Advice & Information

Each month we intend to put a number of popular questions to our vets relating to general pet health and care. Whilst in no way intended to replace a professional diagnosis, we hope that the information and advice provided on these pages are useful. There is also a number of excellent fact sheets created by the Blue Cross pet charity, to the right of this page.

Cat Questions

My cat kills birds and mice, which I find upsetting – is there a way to stop them from doing this?

Cats would prefer, by nature, to be noctural, doing their hunting in the early evening and at night, and then sleeping during most of the day.
Right from a kitten get them used to coming for their tea at teatime and then keeping them indoors until the following morning. Cats can easily go right through the night without using a litter tray but always keep one down just in case.

When they go outside for the first time as kitten it is best to let them out when they are hungry as they will then readily return home when they hear the food bag being shaken. This should also prevent them from going too far away from the house and garden. At night, cars drive faster, cats cannot be seen so easily and the incidence of fights is greater so you will reduce the chances of any accidents as well as reducing their hunting time if you keep them indoors at night. It is also a quieter time to spend with your cat and really get to know them by grooming, playing and interacting with them.

There are collars and bells available which make a noise and give birds and mice a warning but after a while I am sure that cats find a way to hunt without making a sound. These are certainly worth trying in the short term and it may also be worth changing the bell size or shape every 2-3 months.

More Questions:

Aural Haematomas

What is Hyperthyroidism?

Why should I vaccinate my cat?

How often should I have it vaccinated?

What diseases does the vaccination guard against?

What are worms and how can I tell if my cat has them?

Should I use off the shelf worming products from supermarkets?

How can I protect my cat (and home) against fleas?

My cat’s claws are really sharp! Can I trim them?

My cat has fair skin – is it safe for her to be lying in the sun for long periods?

How can I cut down the amount of hairballs my cat suffers with?

At what age should my kitten be vaccinated and neutered/speyed?

My cat kills birds and mice, which I find upsetting – is there a way to stop them from doing this?