I have two cats, an 11 year old boy and a kitten who both go outside with me on a harness. I don't walk them, they just hang out in the back yard while I do my gardening. They are very good (at least the adult is excellent - the kitten is learning) about where they are allowed to go, and not go, so I am not as diligent about watching them every second.
I ramble. Sorry.
The question is about my kitten. She brings EVERYTHING into the house and carries it in her mouth ALIVE. I have pulled slugs (ewwww - I've been sliiimmmmed!!!!!!!) from her mouth and beetles, and once, when I forced her mouth open a fly flew out! What is it that she should NOT be allowed to eat/catch? The slug made me want to vomit, and she was desparate to bring it inside. Would she have eaten it or just played with it? Is it safe for her to eat anything she finds outside? This is MY yard and it is kept clean, so I'm not talking about poison. I'm talking about whatever she catches. I know that if she were a real outside cat, she would eat everything, mice, bugs, etc., and have the stomach for it. Plus I wouldn't know about it. But all my cat eats is food I give her - can her tummy handle a slug or beetle? Is it safe? Will the beetle bite her insder her mouth? WHAT ABOUT A BEE???Does she yet know not to eat a bee? I can't bear the thought of a live bee inside her mouth
I got her as a very tiny baby (no mother was around) so I'm not sure if she was taught anything by her mom.
I do love to see her frolic in the grass chasing all of the bugs - real or imaginary. And she'd love to catch that bird or squirrel that torments her. But alas, she is too slow (from being an inside kitty and the harness doesn't help either). Both cats are very patient about the harness. they know that harness = outside and outside = fun! The suffer the indignities of having a harness on them just to be let outside once a day....
And my other cats have absolutely no desire to go outside.
I digress yet again.
So, what critters are my cats allowed to eat outide? Beetles, worms, slugs, flies? What about mosquitos? Do they bite cats? Can she catch/eat them?
I don't want to run to the vet with a half eaten slug in her mouth and have him say to me "What do you THINK they eat?????" i would be mortified.
It's late - after 11 PM here -- I'm very tired --I hope i didn't misspell anything or talk too much. You get the idea of my question, right? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
DonnaMarieNJ
PS - I don't want to kiss my kitty after she had a slug in her mouth - YUCK!!
!!
I ramble. Sorry.
The question is about my kitten. She brings EVERYTHING into the house and carries it in her mouth ALIVE. I have pulled slugs (ewwww - I've been sliiimmmmed!!!!!!!) from her mouth and beetles, and once, when I forced her mouth open a fly flew out! What is it that she should NOT be allowed to eat/catch? The slug made me want to vomit, and she was desparate to bring it inside. Would she have eaten it or just played with it? Is it safe for her to eat anything she finds outside? This is MY yard and it is kept clean, so I'm not talking about poison. I'm talking about whatever she catches. I know that if she were a real outside cat, she would eat everything, mice, bugs, etc., and have the stomach for it. Plus I wouldn't know about it. But all my cat eats is food I give her - can her tummy handle a slug or beetle? Is it safe? Will the beetle bite her insder her mouth? WHAT ABOUT A BEE???Does she yet know not to eat a bee? I can't bear the thought of a live bee inside her mouth
I do love to see her frolic in the grass chasing all of the bugs - real or imaginary. And she'd love to catch that bird or squirrel that torments her. But alas, she is too slow (from being an inside kitty and the harness doesn't help either). Both cats are very patient about the harness. they know that harness = outside and outside = fun! The suffer the indignities of having a harness on them just to be let outside once a day....
And my other cats have absolutely no desire to go outside.
I digress yet again.
So, what critters are my cats allowed to eat outide? Beetles, worms, slugs, flies? What about mosquitos? Do they bite cats? Can she catch/eat them?
I don't want to run to the vet with a half eaten slug in her mouth and have him say to me "What do you THINK they eat?????" i would be mortified.
It's late - after 11 PM here -- I'm very tired --I hope i didn't misspell anything or talk too much. You get the idea of my question, right? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
DonnaMarieNJ
PS - I don't want to kiss my kitty after she had a slug in her mouth - YUCK!!