Perhaps you have a mouse infestation and you are looking for an “all-natural” approach to getting rid of them. Well, there are plenty of cat breeds that have great hunting abilities!
It’s a paradox that cats can be a cute and cuddly pet, but also skillful hunters. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they rely on meat to survive. So, hunting is an instinct most cat breeds carry even if they have been domesticated for decades or centuries!
If you want to know more about what makes a cat a good mouse catcher, what characteristics to look for, and which breeds are best for this job, then you will find all the answers you need in this article.
The 16 Best Cat Breeds For Hunting Mice
We have selected some of the best cat breeds that are popular for their hunting abilities and efficiency at ridding households of mice infestations.
1. Siamese
The Siamese cat was the first choice for the royal family in Thailand. This cat breed has long been regarded as a favorite for hunting down rats, mice, and other rodents. To this day, this royal cat breed is an excellent hunter with excellent hunting instincts for locating and ridding homes of pests such as rodents. The Siamese is known for their mouse hunting prowess across the globe.
2. Maine Coon
This cat breed has been on the North American continent for as long as the United States has been a nation. The Colonial Americans appreciated the Maine Coon for their great hunting skills and kept them on homesteads to keep these places rodent-free. The Maine Coon is still highly regarded as a skilled hunter and house pet.
3. Siberian
The Siberian cat breed originates from Russia and Siberia, which makes them perfect for owners looking for a cat that can handle colder climates. The Siberian may be large and fluffy, but they are very agile and swift hunters, which makes them ideal for catching mice and other large rodents like rats.
4. American Shorthair
The American Shorthair cat breed originates from Great Britain, and then made its way to the United States of America. This cat breed has been around for nearly 300 years and was first used aboard ships to wipe out mice and rat populations. These hunters also make a loving and affectionate family cat breed while keeping your home free of mice.
5. Manx
The Manx cat breed originates from a region located between England and Ireland known as the Isle of Man. This cat breed used to sail on sea vessels where they would take care of any mice infestations. They are a skilled hunter that has earned their title as a great mouse catcher. Farmers also relied on Manx cats to keep their farms free from rodents.
6. Japanese Bobtail
Japanese Bobtails are natural-born mouse hunters. In the past, this cat breed’s population was mainly in Korean silk factories where they were raised to keep mice populations down. Japanese Bobtail cats and friendly and entertaining, which also makes them the ideal family cat. Mice do not usually last long in a household with a Japanese Bobtail cat.
7. Chartreux
The Chartreux is a cat breed that originates from France. They enjoy playing games and interacting with their owners, but they also have a more serious side, especially when it comes to hunting rodents. This cat breed has a natural hunting instinct. They are agile, muscular, and very fast which makes them the perfect cats to catch mice and other fast rodents.
- See also: How Much Does a Chartreux Cat Cost?
8. Persian
Persians are a good choice for cat owners who want an attractive cat with a soft and luxurious coat. Not only is the Persian a beautiful cat breed to own, but they they’re great mousers. These cats hunt a mouse down and kill it quickly and efficiently. This cat breed is well known for their high intelligence even though they seem ambivalent to everything around them. Female Persians have an instinct to hunt rodents and other small prey, so if you are looking for an attractive mouser, then you may want to consider a female Persian cat.
9. Turkish Angora
The Turkish Angora cat breed is a Middle Eastern cat breed from Turkey. This is not a man-made cat breed through selective breeding, but instead a breed of cat that occurred naturally. These cats come domesticated with their hunting instincts still intact. Turkish Angora cats are graceful and lethal hunters that can catch their prey easily. Not only does this cat breed have the physical strength and speed to catch mice, but they’re highly intelligent animals.
10. Bengal
The Bengal cat is one of the most intelligent and active cats breeds you can own. They are skilled hunters that can catch any mouse within smelling distance, and they thoroughly enjoy the thrill of catching and killing mice. The Bengal cat breed was first introduced to the world in the 1960s and was bred by crossing an Asian Leopard cat to a domesticated cat. With the genes of their ancestors still running through the domestic Bengals, they remain natural hunters.
11. Chausie
The Chausie is one of the largest cat breeds in the world and can reach a hefty 25 pounds. This cat breed originated in Egypt and their ancestral lines can be traced to a wild breed that lived in jungles. They are excellent mousers due to their prolific hunting skills and agility. They also make good house pets because they are gentle-natured, playful, and enjoy interacting with their owners.
12. Abyssinian
This cat breed is full of energy, which makes them the ideal cat breed to catch lots of mice at a time. They never seem to get tired of hunting and preying on mice. The Abyssinian cat breed is smart and has good hunting skills, yet they also make a good house cat and will enjoy playing with their owners and other cats in the household. Abyssinians are known for being a non-lazy cat breed, and they can be seen demanding attention from their owners and becoming vocal during food time. This cat breed will love to have a “job” around the house—to catch and kill any mice they come across.
13. American Curl
The American Curl cat is highly intelligent and active. These are hardy and healthy cats who do not do much lounging around, which makes them ideal for houses infested with mice because it will provide them with an exciting activity. This is a more independent cat breed that can fit into a busy cat owners’ lifestyle. This cat breed is known for being great with children due to its docile and gentle nature. Owners of an American Curl will get to see the nice side of their cat and the not-so-nice side when their hunting instincts kick in and they are off to catch and kill a mouse.
14. Balinese
The Balinese cat breed is highly vocal and active. They especially love to play with their owners and any cat toys they find fascinating. If your Balinese does happen to come across a mouse, they may get in the mood to catch it, but sometimes not. However, this does not make them a poor choice of mouser cat breed, as many Balinese cat owners report that their cat has caught and killed plenty of mice that wander into the household.
15. Cymric
This cat breed is more of a docile lounging cat, but they do still have the urge to hunt. They can be lazier than other mouser cat breeds, but once your Cymric cat is in pursuit of a mouse, you will witness just how fast and ferocious they can be. The Cymric cat breed does have more health issues than your average household cat, which can be a downside to owning this cat breed. However, this is a very attractive and affectionate cat breed that can make a good mouser when they feel like it.
16. Burmese
This cat breed is constantly on the lookout for food, including any mice that may be scuttering by. Burmese are known for their great ability at hunting, catching, and killing mice. Burmese cats are intelligent, fast, and agile, which are good characteristics for a mouser to have. With the combination of their playful nature and good hunting skills, the Burmese are a popular choice for cat owners who want a good-natured cat to help rid the house of mice infestations. However, the Burmese will play with their prey first before they kill them, which is uncommon with other more ferocious hunting cat breeds.
Are Cats Good At Catching Mice?
Cats have a hunting instinct that drives them to catch smaller, fast-moving prey. You may notice that they prefer the toys that move around, which encourages your cat to zone in on their hunting skills.
However, not all cats are natural-born mousers. Since cats have been domesticated for so long, some cat breeds have lost this hunting instinct through years of selective breeding. In most cases, the mother cat will teach her kittens how to hunt so that they can learn to catch prey from a young age.
It is not unusual to come across a cat that has no desire to hunt. They would rather laze around all day and take naps. This is normal, and sometimes even cat breeds who are natural-born mousers will have no desire to catch a mouse.
Overall, most cat breeds are excellent hunters and use these abilities to stealthily catch their prey.
Fun Fact: A cat who catches mice is called a “mouser”!
Can Cats Eat The Mice They Catch?
If you haven’t tried to poison a mouse population, then it is safe for your cat to eat the mouse. However, if you have a large infestation, your cat is more likely to leave the dead mouse lying around rather than eat it.
Most cats will present the dead mouse to you, either to seek praise for a job well done, or that their instincts are driving them to show you how to hunt, much like a mother cat would do for her kittens.
- Mice are easier for cats to catch in comparison to birds or fish.
- They have an instinct that drives them to hunt small and fast prey.
- The cat is seeking taurine from the mice as it may be lacking from their main diet.
- They are bored and find it entertaining to catch and kill mice.
Can Keeping a Cat Around Help Prevent a Mouse Infestation?
Just keeping a cat around can help prevent mice and further reduce the chance of an infestation. Secondly, if your cat they catches a mouse, they will usually either eat it or bring it to you as a “gift”. It’s no surprise that mice are terrified of cats, they have evolved to learn that the smell of a cat means bad news and avoid the area the cat is in.
So, what makes a mouse so afraid of a cat?
Scientists have recently discovered a protein found in cats saliva called MUPS (major urinary proteins). Mice have a vomeronasal organ (also known as the Jacobs organ) that allows them to have a strong sense of smell to pick up the smell of cat pheromones and saliva. If the mouse picks up on the MUPS, they will freeze and drop in a crouch and try to flee the area for safety.
Conclusion
Cats are the perfect choice of a natural mouse exterminator. People choose cats to catch and kill mice instead of using poisons and other harmful. Once mice come into contact with any sort of smell associated with your cat, they will be quick to scurry away and not return.
Featured Image Credit: greg.visuals, Shutterstock
