Why do cats eat the mice they kill?

[xFire Angelx]

sorry if this seems off the wall
for the past few months my cat Baby has been catching mice and bringing them home and then eats them... im curious as to why cats do that? anyone know why?

[chico2]

Fire Angel,first,I would not let my cats eat mice,they can get worms and other diseases.
My cats do not eat mice if they catch any outside and also do not kill them,but plays with them,I usually end up rescuing the mice,since my cats are never outside alone
A hungry outdoor cat would probably eat what he catches,it is in their nature after all and hunger is their driving force.
If I were you though,I would pat my cat on the head give him a treat and say"Good Kitty"and remove the mouse,very carefully!

[mom of rotties]

A cat I had about 15 years ago used to bring home baby gophers. She never hurt them but thought of them as a gift. By the end of the season I had 15 gophers living in my garage. They bring them home a presents for the owner.It's sweet but gross at the same time.Another cat I had used to bring home birds, unharmed.Sat on them like a chicken. He was a strange little kitty and I learned quickly how to save birds.But I would definetly take the mice away to much desease(sp) in them little suckers.

[xFire Angelx]

well i was thinking its because hes hungry so i think i will try to get the kitties a different kind of kitty food that they might like better that might get him to stop. i worry so much when i wake up in the morning and see just the intestines of the mouse on my back patio. he only eats the mice he kills nothing else thank god. what would be a good brand of cat food i give them friskies right now and have been for years. seems like its time for a change.

[Luvmypit]

reminds me of a time I woke up to find a dead mouse under the covers with me and blood on my comforter. Ya, that was fun. My old dog Bo had caught him and was nawing on the thing as he snuggled up to me. Threw that comforter out that day.



Fire angel I can bet it probably has nothing to do with being hungry but more about the game of chase and the victory meal that comes with it.

[chico2]

Fire Angel,I also don't think your cat is doing it because he's hungry....my cats will not even bite in to a mouse,but harass it and throw it around :sad:
As for,food Friskies is not a good food,go to a Petsupply store and get them something more nutritious,Nutro Natural is reasonably priced catfood,but there are many others.Also a bit of canned food every day,I have 3 cats and they share 1 small can morning and night,mind you,it might not stop them for being"good cats"and bringing in gifts.

[xFire Angelx]

thank you guys so much for your suggestions.. i will deffinetly go out and find a better cat food and get them some canned food as well hopefully that will help the nasty mouse eating sessions on the patio. but if not ill just have to teach him to dispose of them himself and hose down the patio when hes done. lol

[Lucky Rescue]

One of my last cats used to kill and eat squirrels. He didn't do this because he was hungry, but because he was a predator and the squirrels were prey and he enjoyed it.

Please have your cat checked for tapeworms, which they can get easily from eating wild animals.

If you are feeding Friskies dry food, I agree it's not good. Friskies canned food is okay.