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Question: Can i feed my cat feeder mice from pet stores?

(Posted by: LAH on 2009-04-17 06:07:45)

As in either use the live mice or the frozen ones kept in the freezer (duh, where else would they put them...) for snakes or whatever. I've been leaning more towards a raw diet, I was looking at TC by Feline Future Cat Food Company. I want to be able to give my cat more natural foods since I notice that his food (and almost all of the others that are affordable) is filled with corn, starch, soy, etc. Any help or direction with my question and with the raw diet switching is greatly appreciated. For the record, he's 11 months (today actually :D) and neutered. It's really not that gross... or cruel, since it's going to either be my cat, a snake, or whatever else eats mice at pet stores lol. So I called my vet and asked her. Just a heads up, she's pretty old- school. Now she says absolutely do not because you don't know what the mice may be carrying... I realize cat's stomachs are much more acidic compared to ours and can handle more than humans but.. does she have a point here? I really don't know if they mice are sick or what. I certainly don't want to feed sick mice to my cat or have mice as his entire diet (mice would be like a treat) I'm aiming more for the frozen mice due to comments, sounds like a better idea. Should I call the pet store and ask? Or expect them to lie and say "yeah, they're healthy, go ahead! " Does any one else feed their cats mice?

Posted by: RuneAmok on 2009-04-17, 11:13:31

Sure, feeder mice are fine. If you can't find them at local stores you should be able to find online sources. I remember some sites named Ratsicles and Mice On Ice. I am currently using TC and it's working out pretty well. I buy my groceries online and they're delivered every 2 weeks. If I buy bone in/ skin on (less expensive), I buy 3 lbs of breasts. If I buy boneless/ skinless, I'll get maybe 2 pounds. The reason for the difference is that after carving the meat off the bone I'm left with about 2 pounds. I'm using breast meat because it's much easier for me to deal with. Thighs and legs especially are very tricky to debone. It's just not worth the time/ effort for me. That 2 pounds lasts me about 2 weeks for one cat. I'm giving Poppy anywhere from 8-10 oz per day. I'm still fine-tuning that bit! What I like about it is that I have absolute control over what goes into her food (minus the supplement of course). What I don't like is the extra work - but I can cut that down by buying boneless breasts sometimes. I prefer to buy meat that isn't pre-frozen. Other than having to remove the meat from the bone, the process isn't bad. The livers have been pre-ground in my food processor and frozen in 3.5oz chunks. The meat is diced (or ground in the food processor). After that it's just mixing and repackaging. Back to the mice - I would have tried it but my husband drew the line. The girls would have required a bit of coaxing....perhaps I would have started with ground mice. Ground in a special food processor! LOL

Posted by: whatup on 2009-04-17, 06:27:18

UM........ EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!! mice are living things to, thats so gross!

Posted by: Ken S on 2009-04-17, 06:30:17

Hi You can You can also prepare a raw diet or feed grain free canned. catinfo.org/ makingcatfood.htm mousabilities.com/ cats/ food/ haretoday.html#HareToday_complete catnutrition.org/ pictorial.php

Posted by: Kia R.I.P. Harry Kalas :( on 2009-04-17, 06:32:26

Actually, that's a very interesting question. To be honest, I have no idea, but considering outside cats eat them all the time, and these would already be proven to be clean and suitable for an animal to eat, I guess I can't really see a problem with it. I mean the snakes are gonna eat them, or other animals that they sell them for, so why not cats who eat them anyway outside? (for some reason I predict a few TDs lol) I really don't think any reputable pet store would sell mice that were dangerous to an animal to eat. When everyone's snakes start dying, that store would be in BIG trouble. I don't feed my cat mice, nor do I plan to, but maybe phone a different vet and ask them? Or ask the store if people buy for their cats.

Posted by: ♥Pretty♥ ♥Kitty♥ on 2009-04-17, 06:42:10

I don't see a problem with it either. The live ones could get messy but if you don't mind cleanup, that's what they are- FEEDER mice. Starring for my contacts who raw feed.

Posted by: Darksong17 on 2009-04-17, 06:44:35

Absolutely. But please consider feeding prekilled. There's no reason to feed the poor things live. Darksong~

Posted by: Nicolas C against BSL and HR669 on 2009-04-17, 06:47:50

Yes you can as long as they don't suffer to much it would be best to feed frozen thawed ones that are all ready dead.you can feed him a couple pinkies he will like that.

Posted by: Otta on 2009-04-17, 06:49:26

I would suggest the frozen ones, but heat them up first! Your cat will think it is more like fresh killed meat. You don't want a live mouse to get away and then find a trail of blood going through your house!

Posted by: bertino p on 2009-04-17, 07:03:11

You can feed the mice, but I strongly recommend at least using cat food as well. The reason being that cat food has been carefully researched and designed to meet ALL the nutrient needs of cats. A diet of only feeder mice will leave out many nutrients. You have to remember that in the wild cats will eat many things, not just mice. In the wild they eat chickens/ birds, mice/ other rodents, grasses, and such. Cat food such as IAMS has shown through research that it can extend your cats health and life. So to sum it up, Yes, but also include cat food. Don't overfeed on feeder mice so they have room and still want their cat food.

Posted by: Rapid Fire on 2009-04-17, 08:00:57

I see no reason why you shouldn't. My cat eats so many mice in the Summer that she rarely eats the food that we place out for her. We had to switch her to dry food because we were throwing away more than she ate. We live in the country so she gets her mice the natural way; out in the fields and from the neighbours sheds/ garages.

Posted by: girlygirl on 2009-04-17, 11:58:54

Give your cat cat food. You can find organic and natural food if you look.

Posted by: michele_cat_cyprus on 2009-04-17, 13:36:42

It would be safe to feed your cat the frozen feeder mice. When treating cats with the condition Pica (the complusion to eat non-food items) animal behaviourist Peter Neville, suggests feeding cats whole turkey chicks, day-old chicks or dead whole mice or rats sold frozen by pet shops for reptiles. Make sure your cat eats them in a carpet free room where it's easier to clean up afterwards. Day old chicks, mice etc. or any uncooked meat can carry salmonella so wash your hands after handling them, and do not let your cat lick round your mouth or hands after eating them. The risk of feeding them is probably no more than the risk that your cat might pick up a salmonella bug from live mice or birds.

Posted by: jen the red on 2009-04-17, 13:45:11

A) The more you buy, the more fedeer mice they'll need to breed. B) Don't ever question your vet, no matter how "old-school " she is. C) If mice were meant to be eaten by cats, would they not be in the cat aisle? Mice are dirty, carry infectious diseases (harmful to the cat, AND you!) and if you're dumb enough to go through with this, if your cat doesn't want it, doesn't like it, or is afraid of it (My cat's afraid of anything moving) then you've got a whole nother problem. You'll have feeder mice breeding and stinking and pooping all up in your house. I have never had anyone ask this question. Quite odd. I say don't do it. If you go in there to buy it and the check-out guy is like "Oh, feeder mice. What kind of snake do you have? " and you go, "Oh, no, it's for my cat. " How do you think that's gonna go? haha. P.S. Happy 11-months-old-day kitty!

Posted by: miranda on 2009-04-17, 17:29:23

That's really interesting. Cats can get worms if the mice have fleas but clearly a frozen mouse shouldn't be an issue for that. I think the only real concern is whether or not kitty would actually eat a mouse. Mine only treat them like toys and don't even seem to realize they could food. So I think the idea of grinding them up makes a lot of sense. If you heat them up be careful not to inadvertently cook them. The way I heat up cold cat food is to rest the bowl on a larger container of room temperature water. I think you could consider feeding some poultry and rabbit in additional to the mice meat. But feeding mice makes a lot of sense. I think you should probably also try to find a different vet. You should find someone who is in favor of raw diets and can help guide you through it or at the very least, be supportive of it.

Posted by: cynthia on 2009-04-18, 01:45:45

Gosh, I have been raising animals for years and I would never do that! Dry cat food is the best. I learned from a vet if you mix wet and dry food together, it will mess up their digestive system. KItnKaboodle is the best I think. I wouldn't! Dry food is the best.