My cat's eating too many field mice...

Chrystel Masclet Maille
Chrystel masclet maille Icon representing the flag French
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I’m looking for some advice as my cat has been eating at least one field mouse a day lately. It’s worrying me because he’s being sick quite often and keeps getting worms, even though I’m regular with his worming treatment.

Just for a bit of background, he’s a rescue cat who used to be kept in a cage. He loves being outside and has made the field opposite our garden his main territory for playing, napping and hunting... He used to just play with his prey, but now he’s started eating it every single time.

As for his diet, he has wet food in the morning, dry food left out for him to graze on whenever he likes, and he regularly gets treats like tuna and ham...

What do you think the issue is? Thanks.

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    • Chrystel Masclet Maille
    Chrystel masclet maille Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks for your replies, they’ve really put my mind at ease.

    Cindy, I didn’t realise that worming treatment isn't preventative. I thought it lasted for three months, so I’ll start giving it to him more often. As for flea and tick treatment, he’s covered every four weeks.

    Howtocat, I didn't know that about tuna! Since he goes absolutely mad whenever I open a tin, I’ve been giving him the juice and a few chunks. That was about three times a month. I didn't know about ham either; I thought I was doing the right thing...

    Anyway, thanks for all your help! :-)

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    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, Your cat is simply displaying his natural hunting instincts. Since the final stage of predation involves eating the prey, your cat seems perfectly normal to me, and your garden must be a total paradise for him. However, eating field mice can cause issues with internal parasites. To avoid any problems, don’t hesitate to worm him more often (at least once every three months, or as soon as you suspect he has worms). It’s worth noting that worming treatments don’t have a residual effect, meaning they don’t work over the long term. They only act as a cure by killing the worms currently present; they don't prevent new ones. In short, a cat treated today could easily become reinfected just a few days later. Keep an eye on him: as long as he keeps a healthy appetite and stays active, there’s no need to worry. Given his outdoor lifestyle, make sure you also treat him once a month for external parasites like fleas and ticks. I hope this helps, Cindy
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