Do cats eat mice, and is it safe?

Some cats eat mice; others do not

Cats are obligate carnivores and specialist hunters, but catching and eating are not identical behaviours. A cat may consume all, part or none of a mouse. Feeding a complete commercial diet does not guarantee that hunting stops.

Do not deliberately feed wild rodents. Their health history is unavailable, and raw prey creates risks that a balanced diet does not need.

The main risks are what the mouse may carry

• Parasites: cats can acquire Toxoplasma by eating infected rodents, and mice can act as hosts for some gastrointestinal parasites.
• Poison: a rodent may have eaten rodenticide. The risk depends on the product and exposure, so obtain the product name or packaging if this can be done safely.
• Injury and infection: live prey can bite, and wild rodents can carry pathogens even when they look healthy.

When to call a veterinarian

Also seek advice for a bite, repeated vomiting, weakness, pale gums, breathing difficulty, tremors, seizures, unusual bleeding, marked thirst or any sudden change after a catch. CatMind AI cannot rule out poisoning, parasites or internal injury from video.