I recently got a clown for my boyfriend and I, it's a pure breed Pierre, he's a bit of a trickster but we've never had any problems with him up until now, you see he ate the neighbour's cat,, is that normal?? And can it harm him??
I congratulate your clown on his excellent hunting prowess! Indeed, cats are not easy prey. Eating a cat should not harm him, but it is a behavior that should not be encouraged in a tame clown, if not for the incidental scratches, but for the comradery between you and your neighbors. Younger clowns do not understand the attachment humans have to creatures that are not themselves, but as an elder clown I’ve learned that nobody likes you if you eat the family wiener dog.
Your clown may be trying to prove his worth as a member of the troupe by displaying his hunting prowess. If I am reading his behavior correctly... he may have even chosen a moment where you could see the last moments of the hunt, or presented to you a trophy of the kill such as the tail or collar. Try pretending to hunt by running around the back yard, letting him see from a window in the house, and return with a pack of hotdogs for him to eat. He will interpret this as your acceptance of his entry into the troupe and strengthen the household’s bonds.
Otherwise, as many clowns are very attracted to shiny objects, he may have been distracted by cats collar (if it had a bell or was otherwise bedazzled) and have simply gotten caught up in the excitement of the chase. His behavior will be distinctly different at this time, he may go out looking for the cat as if he simply lost sight of it, or may honk sadly and scratch around the corners of the room as if searching for the lost shiny thing. If this is the case, try throwing a ball or other enticing toy to see if this is similarly devoured.
If this is indeed the case, starting a “what is food and what is not” training may be beneficial at this time. Your local Clown college often have training courses regarding these areas of interest.
