use scents to keep cats away, and shouldn’t be used near any food crops. Due to their high chemical content, commercial repellents can pollute your crops. You can find them at your local department store, with several varieties to choose from, many of which will fend off other animals from your garden as well.
If you have a garden, it can be very annoying if cats and other animals decide to make your garden their home. If you stick to your guns and do your part, you can prevent them from bothering your garden or your crops. Once you have secured your boundaries around the garden, you should try using water first. If water doesn’t seem to work, you can look into another method, such as commercial repellents.
Article by Dog-and-Cat-Training.com
Visit http://www.dog-and-cat-training.com/cat-training/ for more cat training articles, over 100 dog and cat tips, and more!
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Why Does My Cat Bring Home Her Prey?
Author: Larry Chamberlain
Have you ever had the nasty experience of finding some poor little dead creature slap-bang in the middle of your kitchen floor? Or, worse yet, has your 'oh so innocent looking cat' dropped a mutilated prey right at your feet and acted as if you should be pleased about it?
If things like the above have happened to you, you must have wondered why your cat does that. After all you feed her, and feed her well, don't you? So why does she feel the need to hunt wildlife, let alone bring the corpses or injured but still living creatures back home?
A well cared for domestic cat does not hunt through hunger. Just because she does not have the need to hunt doesn't mean that she doesn't have the instinct. Cats are predators. When cats first moved in with humans thousands of years ago it was because of their proficient hunting skills. The cats learnt that where there were humans there were also rodents. The humans learnt just how accomplished cats are at catching and killing, thereby keeping the rodent population down. It was to be many years later that felines became thought of as pets and were kept primarily for their companionship.
"So OK, cats are natural born hunters, but why do they have to bring their catch home?"
There is more than one theory on this, but the most likely explanation is that your cat views you as an incompetent kitten who needs schooling in the ways of hunting. Spayed females are the most likely to bring home their catch. Kitty may be deprived of the ability to reproduce, but she does retain maternal instincts it seems.
"So she thinks I need to learn to go out and hunt food. But why does she bring back half-dead mice and other creatures?"
Usually the first catch a mother cat brings to her kittens will be dead. She will eat the prey in front of the kittens - this is food, and this is how you eat it. Then mom moves on to bringing home prey that she has injured and mangled. She will finish off her catch in front of her kittens - this is prey, and this is how you kill it. Finally she will start to bring home captured but unharmed creatures. Mom will let the prey go in front of her young ones and demonstrate to them how she stalks, pounces and catches - this is prey, and this is what you have to do before you can kill it and eat it.
"Well OK, my cat thinks that it is not enough that I know how to use a can opener, she thinks I should know how to hunt. It's nice of her to look after my interest but dead, half eaten or mutilated little animals disgust me. And I don't like her killing wildlife especially birds. How can I stop her?"
You can't take away her hunting instinct. Punishing her in any way would be futile. Even showing your distaste at her activities will probably confuse her, she has done you a service and you are unhappy about it!
Cats will hunt. Some more successfully than others but they will do it. The only way you can prevent them from hunting wildlife is to keep them indoors. If you prefer your cat to enjoy the outdoors fitting her out with a bell (attached to a breakaway collar for your cat's safety,) will go a long way in preventing her destroying wild birds.
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Have you ever had the nasty experience of finding some poor little dead creature slap-bang in the middle of your kitchen floor? Or, worse yet, has your 'oh so innocent looking cat' dropped a mutilated prey right at your feet and acted as if you should be pleased about it?
If things like the above have happened to you, you must have wondered why your cat does that. After all you feed her, and feed her well, don't you? So why does she feel the need to hunt wildlife, let alone bring the corpses or injured but still living creatures back home?
A well cared for domestic cat does not hunt through hunger. Just because she does not have the need to hunt doesn't mean that she doesn't have the instinct. Cats are predators. When cats first moved in with humans thousands of years ago it was because of their proficient hunting skills. The cats learnt that where there were humans there were also rodents. The humans learnt just how accomplished cats are at catching and killing, thereby keeping the rodent population down. It was to be many years later that felines became thought of as pets and were kept primarily for their companionship.
"So OK, cats are natural born hunters, but why do they have to bring their catch home?"
There is more than one theory on this, but the most likely explanation is that your cat views you as an incompetent kitten who needs schooling in the ways of hunting. Spayed females are the most likely to bring home their catch. Kitty may be deprived of the ability to reproduce, but she does retain maternal instincts it seems.
"So she thinks I need to learn to go out and hunt food. But why does she bring back half-dead mice and other creatures?"
Usually the first catch a mother cat brings to her kittens will be dead. She will eat the prey in front of the kittens - this is food, and this is how you eat it. Then mom moves on to bringing home prey that she has injured and mangled. She will finish off her catch in front of her kittens - this is prey, and this is how you kill it. Finally she will start to bring home captured but unharmed creatures. Mom will let the prey go in front of her young ones and demonstrate to them how she stalks, pounces and catches - this is prey, and this is what you have to do before you can kill it and eat it.
"Well OK, my cat thinks that it is not enough that I know how to use a can opener, she thinks I should know how to hunt. It's nice of her to look after my interest but dead, half eaten or mutilated little animals disgust me. And I don't like her killing wildlife especially birds. How can I stop her?"
You can't take away her hunting instinct. Punishing her in any way would be futile. Even showing your distaste at her activities will probably confuse her, she has done you a service and you are unhappy about it!
Cats will hunt. Some more successfully than others but they will do it. The only way you can prevent them from hunting wildlife is to keep them indoors. If you prefer your cat to enjoy the outdoors fitting her out with a bell (attached to a breakaway collar for your cat's safety,) will go a long way in preventing her destroying wild birds.
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