Cats are beloved companions, and it’s easy to think of them as cuddly pets. But even if your cat is friendly, it’s still likely to be an instinctive hunter. Some cats are more prone to hunt than others, but it’s important to understand these instincts.
With their stealth, balance, and speed, cats can be excellent hunters. Many are even bought as “mousers” which are used in ships, farms, and old buildings to kill rodents. Understanding these instincts is vital to meeting your cat’s needs, and giving them a more enjoyable life.
The Origins of the Cat’s Hunting Instinct
As humans, we have plenty of instincts. Examples are our fight or flight response, social bonding, reproductive drive, and food gathering. Cats have plenty of instincts too in order to help them survive, and one of them is hunting.
Felidae is the technical term for the group of animals we know as cats. Included in this group are the likes of lions, tigers, jaguars, and all the other famous big cats. Their survival instincts go back thousands of years with all of these shared ancestors.
While dogs were domesticated from pack-hunting wolves, cats are solitary hunters. This is a key difference in understanding why cats like hunting, but most domesticated dogs don’t. Even if a domesticated cat has never been outside or seen prey, those instincts remain.
How Cats Display Their Hunting Instincts
One of the most recognizable ways that a cat will display their hunting instincts is by stalking and pouncing. They will crouch low to the ground, with their eyes fixed forward, with their body in a perfectly straight line.
Sometimes they will slowly creep forward, before exploding into a leap. When inside, they will do this with all manner of things including toys, bits of rubbish, or even human feet. If you’ve seen this behavior and were curious what they were doing, it was hunting practice.
This type of play is critical for their happiness. Despite them being our cute and cuddly fur babies, they want to hunt. This is especially prominent in kittens as they are developing their skills to hunt for real. Which, if they are outdoor cats, they will use.
Hunting for their Humans
Another key aspect to know as a cat owner is that, if they are let outside, they’ll often bring their prey home with them. There are many reasons this is done, but many see it as a “gift”. Bringing food home is their way of sharing it with their family, just as they would do in the wild.
There are also other reasons they can do this. These can include bringing the prey back to a safe place, seeking your attention, or storing it for a later date. Some even say this is an attempt to teach humans how to hunt.
Cats are most active during dawn and dusk. This is the best time for hunting as many of their prey are also most active at this time. This is vital information for understanding how your cat acts at this part of the day.
How To Stop Cats Hunting Prey
The only true way of keeping your cat from hunting is to keep them indoors. However, many prefer to allow their cats outside. If this is the same for your cat, there are a few ways to reduce them bringing prey back to you.
One of the most common and effective ways is to put a bell around the collar. This alerts the pretty to the presence of a cat. However, some cats are clever enough to learn how to move in such a way that the bell stays quiet.
Other suggested methods include hiding food around the house for them to find, keeping them inside during dawn/dusk, and using toys that mimic the movement of animals. It’s important to note that, aside from keeping them indoors, there is no foolproof method for stopping them hunting prey.
Can You Train Out These Hunting Behaviors?
The simple answer is no. Cats are amazing creatures and can seemingly learn everything they need to know to survive, even without a mother. Despite their domestication, their instincts have remained incredibly strong.
Even cats that have never stepped a foot outside will know how to hunt. It’s just who they are. Due to this, you should focus on satisfying their need to hunt in other ways instead of trying to prevent it.
As we mentioned above, when indoors, this instinct will be channeled into play. This keeps them mentally and physically stimulated. Without such an outlet, cats can easily become bored and frustrated, leading to behavioral issues.
The Role of Diet in Hunting Behavior
A cat’s diet can also have an impact on their hunting behavior. Some studies suggest that feeding them multiple small meals is better than two large meals. That’s because this more closely mimics their natural feeding pattern.
There are a few ways to encourage this, such as using an automatic feeder, while also giving them food puzzles. Along with giving them different feeding points as suggested above, this can satisfy their natural hunting instinct.
While the likes of fruit can be a healthy snack for cats, feeding them a high-protein diet is encouraged. They are biologically carnivores and keeping them nutritionally satisfied can curb their need for more food.
Satisfying Your Cat’s Hunting Instincts
The best way to satisfy your cat is through interactive play. There are plenty of toys that mimic the movement of prey. The classical toy is a feather want, as this allows you to play with them and gives them the thrill of a catch.
Laser pointers can also be used, but it can frustrate them. Other toys that can be used are puzzles, toy mice, or anything they can chase after and grab. This helps to keep their mind active and your cat happy.
You should also give them plenty of other stimulation too. This can include things like cat trees, scratching posts, and window perches. Some owners also use “catios” which is essentially a large chicken coop-type enclosure for your cat.
