My little smudge is a killer

[lolly2012]

Hello I hope someone may help with this new problem.
The thing is my little smudge who butter wouldnt melt has been on a killing spree I had a complaint from a lady a few doors down saying he is destressing the birds in her garden.
I added a large bell to his collar and hoped this would scare the birds if he went for them. The week before the complaint he brought in a large black bird lucky for the bird it was unharmed and I managed to get smudge to drop him and he flew away out of my bedroom window. But this morning he had a little blue tit and killed it and I also found a headless sparrow in the front garden this morning too.

Is there anything I can do to stop him killing these poor souls. I find it upsetting He is fed plenty and I cant understand why he does it. He is also fighting with other cats doesn't like people except for me and my partner, he wont allow the dogs upstairs he goes for them viciously.
I love him so much but have fell out with him and am ignoring his attempts at attention today to hopefully teach him I don't like his behaviour.


He is due to have his bits off within the next month so, now he goes out ( he used to be a stop at home cat until I moved house ) hopefully the fighting will stop but will it help the birds

thanks in advance for any advice.x

[angieh]

I'm very sorry for the distress your cat is causing you and your neighbours ..... but I have to say that short of keeping him indoors all the time there is no way to stop him killing birds. It is his nature and it's the one thing about the cats that we all love to bits that we'd rather do without. It's particularly distressing during the birds' breeding season.

Having him neutered will hopefully lessen his fighting other cats.

[dandysmom]

It's his nature; nothing at all you can do about it, sorry to say. A skillful hunter can manage to stalk even with a bell. Ignoring him does no good, he is a cat and has no concept of right and wrong; hunting is as natural as breathing to him. Hopefully after neutering he'll bee more of a stay-at-home cat, with less opportunities to hunt.

[Shelley123]

sorry to hear of your problems, i can only add to what angie and Eileen have said. I'm afraid it's in their nature, in his eyes he's doing no wrong.
The bell is a good idea and it may save some birds.

[Hreow]

He won't understand why you're ignoring him - you'd have a few seconds after he's caught a bird to express your displeasure, after that it doesn't work. And even if you do, he'd just make sure you were not there next time.
Please love him as openly as you always have and see if you can make the birds safer by arranging your garden to help them.
RSPB has some advice here. Obviously you can't deter him from your garden - maybe something to help the neighbours if they are amenable.

[Misspurrfect]

I had the same problem with one of my cats. She was a really good hunter and, sorry to say, a collar with bell did no good at all.

I understand that they catch things and bring them back to you as a present to show they love you. It has nothing to do with them not being fed, or being hungry. They think they're being nice. The cat I had caught mice, sparrows, pigeons and once left me a magpie outside the door. They always looked as if they had just gone to sleep. I could tell she didn't understand why I wasn't praising her.

I wish I could come up with some constructive suggestion, but as had been said above, short of keeping her indoors I don't think there's a lot to be done. Try not to be mad with her though, she really will not know why she's in trouble.

[lolly2012]

Thank you for replying
I couldn't stay mad with smudge for long I cant resist his cuddles I still feel sorry for the birds I think that maybe I will lock his flap until after dawn as this is the time when he is bringing the birds back so I will allow him his freedom during the day and keep him as a house cat through the night and early hours that may minimise the amount of birds he is able to catch.

I will see how he goes I guess he is no worse than any other cat

This Is smudge

[dandysmom]

Oh isn't he the handsome fellow! Excellent idea keeping the flap closed at prime hunting time; I should have thought of that! Give him a cuddle from me.

[Kim]

What a gorgeus lad! I agree with Eileen, great idea about keeping the flap locked at prime hunting time. My cats don't hunt birds and small critters anymore, but I understand how distrssing it is, but it is their nature, sadly.

[Netty]

Lolly I have the same problem with Oliver. Although, lately I have noticed, he is not so interested in the birds, as I can see them come down to feed when he is in the garden watching. But, he is bringing 2 voles a day into the house now. Some are dead, some are not!!!! So, all I can say is, maybe Smudge will lose interest as well, eventually. (hopefully)