Can cats eat mice?

Why

A mouse is natural prey and a healthy cat will hunt them whether you approve or not. The trouble is what the mouse carries: intestinal parasites such as tapeworms and roundworms, bacteria, and -- most seriously -- rodent bait. A mouse that has eaten rodenticide can poison the cat that eats it, and this secondary poisoning is the reason to take prevention seriously rather than treating hunting as harmless. Regular worming matters for any cat that hunts, and a cat that catches prey often is worth mentioning at routine vet visits.

Watch out for

• Rodent bait in use nearby -- your own, a neighbour's, or in sheds and outbuildings; a poisoned mouse is the serious risk
• A cat that hunts regularly -- ask your vet about worming frequency
• Sudden lethargy, bleeding or illness after a known catch -- contact your vet promptly
• Prey brought home part-eaten, which usually means some was already eaten

Better choices