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Cat ate mouse, hiding. Should I worry if he still takes treats?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | 11.5 lbs

My 1 yr old m neutered cat killed and ate only the insides of a mouse about 2 hours ago. He was fine for about an hour and now is hiding under the bed. Won't come out but will still accept treats. Should i be worried? He is fully vaxxed and never go's outdoors.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 12th, 2018

Good on Finn for taking care of that mouse for you! It could be that eating the mouse has upset his stomach a bit, but given the only thing he is doing is hiding under the bed, I wouldn't be too worried about him just yet. It's good that he's accepting treats, and I would let him hide for now. He will come out when he's ready. Now I would start getting concerned if he vomits multiple times, becomes very lethargic, stops eating, and stops drinking water. He may vomit once or twice if the innards of the mouse upset his stomach, but if he starts vomiting over and over, then that's concerning. If you see the symptoms of mentioned above, then I would take him into a vet right away. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 3rd, 2018

    She was doing her natural animalistic behavior when she ate this mouse. However, mice can carry disease and can just make a pets stomach upset. It sounds like at the very least she has an upset stomach. You can try fasting her for the next 12-24 hrs and then feeding her a bland diet of boiled plain chicken and rice for a few days to see if this settles things down.
    If she is severely lethargic, not responsive when called and she is indoors, has pale gums, has continuous vomiting episodes, or any neurological symptoms (drunken walking, falling over, etc), then those are more serious signs of toxiicty and she should be seen by your vet right away. If she also just doesn't feel well and hasn't recovered within 24-48 hrs, she should be seen.
    I hope that Swiri feels better soon. In the meantime, it is best to keep her indoors. Best wishes and take care.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My cat ate a mouse whole. Is it normal, or should I be concerned?
Mice are not an unusual snack for cats and rarely cause any symptoms at all other than occasionally vomiting. Monitor for any severe vomiting and report to your vet if this occurs. If mouse bait is used, there is a possibility she may be exposed to this so monitor for any other unusual signs
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My dog ate a mouse and seems fine. What precautions should I take?
With a dog Ace's size, the mouse likely will not cause any problems such as an intestinal obstruction. It may cause vomiting / diarrhea, but he will likely be fine as the bones will dissolve in the stomach. I would monitor for vomiting, lethargy, inappetance, etc. and have a veterinarian examine him should any of these symptoms arise. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions / concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
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My cat ate a mouse with green guts. Do I need to take her to the vet?
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