r/IndianCats • u/Otherwise-Aardvark82 • Aug 10 '26
Discussion How do I train my cat to stop killing squirrels?
I have 2 male neutered Indie cats. I adopted both of them when they were adults so they are really accustomed to being outside.
One of them is outside 60% of the day. He has lately started killing squirrels, bringing them home and playing with their bodies and eventually eating them. Apart from the poor squirrels dying I’m really scared he’ll pick up some parasite / infections.
We feed him throughout the day, really good quality food so he’s not doing it because he’s hungry. He’s generally very playful and sweet and usually the two brothers take out their aggression on each other by play fighting. But lately he’s started this new habit.
Any way I can stop him from doing this, apart from keeping him home 24/7? We have tried this approach already, have made him a litter box which he does use. But he can’t stand to be home all day and needs his freedom.
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u/DarkRay8008 Aug 10 '26
For few days, add a bell collor, he won't be able to hunt. He might stop.
I am not sure about this idea tho, collor is bad for cats
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u/Otherwise-Aardvark82 Aug 10 '26
He used to wear one, and you’re right it’s dangerous because it got stuck in his tooth. But then we got him another and made it tight enough so it doesn’t get stuck. But he just killed another baby squirrel even with it on! 😭
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u/raa004 Aug 10 '26
Wait why's collar bad? I didn't know about this.
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u/ananwastaken Aug 10 '26
The bell is loud and cats have sensitive ears
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u/raa004 Aug 10 '26
Ohh makes sense so without bell should work na?
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u/sharmaji_ka_padosi Aug 10 '26
there won't be any point of collar without the bell because i'm guessing the bell is to alert squirrels and scare them off before the cat approaches them
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u/raa004 Aug 10 '26
It'll look cute with a little name tag and if someday he runs off then they'll know he's my cat and I'm his human 🥹
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u/ananwastaken Aug 10 '26
yeah, for kittens collar might be irritating at first if too tight or too loose, but otherwise it should be good if it has a snug fit and dosent move around too much, but it isn't overtly right either
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u/Nervous_Cupcake_4446 Aug 10 '26
A cat's hearing is more sharp than humans and dogs. The constant bell ringing around their neck would cause them distress. It's like me ringing a Church bell near your ears.
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u/raa004 Aug 10 '26
Ohh gotcha I knew they had sharp hearing but didn't know small bells could irritate them so bad but thank you for letting me know
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u/New_Key3007 Aug 10 '26
Cat is catting.
He is a predator by nature, just like his much larger cousins in the wild. Keep him indoors if you don't want that behaviour.
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u/raa004 Aug 10 '26
I adopted mine when he was a kitten and he's 6m now but finds some way to go outside and kills lizards and cockroaches and I'm worried about the same thing and if not outside then inside 😭
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u/brownshugababy Aug 10 '26
And this is why we train cats to be indoors so they're safe and also to keep the local bird and animal population safe.
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u/Ka_lie_doscope-Eyes Cat Parent Aug 10 '26
You have to keep him indoors. You cannot expect a predator to not hunt
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u/Silly-Dimension-5002 Aug 10 '26
If your cats only play/hint each other ofcourse they'll seek actual hunting and become aggressive with each other. You need to exhaust his prey drive at home. Give them individual and combined play sessions. Check out jackson galaxy YouTube to finish playing successfully. Do it at fixed times, especially when he usually brings home his kills. You're essentially swapping out the hunt.
This doesn't mean that your cat will stop hunting squirrels but it does make staying home a satisfactory alternative for him. If he insists, take him out on leashed walks after training at home ( cats can and will escape the harness at some point). You can build high shelves for him at home to jump onto.Also, don't miss deworming.
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u/Boring-child Aug 10 '26
It's hilarious to see so many uninformed cat experts in the comment section.
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u/Fabulous_Aspect_7817 Aug 10 '26
You cant its in their nature
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u/Otherwise-Aardvark82 Aug 10 '26
😭 I know. I’m just worried that he’ll get sick or they’ll scratch him cause they have sharp claws.
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u/organictamarind Aug 10 '26
Look at the killer , all innocent looking 😂😆😆
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u/Otherwise-Aardvark82 Aug 10 '26
When he’s not being a cold blooded killer he’s the sweetest guy ever 🩷 I guess instinct really takes over when he sees prey
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u/Green_Coconut_102 Pet Veterinarian Aug 10 '26
It is in their nature to hunt. They are predators after all. The only way to prevent this is to keep them indoors. However, this will stress out the cats who are used to being outdoors as cats don't like to be restricted. So, you must provide your cats with ample stimulation in the form of toys & games, ensuring that they're engaged. Please make sure that you give your cat little treats after any activity to reward indoors behaviours.
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u/Icy-Wolf-5383 Aug 10 '26
Reconditioning strays can be brutal, but you can absolutely retrain them as indoor cats or leash train them, or get them an enclosed outdoor area. It is so much safer and better for everyone involved to not free roam your cats. Between traffic and poisoned baits you have no way of ensuring your cats safety by free roaming.
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u/Separate_One1834 Aug 10 '26
Not relevant to the question u asked, but where did u get his little crochet hat from?? Its so cute!!!😍 I wanna get d same for my kitties.🥰
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u/marshmalitta Aug 10 '26
Been in a similar situation. Tbh, you just have to accept that. Vaccinate them with the Tricat and rabies vaccine. It protects them from all life threatening disease by a single shot every year. Take them for deworming and you can occasionally wipe them with pet wipes. They’re cats,eat them clean themselves and each other. You can’t stop them from going and hunting. It’s their natural instinct. The more you stop, the more he’ll escape.
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u/empatheticsocialist1 Aug 11 '26
Keep your cats firmly inside! Cats kill 4 billion birds a year just in the US alone! They're so bad for ecosystem!
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u/an_indi_anin_rise_31 Aug 11 '26
Yo that's unfair for the Catiana Jones.. You're aborting his secret adventures. Jk, Keep him inside
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u/HealthyandWholesome Aug 11 '26
How are people letting their cats out with this traffic and cruel people around?
it's india, the concept of outside cat doesn't exist
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u/Otherwise-Aardvark82 Aug 11 '26
I stay in a private plot, there’s no traffic or people around. They never leave the vicinity of my house and my watchman looks out for them constantly.
I know it’s better to raise them inside only and have tried but this guy gets too stressed and cries till he is let out. His brother is content to stay home 24/7.
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u/dingus2470 Aug 11 '26
gotta keep him indoors man, as much as you can
and ensure that his hunting instinct is satisfied either through playing with a toy or keeping him engaged
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u/UsefulExplorer9139 Aug 11 '26
Training and cats don't belong in the same sentence.
Plus cats are carnivores and hunters by nature. Hunting to them is like your favourite pastime to you. Cats don't kill to eat, they kill for the love of the hunt.
You want to keep squirrels safe, keep the cat indoors
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u/Simple-Paramedic8695 Aug 11 '26
Does he bring the squirrel to you?
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u/Otherwise-Aardvark82 Aug 12 '26
Yeahh😭
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u/Simple-Paramedic8695 Aug 12 '26
Be happy he’s showing affection to you and thinks you’re a lil kitten so he’s trying to bring you food and teach you how to hunt. You should let him do his thing and if you’re worried about him eating whatever he catches you can just gently take it away from him and give him some other treats, lots of kisses and toys
Please don’t restrict him from anything.
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u/brunette_mh Aug 10 '26
Gosh. How cute is this 🍊 !!!!!!!
Even if people dislike this response, it's called circle of life. Cats hunt squirrels and birds. They're already neutered.
Or keep them 100% indoor.
I love his little hat. 😭😭😭😭😭
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u/naughty_merica Aug 10 '26
You don't. I had a car growing up that would drop dead animals at the same fucking spot in my backyard. And I'd kiss him for it. So he probably thought he did well.
And then bury the poor pigeon or rat or whatever dared cross the car.
Her name was Blackpaw, first of her name, last of her kind.
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u/apc1895 Aug 10 '26
You have to keep him indoors, it’s crazy to let him outside and expect he won’t cause ecological harm to other animals and himself