Cats infected with toxoplasmosis often show no symptoms. In rare cases, cats develop lethargy, gastrointestinal problems, or even respiratory problems. Many cats will remain silent carriers their entire lives.
People can become infected with toxoplasmosis after handling cat litter containing the parasite and accidentally ingesting the microscopic cysts. They can also get it from eating contaminated meat.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in humans include fever, headache, lethargy and muscle pain. Toxoplasmosis may not actually cause any symptoms in people.
Warning: However, it can cause serious complications in pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
Intestinal parasites in cats
Many rodents are infected with common intestinal parasites such as roundworms. Intestinal parasites can cause diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss. Some intestinal parasites can be transmitted to other pets or people in the home.
If your cat goes outside or is known to have parasites, routine fecal testing for intestinal parasites is recommended. Your veterinarian may prescribe antiparasitic medications to deworm your cat. In addition, your cat will receive monthly heartworm and flea prevention with each dose.
The fun process of catching rodents
This cute, fluffy, affectionate creature is a natural enemy of field mice, house mice, and rats. Pests cannot even stand the smell of cats; they avoid their property and fear for their lives.
In cats, the huntress instinct is genetically embedded. Even when well-fed, she will not miss the moment to chase a mouse that suddenly appears. The process itself gives pleasure - to catch, not to miss. But whether to kill, eat or not depends on other factors.
Interesting!
A study was conducted in the USA. They crossed purebred cats and yard cats with one cat. The kittens were swapped after they were born. Purebred cats were raised by yard cats. As a result, it turned out that everyone had developed hunting skills. Mothers regularly brought small rodents to their kittens. But further actions were different. The yard worker killed in cold blood, showed how it should be done to the kittens, and gave them to them to eat. The thoroughbred was limited to playing. The conclusion followed was that in order for kittens to start catching mice and eating them, an example is needed. Instinct alone is not enough; skills are also required.
Plague bacteria in cats
Some rodents carry plague, an infection caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. 4 These are essentially the same bacteria that caused the infamous “Black Plague” of the Middle Ages. Plague is often spread by fleas, but cats can become infected by eating the meat of infected animals (often small mammals).
Cats infected with Yersinia pestis may experience lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, muscle soreness, and fever. The cat may develop swollen lymph nodes, lesions in the mouth, and weight loss.
Treatment includes the use of antibiotics and supportive care. The sooner treatment can be started, the higher the chances of survival.
People rarely become infected with the plague. When they do become infected, it is usually through a flea bite. Symptoms and treatment are relatively similar to those in cats.
Why do cats eat mice?
Hunting and eating tailed rodents is not only satisfying the hunting instinct, but also maintaining the cat’s health, which he is trying to ensure for himself at a natural level. The fact is that the brain of mice contains a large amount of taurine, which is vital for cats. This substance plays a huge role for the animal:
- regulates the operation of the central system;
- forms strong immunity;
- normalizes the process of blood clotting, preventing the opening of internal bleeding and promoting rapid healing of wounds;
- maintains the functioning of the reproductive system at the proper level;
- is a strong antioxidant that cleanses the body;
- facilitates contraction of the heart muscle, replenishing the necessary calcium concentration.
If the level of taurine in the body drops as a result of insufficient intake from food, the animal may develop heart and vascular diseases, as well as neurological disorders. When a cat suddenly starts catching and eating mice, this is a signal for its owner that it is necessary to reconsider its diet and introduce foods enriched with taurine into the diet.
Other elements necessary for a cat - sulfonic acids, which include methionine, cystine and cysteine, are found in mouse skin. These sulfonic acids are necessary to maintain the normal condition and thickness of the cat's coat. If a cat eats a mouse along with its skin and fur, it means that it is experiencing a shortage of these elements.
Hantavirus infections
Several species of rodents are known to carry hantavirus. Cats can be infected with hantavirus but do not show any symptoms, so the virus is not harmful to them. Additionally, cats cannot transmit hantavirus to humans.
However, humans can be exposed through contact with infected rodents. 6 Although serious complications caused by hantavirus are uncommon in humans, exposure can lead to a serious illness called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic diseases of cats. This infection is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis can affect many animals, including humans. However, the cat is an ideal host for Toxoplasma gondii because it is the only animal in which this microscopic parasite can complete its life cycle.
Cats become infected with Toxoplasma gondii by ingesting cysts of this parasite. This most often occurs when cats eat mice or rats infected with the parasite. However, they can also ingest it while grooming themselves after coming into contact with contaminated soil or feces.
Cats infected with toxoplasmosis often show no symptoms. In rare cases, cats develop lethargy, gastrointestinal problems, or even respiratory problems. Many cats will remain silent carriers their entire lives.
People can become infected with toxoplasmosis after handling cat litter containing the parasite and accidentally ingesting the microscopic cysts. They can also get it from eating contaminated meat.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in humans include fever, headache, lethargy and muscle pain. Toxoplasmosis may not actually cause any symptoms in people.
Warning: However, it can cause serious complications in pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
Toxicity of rodenticides
Rodenticide is very toxic to cats. 7 Cats can eat rat poison placed in and around the house. Most often, cats become infected after fully or partially eating a rodent that has ingested rat poison. There are several types of rat poison, so symptoms and treatment may vary. Exposure to rodenticides is very dangerous even in small quantities.
Rodenticides can cause symptoms such as lethargy, gastrointestinal upset, pale gums, drunkenness, seizures, and more. If you suspect your cat has been exposed to rat poison, contact your veterinarian immediately. Aggressive treatment is often necessary.
Safety regulations
If your pet lives in a private house where there are mice, and the likelihood of eating rodents is high, certain safety rules must be followed. First of all, this concerns vaccinating your pet against various infectious diseases transmitted by rodents. Vaccination should not be a one-time event. To protect your cat, it is important to follow the vaccination schedule and regularly take your animal for vaccinations.
The second safety rule concerns the use of various chemical agents to combat mice. Eating poisoned mouse meat, as already indicated, can result in severe poisoning and death for the cat.
If a cat actively demonstrates its hunting instinct towards rodents, it is prohibited to use poison with heavy chemical components. It's better to set mousetraps. They may not be as effective as spilled poison, but with mousetraps you don’t have to worry about the health and life of your pet.
Main breeds of rat catchers
Independent hunters are representatives of the Russian Blue breed. They become attached to only one owner, whom they are ready to protect from rodents. Athletic athletes - Chartreux cats - have a beautiful athletic physique, which helps in catching rats and mice.
Maine Coon
This ratcatcher cat is the largest breed; it is an intelligent and selective animal - a good hunter. The Maine Coon reacts with lightning speed to a rodent, and its powerful body and dexterous movements leave no chance for rats and mice. At the same time, he is a sweet and gentle creature who will purr with pleasure in his owner’s ear.
Siberian
The Siberian cat rarely becomes attached to humans, perhaps it has the “wild” blood of its ancestors. This balanced and powerful animal is considered the best rat hunter. Freedom is very important for an obstinate pet; the cat wants to walk outside from time to time. The Siberian cat is capable of developing great speed in running and jumping well. In addition, the animal has an excellent reaction.
European
The cat was common in ancient Rome. She copes well with the duties of a rat catcher. Each representative of this breed is an individual. The animal has a silver marbled or gray color.
Kurilian Bobtail
The animal was brought to us from the Kuril Islands. By their nature, the fluffies of this breed are similar to dogs. The little kitten quickly becomes attached to its owner and tries to take care of him.
Cats can not only deal with a rat, but also drive away a small dog that has entered their territory.
The Kurilian Bobtail has a small tail. The cat has elongated and powerful hind limbs, which allow him to jump and develop great speed while running. The Bobtail can cope with any rat's home.
Siamese
Humans have nothing to do with the breeding of this breed. Siamese cats are fast and graceful. They have a very well developed hunting instinct.
Reasons for behavior
Most often, owners who let their pet outside the premises are faced with the fact that a corpse or half the carcass of a bird or mouse appears in an apartment, country house or dacha. Often, potential cat prey will wander into a city apartment and, having been caught by a furry homebody, will appear on the rug, on the floor, or even in the owner’s bed.
Having discovered a trophy that is valuable from the pet’s point of view in his home, the owner, as a rule, is interested in why cats bring their prey to their owners. There are many guesses about this phenomenon, including incorrect ones.
Some owners mistakenly believe that in this way the pet expresses gratitude for the good attitude towards him, a well-fed and calm life. Others naively believe that signs of attention in the form of the carcass of a caught mouse are a manifestation of love and care for the owner on the part of the cat. However, such explanations do not fully correspond to the motives that prompt the animal to carry a bird or rodent that was caught with difficulty into the owner’s house.
To understand this issue, you must first understand why a well-fed and satisfied pet goes hunting, what prompts the animal to chase a gray mouse with a full bowl of treats?
I bring everything I own home
Of course, the reason for the hunting passion of furry beauties is a strong natural instinct. It is he who pushes even a well-fed domestic cat to an ancient activity - hunting. Being representatives of a large cat family, the pets living with us have not lost the skills of a successful hunter over the centuries of domestication. That is why, even if the bowl is full of the most delicious meat, a domestic cat will not miss the opportunity to hunt a bird or rodent.
The reason that motivates a cat to share its prey with its owner is also based on the instincts laid down by Mother Nature. Zoological scientists put forward several explanations for this behavior of animals, based on scientific data - zoopsychology.
According to one version, the cat, being a territorial animal, is highly dependent on the environment and the room where it grew up and is constantly located. In modern conditions, for a pet, this territory is an apartment, a country house in which it lives. The reason that prompts the animal to bring its prey into the house is often precisely the territorial instinct.
The animal feels that in an alien environment (on the street, in a park, in a garden) the prey can be lost, so it tries to take its trophy to a safe territory that is familiar to it. Being well-fed, not every cat will eat a rodent. Many animals limit themselves only to the excitement of hunting and bring prey to their home.
A killed trophy located on the territory is regarded as a kind of mark for potential enemies. The animal thus shows that this space belongs to it, and all enemies will suffer the fate of prey.
Gift for a friend
Another version of zoologists about why cats bring prey to their owner sounds no less plausible. According to scientists, this behavior of furry pets is due to the fact that a person is the owner, the master, and is perceived by many individuals as a relative.
In the wild, representatives of the cat family often live in families - prides, where there are several mothers raising children. Other members in such a family hunt and bring prey to nursing cats. Owners often become eyewitnesses when a cat father brings a mouse or a bird to a new mother with kittens.
When a cat shares its trophy with its owner, it demonstrates one of the models of such a cat family. According to the pet, the owner is not able to obtain adequate food for himself, and she takes upon herself the responsibility of supplying the family member with provisions.
We recommend reading about why a cat shits on the bed. You will learn about the main reasons for this behavior, the group of animals that most often do this kind of mischief, and methods of influencing a cat. And here is more information about how to stop a cat from tearing up furniture and wallpaper.
Home owner
Do not forget that cats become attached not to the owner, but to the place. In order to show who is boss, they often bring home prey and place it throughout the territory. This is how the cat proves that this territory belongs to her and she can protect it at any time.
Help from mom
One of the reasons why a cat brings mice to its owner is the manifestation of maternal instinct. Especially often the owner is “treated” to his trophy by females with developed maternal feelings. In this case, the animal perceives the person as an object in need of care.
You can often observe the following picture: a cat not only brought a half-dead mouse into the house, but is also trying to “teach” its stupid owner how to hunt it. In this case, the caught prey is regarded as a “teaching tool” for a careless family member who does not know how to catch normal food.
This phenomenon is typical for both unsterilized cats and operated animals. Unable to realize their maternal program, sterilized pets turn all their energy, attention and love to the owner.
Trophy
Some animals bring in prey for collection. Their natural instinct is satisfied, the rodent is caught, the prey is at the mercy of the predator. But why eat it if the house is full of all kinds of delicious things? Let the mouse lie down for a while and then run about its business.
Token of gratitude
Many zoologists and experts in the field of animal psychology believe that the demonstration of hunting achievements in the form of mice, birds and other living creatures brought into the house or even onto the owner’s bed is associated with a feeling of the need to confirm one’s importance for the owner. The pet expresses its gratitude for the food provided to it in such an extravagant way, from the human point of view, and shares its trophy.
The ambiguity of the scientific interpretation of animals demonstrating their hunting victories indicates the versatility of behavioral instincts in cats. The owner’s task is to observe, be attentive and take an interest in the lives of his furry beauties.
To learn why cats carry their prey home, watch this video:
How to react to the owner
Having understood the reasons why the cat brings mice to the owner, it is necessary to develop the correct behavior in such a situation. First of all, you should not scold or show negative emotions at the sight of a dead bird or mouse, as if
the spectacle did not look terrible.
If a pet, which had the best intentions of feeding or teaching its owner to hunt, is scolded, punished or shown displeasure, this can cause a feeling of mistrust and alienation in the animal.
If you find a dead rodent, bird or other trophy in your home, household members should not panic. As a rule, the prey is already dead and poses no threat. If a hunting trophy shows signs of life, then measures must be taken to kill it safely.
In order not to offend your pet with your inattention, you should thank the animal for the trust shown, caress it and, if possible, remove it to another room. The carcass must be placed in a plastic bag and, sealed tightly, thrown into a trash can. You must wear gloves and then wash your hands thoroughly with soap. The cat should not be present during this manipulation, otherwise it will lose trust and disposition towards its beloved owner.
