Ho hum.... its that time of year again when my 3 creatures venture into the shrubbery in search of smaller creatures they can bully, tease and eat

I'll be honest I don't really have too much of an issue with it (I know this is a contentious view but *shrug* thats life I'm afraid ) but I can't help but feel sorry for the little creatures they choose to tease before killing and eating

I have to be impressed with the resilance of mice though field mice in particular.

One of my cats bought one in last night... threw it around all over the place for about 20 minutes before I realised what was going on.... carried it about by the tail.... batted it backwards and forwards between its paws, all the while the poor little bugger effectively played dead.... when I could corner my cat I wandered over with my (patented ) "mouse/vole/small creature saver" (TM) and the little bugger jumped up and ran straight into it while my cat sat there open mouthed.
It then sat at the far end of the tube until I took it away to some other shrubbery to release it.

I live surrounded by lots of feilds and scrubland, all 3 of my cats hunt, I come down some mornings to an absolute blood bath which is no fun at all.

A mouse bit my daughter the other day while she trying to rescue it from the cat

A safety collar with a bell on, it has made a difference with the cats I have, but it still happens. The worst is eaten mouse thrown up a while later, you can still see mouse bits in it

RSPB recommend at least 2 bells, cats can accommodate one apparently

I came home this afternoon to find my house full of feathers (just everywhere) and a bird carcass in the middle of my kitchen. I think that's the first killing my current cats have made which has made me feel sad. It was just a little bird. I hope it's the first and last.