Riley won't exterminate bugs anymore

Riley is a year and a half old.
Whenever there was a spider in my room, I'd show it to Riley and he'd toy with it and then eat it. He was so handy.
But lately, he hasn't been eradicating insects for us. Yesterday I showed him a big, juicy spider and he just purred and watched it, letting it get away. (Luckily, Maggie dog pawed at it and killed it. Then Riley ate it.)
How come Riley won't do the one chore we ask of him? He used to love bug hunting, but now he won't do it. Why? Does anyone else's cat eat bugs?

Nah, Abby likes to watch them and she only pounces when the bug has vanished. Chynna can't even be bothered to watch them, LOL

Well I can't tell you why your cat dosn't want to eat/kill the bugs but I can tell you one thing. My two lil ones, Zoe and Hailey, love bugs. And like you, when ever i see a bug or spider, i'd bring one of my cats over and show it to them and they have a blast playing with it and at the end of it all eating it up for a little live snack. One time hailey ate a bug, not sure what kind, and the rest of the night she didn't feel very good, but the next day when it passed she was her normal self. But she has yet to eaten that same type of bug. That could be the case with your cat.

Your kitty sounds like my two. They are very choosey about who they will chase and eat. They love to chase house centipedes and squish them...but they'll get bored as soon as they stop moving. They'll chase flies..but again leave them alone if they don't move. The rest of the bugs...they'll just sit and watch, maybe lay down next to...but that's it. I found Lucky once actually trying to cuddle a housefly. Everytime it tried to walk away she would pull it closer with her paw....We had to have a "who is the predator? who is prey?" talk after that one.... lol

Originally Posted by Renny

We had to have a "who is the predator? who is prey?" talk after that one.... lol

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Priceless!

Mine love to eat bugs. I can't stand it. I know that's what kitties do, but I think it's gross. I've taken enough dead bugs away from them that now when they get one, they take off with it before I get a chance to take it away.

Jaffa is a godsend when it comes to daddy long legs. I'm terrified of the things (and thankfully don't get many come indoors) but Jaffa just focuses, leaps and brings them down like it's the easiest thing in the world. Then he eats them. He wont bother with anything that's too small though - the other day I called him to come deal with a spider and he gave me his "dont be stupid - that's not worth the effort" look.

Sometimes Snowball chases bugs and sometimes he doesn't. I'm not sure, but maybe it depends on how the cat happens to be feeling?????

Just wanted to share...
There was a fly in my kitchen that kept landing on the floor this morning and I really had fun watching Snowball trying to pounce on it. He never did catch it!!!

I have one cat who is the best hunter in the world. he will snatch flys out of the air with his paw (no claws even) and eat it. But then my other cat is a horrible hunter! And the funny thing is that he is the head of the household and has all claws! LOL
So I guess it just depends on your cat. Sometimes the first cat won't be interested in hunting even though he's great at it. Maybe it's just a mood thing for them?

Anna Mae

The only thing I can think of is that maybe a little buggy bit him or he got one that tasted really bad.
Mine seem to like moths the best. I found a half chewed one in my bed last week. Presents! Lately we have had grasshoppers and I don't want to even get into how they are treated. Beetles and ladybugs they will play with but they don't like the taste.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Nah, Abby likes to watch them and she only pounces when the bug has vanished.

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Sounds like Riley!

Originally Posted by MyCatsNameIsZoe

One time hailey ate a bug, not sure what kind, and the rest of the night she didn't feel very good, but the next day when it passed she was her normal self. That could be the case with your cat.

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I didn't think of that; yeah maybe Riley ate a bug that didn't agree with him.

Originally Posted by Renny

They are very choosey about who they will chase and eat.

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Yeah that sounds like Riley - he doesn't like playing with earwigs. That is so funny about your cat cuddling the fly!

Originally Posted by kittiLuv

I can't stand it.

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Yeah it's icky. But what's ickier is having a bug run around in your house! I'd rather Riley eat a beetle than have it crawling on the walls!

Originally Posted by urbantigers

Jaffa just focuses, leaps and brings them down

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Aren't cats handy? That's funny he only likes challenging prey, not small bugs.

Originally Posted by Lorie D.

maybe it depends on how the cat happens to be feeling?

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Yeah there are definitely times when Riley is looking for prey and other times when he isn't even interested. That is funny that Snowball couldn't catch the bug. It's fun to watch them try, neh?
Yeah that's a good point - it just depends on the type of cat. Funny there is such a contrast between your two kitties!

Originally Posted by zak&rocky

maybe a little buggy bit him or he got one that tasted really bad.

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Yeah that's possible. Ew! He leaves bits of moth on your bed? That is so icky!