Got to stop this cat from bringing home dead things

We have an outdoor cat and in the past month he has totally stepped up his campaign to rid the world of mice, birds, and moles. In the past two days he has brought us 4 things. My roommate is threatening to take him to the ARL. We need to discourage him. Is there a spray we can spritz him with that smells bad but isn't harmful? Water doesn't work, yelling at him doesn't work, putting him back out does nothing, making no recognition at all of his gift does nothing...I too am tired of staggering out in the morning bleary eyed and full bladdered and stepping square on a dead thing, since he loves to leave it right where I have to pass through to get to the bathroom. I've been reading cat behaviour forums and I know why they do it, what it means to them etc and I just need it to stop. I have had so many cats in my life, all outdoor ones, and none of them have ever done it more than once, we always just yelled at them and chased them out and they never did it again.
While I know it is a hot topic, making the cat an indoor cat is NOT an option, we all have different beliefs, please respect mine.

He is doing what cats do; he is providing for his family. As long as you let him outside, you're going to have this problem. There really is no way to curb it unless you build him and enclosed area and even then, there's still the likelihood he'll find things to kill or he becomes an indoor only cat, which you said won't happen. Some cats are more predatory than others and you've got one that's a good hunter!

Your cat is trying to impress you, trying to provide for you, and is very proud of bringing you food for you. It's insulting to a cat to yell at them for doing something that is instinctual to them. Now seeing as you can't bring the cat in for whatever reason that is, and you did try to ignore the offerings... well... If you yell at the cat about trying to provide for you, it perhaps may think you don't like that particular offering. So it tries again and again. Or perhaps you can tell the kitty "good kitty" and then it will think, "Hey I finally did it right!" and stop bringing them to your steps.

The only real solution to this problem is to turn your outdoor cat into an indoor cat. I know you're against it, but that's the only true solution. Then they will stop finding anything larger than a bug to kill and bring to you. But, even if they're an indoor cat, doesn't mean they wouldn't still try to provide for you. My cat Linus would eat the back legs off of grasshoppers and bring them to me. He was so proud of himself, I just told him, "good kitty" and he only did that about a handful or more times, when he realized I wasn't going to eat it, and he was proud of himself, and stopped shortly thereafter. Let's hope this will be the case with your outdoor kitty? Praise the kitty, and then after a while, hopefully it will stop.

Don't really have any other ideas.

I don't believe in outdoor cats for a ton of different reasons, but I also understand that sometimes cats come into our lives that were already outside, and we still have to provide for them. Whether we like it or not, sometimes the adjustments to indoor life are not feasible, but since the cat is on our property we still must provide care for them.

(rereading) You said the cat's an outdoor cat, but you let your cat inside? I'm confused. So this is an indoor/outdoor situation? Perhaps you can get a halter and just take your cat for walks, or make an outdoor enclosure that critters can't get in but then your cat can still experience the outdoors but not be in danger of killing the local wildlife in such mass numbers? Then you're not going against your belief that cats should be allowed outside, your cat won't eat vermin that may have nasty worms and diseases, and you don't have dead animals in your house. Just a thought.

I wish you the best of luck.

One of my kitties goes outside and just about daily, I get a mole on my doorstep. I pet Zoh then promptly put her gift in the trash can outside.

Hunting is in their nature. Boomer was an indoor cat but always used to go in the basement, "hunt" a stuffed animal and bring it to me. It was so funny to see him carrying a stuffed animal in his mouth while doing this odd meow thing.

That gift means alot to the kitty.

Originally Posted by edithtippett

While I know it is a hot topic, making the cat an indoor cat is NOT an option, we all have different beliefs, please respect mine.

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Live with it and learn to look down in the morning. There's no other solution as he will not stop being a cat no matter how much you punish him.

I'm confused... if he's an outdoor cat, why are you stepping on dead things on your way to the bathroom? Like others have said, you won't be able to stop this unless you make him an indoor cat. You can't reprimand away instinctual behavior.

This is just a shot in the dark here, but can you just take the "catch" back outside and try to "show" him where it belongs? Maybe on the outer doorstep? Don't yell, or even pay any attention until the prey is back outside where you want it to be. Then give the cat some attention and praise him for being a good hunter.

It won't work immediately, but perhaps if you keep doing it everytime the cat brings you something, he'll realize where you like to have your gifts delivered.

Why don't people get the concept of a catflap? locking cats indoors is unnatural and locking them them outdoors kind of defeats the purpose of a pet!

Anyway, in answer to your question, the only thing I can think of is getting your cat a loud collar bell, which we did after the horrific experience of finding a maggot-filled bird carcus behind the sofa! That stops their ability to hunt slightly. Also, try getting down to your cat's level and hissing aggressively, as they understand your disapproval more then than shouting. But only do that if you see them come in with the dead thing or are playing with it or they won't connect it to the right action. That tends to stop them for a while.

The only other thing is we shut the kitchen door (where the catflap is) overnight so at least the dead thing is found on lino instead of carpet but that's for other reasons really. I'm sure there's a connection between playing with cat toys and hunting but I'm not sure if it encourages hunting or stops it because they've had their fill for one day so that's not very helpful!

Originally Posted by ellebob

Anyway, in answer to your question, the only thing I can think of is getting your cat a loud collar bell, which we did after the horrific experience of finding a maggot-filled bird carcus behind the sofa! That stops their ability to hunt slightly. !

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Cats have very sensitive hearing and a loud bell hurts their ears. I would never advise someone to put a loud bell on a cat's collar and I wish you would take the bell off your cat's collar.

To the OP "yelling" at your cat is not going to teach him anything except that you have a loud voice that hurts his ears, and he has reason to fear you.

As was said, he is who he is, a hunter, and he is going to hunt.

I like zoeysmom's idea of showing him where you would prefer he leave his gifts. Most cats are smart and want to please. If you show him a few times where the gifts belong, he most likely will start leaving them there, because he knows you will look there. He currently leaves them in the hall because he wants you to find them.

Originally Posted by otto

Cats have very sensitive hearing and a loud bell hurts their ears. I would never advise someone to put a loud bell on a cat's collar and I wish you would take the bell off your cat's collar.

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By 'loud bell' I mean loud for a cat bell, not for humans. It's obviously not that loud, it's designed to be worn around a cat's neck so it's very quiet compared to a normal bell, but it's just enough for birds to get a bit of warning to fly away before they get pounced on!

Originally Posted by ellebob

By 'loud bell' I mean loud for a cat bell, not for humans. It's obviously not that loud, it's designed to be worn around a cat's neck so it's very quiet compared to a normal bell, but it's just enough for birds to get a bit of warning to fly away before they get pounced on!

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In my opinion, bells are designed for humans, not cats, because humans think they are "cute" and bells sell collars.

Cats should not have bells on their collars. In my opinion, it is cruel to force a cat to always hear a jingling in his or her ears.

Originally Posted by otto

In my opinion[/i], it is cruel to force a cat to always hear a jingling in his or her ears.

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In my opinion, it is more cruel not to do anything to stop baby birds getting torn apart. Anyway, my cats aren't shy in telling us their own opinion and we listen to them. Billy decided he didn't like the collar so we took it off. Alfie likes it better than his last one. He likes to use the bell to get our attention because he hasn't got a very strong miaow, especially when he wakes up, so he jingles it with his hand if he can't be bothered to move. It's cute.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Live with it and learn to look down in the morning. There's no other solution as he will not stop being a cat no matter how much you punish him.

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And just be thankfull they are dead mine bring them in alive for indoor entertainment!!!!

Originally Posted by Milk maid

And just be thankfull they are dead mine bring them in alive for indoor entertainment!!!!

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When I was little a family cat left a live gopher in the bathtub. I'll never forget being woke up by my mother screaming at 5 am. That cat would try to bring stuff in occasionally. Pretty much the only solution was to keep her in at night and to make sure people didn't open the door for her when she had prey in her mouth.

Bells are pretty much useless. Maybe rodents will hear them but birds won't pay attention - they won't even move around here when you honk at them. I'm hardly quiet as a cat, yet I can walk up on bird (especially robins) - it's a matter of making sure they don't see you since they won't notice small noises.

I recently adopted a stray cat that was abandoned at our complex and she is an outside and now inside cat.  I have two dogs and a doggie door so she comes and goes at her leisure.  She has brought in so far, bugs, a bird "still alive mind you", a mouse also "still alive" and finally this morning a large dead rat left nicely right by the door in plain sight.  I know why she is doing it,  I actually prefer she leaves them in plain sight so I can dispose of them immediately.  I do not encourage her or punish her.  I simply remove it.  I have made sure she has all her shots including rabies as well as my dogs.  I don't like the idea of her bringing things in, but at least she is consistent and leaves them in the same spot, where I can't help but notice them.  If it's small enough to flush I pick it up with a tissue and do just that.  The large rat from this morning, went immediately in the dumpster.  Point, I'm making here is that, I have taken on the responsibility of her as part of the family and I need to adjust to cat behaviors.  That she is doing this, and I understand why, is that she is showing her affection for me.  I will not scold her for that.  I grew up on a farm, so I think I'm a bit more use to odd things such as this. Do I like finding these things, no, but it goes with having her.  So either I love her and adapt or get rid of her and I'm not going to do the later.  She is family.  

This is an old thread and the original posters may not be around any more.  

I see this is your first post--welcome to TCS!  Please feel free to introduce yourself and your kitty in our New Cats on the Block forum:  http://www.thecatsite.com/f/20/new-cats-on-the-block

What a great hunter u have! So sweet for your cat to take the time and effort to show you how to hunt and provide for you only to be punished by the person s/he is providing for ! Hunting is not easy!  I agree no one wants to step on a dead bird on their way to the BR in the morning but you can't expect any animal to stop a natural instinct .  And punishing your baby is sooooooooo mean and ineffectual as others have mentioned. You are just confusing the cat and damaging your relationship.

There is great advice already on here but I believe one thing was left out. If you refuse to make the cat a 100% indoor cat which is the best advice, or use a bell which is also great, or perhaps allow the cat only to roam in the day which will may cut down on prey, then let the cat be a 100% OUTDOOR cat. This latter option is so much better than you taking the cat to be killed. Ensure you get the cat fixed, provide a warm place to sleep-this winter will be brutal-and provide water and back up food.

BTW my cat is 100% indoor and my happiest moments are before bed as my baby "hunts" one of her toys-usually one with a two foot long wand-and she drags that contraption up a flight of stairs mewing as she goes and drops it at my feet as I ready for bed. I praise her repeatedly "good hunter!" and "eat" my "bird" she hunted for me!     

Again, folks, this is a four year old thread and the original poster hasn't been around in a long time.

Also, please remember to keep it nice--any derogatory comments towards another poster will be edited or deleted.