Hi,
I'm looking for some advice here from all you animal behaviour experts and experienced animal lovers!
I have a cat called Maisie who in the last week or two has been behaving out of character.
Maisie was a stray kitten and one of my little 'rescue' cats last year after I witnessed her being kicked quite harshly by one of the locals where we live. I'm pretty assertive when it comes to bullying & cruelty and made my feelings quite clear before removing her and taking her home. I'd no intentions of keeping her as I already had other cats at home & hoped to re-home her as quickly as possible. However, Maisie had other ideas and quickly stole my heart -as they do - and soon became very much part of the family.
Maisie is a very sweet little thing, quiet, loving - no trouble at all. She does not tolerate bullying will step in to protect if my other cats are disagreeing.
In May of this year, Maisie aborted some kittens - all 3 at various stages of development. It was a shame for her and a shock for us to see. The vet checked her over, shrugged her shoulders and said she'd be okay and it was nature's way etc. Meanwhile Poppy, my other female cat who'd had kittens 3 weeks earlier decided to leave home - leaving her kittens behind. I fed them etc but was worried they wouldn't survive. Within a couple of days Maisie had stepped in and taken over the care of the kittens! She was amazing - a little foster mother!
A few weeks ago she started to carry a soft toy around with her ( by the back of the neck as she would a kitten) sometimes putting it in her bed and sometimes washing it, and snuggling into it at night. Its no problem - but I wonder does she think this is a kitten?
In the last couple of weeks she's started to stay out a great deal - not like her at all. Last Tuesday we had a fierce thunderstorm & heavy rain during the night & knowing Maisie was outside I went out to try & find her. I found her under a tree in the garden absoutely drenched so I took her inside. She ran out again and seconds later came back with a bird in her mouth. It was flapping etc,etc. Now I can't deal with birds (childhood fear etc) so my OH had to get up and sort it out. It was a chicken - & not a small one either! I was horrified - he was having a rant at her and Maisie was just sitting purring! We think the chicken came from the next door neighbour so we kept it safe & returned it when the rain stopped.
Today I was in the house when I heard a strange noise outside - I knew it wasn't a cat. I went outside and found Maisie with yet another chicken in her mouth. I was so angry with her and eventually got her to let it go - she had it by the neck! Meanwhile I was out in a cold sweat ( my bird fear). I'm now cringing at the thought! I don't like them but certainly I don't wish them any harm.
To cut the story short - my OH came home at lunchtime and had to remove the chicken from the garden - it had died. He had another rant - as did I and as for Maisie - she's 'grounded'. Our neighbour has more chickens, turkeys etc wandering around her land in the day and we're afraid she'll do it again.
This is not like Maisie at all - she doesn't do this sort of thing - so I'm wondering what could be going on with her. We can't keep her inside all the time - and thats not getting to the root of the problem anyway.
Any ideas, thoughts and advice would be appreciated !!
Maisie sounds like an amazing cat but her behaviour is quite normal, it's her instinct to chase, catch and bring home.
Please don't read anything into the fact that she sadly lost her kittens.
Having her spayed may help but there is only one solution to this problem, the chickens should be kept safe from predators.
cats are the only domestic animal that have the right to roam, but if you really cannot bare this and the chickens are left loose then I would consider a cat run for Maisie.
Thanks for replying. I really couldn't bear the thought of her hurting these chickens!
Maisie has been okay this last few days - no more chickens that I know of. She has been quite clingy too and doesn't venture far except on our own land. We have quite a bit of land with our house and there's no need for our cats to roam onto other people's land - but yes, they are free creatures.
The old woman next door who owns the turkeys and chickens lets them out around 7am and they're running round her garden most of the day until around 4pm. She's not someone I can talk to about this - nor can my other half. He can be very diplomatic and has such a nice way of putting things when there is a problem to sort out. He had to speak to her before about something else and came home absolutely seething and couldn't believe the arrogance of her! She's Greek, and very excitable ( or 'volatile' is more the word) and according to some of the locals 'a little bit crazy'.
I'll keep an eye on things - but yes Maisie is going to be neutered in the next month or so.
Never really had this problem with any of my cats so this has been a new problem which has had me baffled really!
Thanks for the input!
It's in her nature as someone else already commented. I know it's unpleasant, especially if you have a bird phobia, but you would think your neighbour would secure their boundaries if they have free range fowl.
You could try a product like this:
I've not tried the cat product but used to use the dog version as I had a dog that was an escapologist (and these systems were much more expensive back then, I think we paid close to £400). These products look cruel but the pet learns really fast and means that she can have the freedom of the garden but can't go bird hunting!
If it's any consolation, I used to have a cat that hunted dogs! He was fine with my dogs but, according to my neighbours at the time, he used to go in their houses in the summer when the door was open, attack their dogs, take the dogs toys, eat their food and sleep in the dog beds! That was really embarrassing!
Thanks for the advice - and the link. I'll check that out.
I agree the neighbour should secure the boundary - if only to protect her chickens etc. One or two have escaped out onto the road on occasions. The worst bit is that the old woman has a block of holiday apartments and which sits to the side of our land and her fowl wander around the apartments' garden. Not nice for the tourists.:eek:
Luckily we have a very nice neighbour on the other side who has a dog and a couple of cats - one was one of our kittens. The dog & cats come along the driveway to our house and make themselves at home and our cats visit next door - they all get along just fine. The neighbour even has greek nicknames for some of our cats.
My dog - sadly gone now - did have a habit of stealing other dogs toys from their gardens when he was a puppy! The dog next door hasn't stolen any of our cat toys or vice versa - yet! - but I wonder if the dog has been near the chickens!!
Anyway, thanks for your input - I'll certainly check the link you gave!
If it's any consolation, I used to have a cat that hunted dogs! He was fine with my dogs but, according to my neighbours at the time, he used to go in their houses in the summer when the door was open, attack their dogs, take the dogs toys, eat their food and sleep in the dog beds! That was really embarrassing!
😀 You could be talking about 'Mouse' my cat, he's no longer with us. But was one hell of a character.
Holistica1, glad she hasn't brought any more home and sorry you can't talk to your neighbour.
I don't understand why you are waiting to have her spayed. Time is of the essence. She could get pregnant again. :confused:
I don't understand why you are waiting to have her spayed. Time is of the essence. She could get pregnant again. :confused:
No she won't - I've made sure of that!!
For other health reasons earlier this year, when I asked for her to be neutered, the vet advised against it. Maisie was unwell for a time this year and 'appeared' to be asthmatic (vet's diagnosos - not mine) and the vet had to be consulted several times. When I requested that she be neutered, the vet felt she didn't want to anaesthetise her. Given the circumstances ie the state her lungs/breathing had been in, I completely understood. Instead, the vet suggested the contraceptive injection so no more pregnancies. I was perfectly happy with that.
However, Maisie is now in excellent health and has had no problems for a few months. I approached the vet again regarding neutering and she is happy to do this now.
We live in Greece and work in a tourist area which this year in particular has meant long hours with only a few hours off in the afternoon before returning to work in the evening. It means my partner is working 7 days a week and in my case 6 days. Unfortunately my day off is not negotiable and it also coincides with the vet's day off!
So, we have decided to wait until mid October when I finish work as the summer season will be almost over. This will then allow me more time to take Maisie to the surgery ( which is about 18 miles away) and to return to collect her after she is neutered and ready to come home.
Meanwhile, Maisie is still 'protected' against any further pregnancies by the contraceptive injections!
Just to say also that Maisie has been having lots of Reiki which she purrs loudly at and is so much healthier than before.
The only 'blip' has been the chicken episode!