Cats fulfill two important roles in human society: pets and pest control. But whether they’re kept as cherished family pets or functional farm cats, most are excellent hunters. They hunt alone, using their acute vision and sensitivity to high-pitched sounds to locate their prey. They hunt insects, small reptiles, rodents, young rabbits and birds. Most cats specialize in rodents—like mice and voles—but a few become especially skilled at killing birds.
Experienced cats are very successful hunters. One study found that between 40% and 65% of outdoor cats had prey in their stomachs. Cats who have kittens to feed catch prey about every 1½ hours, whereas cats without kittens catch something roughly twice a day. Pet cats who don’t depend on hunting for survival still spend about a quarter of their day hunting if given the opportunity. In summer, cats tend to hunt at night when it’s cooler, and in winter, they hunt during the day when it’s warmer.
Recognizing Predatory Behavior
Even if you’ve never seen a cat hunting, you’ve probably observed hunting behavior in your cat while she’s playing. When a cat detects potential prey, she usually approaches in a crouching position, called a “stalking run.” When she gets within a few feet, she drops to the ground and watches intently, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. She prepares to spring by lowering her front end and readying her rear legs for action. As she balances herself, her rear end may wobble slightly from side to side in a characteristic treading movement. The tip of her tail may twitch. When she determines the time is right, she sprints toward the prey and strikes it with her front paws, immediately following up with the killing bite used by all species of felines—she bites the prey at of the back of the neck to sever the spinal cord.
Before a cat eats her prey, she often carries it to cover and shakes it vigorously to dislodge any dirt. As she eats, she shakes it frequently to loosen the skin and muscles so that it’s easier to get apart. If she’s caught a bird, she plucks it first, licking herself often to rid her tongue of feathers.
If your cat likes to watch out the windows, you may have seen her suddenly focus intently on something outside, twitching the end of her tail and making a chattering sound with her mouth. If you’ve followed her gaze, you probably found that she had her eye on a bird or other prey animal—even if she’s never been outdoors!
Mother Cats Teach Their Kittens to Hunt
A mother cat with kittens brings home freshly caught prey. When the kittens are about a month old, the mother cat kills the prey first. As the kittens develop, however, she brings them live prey to give them a chance to develop their hunting skills. She watches intently as she releases the live prey near her kittens. If she thinks the kittens might allow the prey to escape, she initiates the attack. It doesn’t take much for a kitten to learn to hunt. One experience killing a mouse transforms her into a successful mouser.
Kittens not only learn how to hunt from their mothers, they also learn what to hunt. Cats prefer to hunt the same species that mom brought home for them when they were kittens. So if you want a cat who will be a good mouser or ratter, choose a kitten whose mother specializes in these prey types. And if you don’t want your cat to kill birds, it’s best not to select a kitten from an accomplished bird-killing mother cat. That being said, indoor cats are unquestionably safer and healthier than outdoor cats, and they make better household pets. They don’t endanger birds or other wildlife and bring home fleas or dead animals, nor do they need frequent visits to the veterinarian to treat injuries sustained in scraps with rival cats.
Cats without kittens, including males, occasionally bring prey back to their homes. You might have experienced this scenario: Your cat proudly places a freshly killed mouse on your doorstep, like a precious gift. We don’t understand why cats do this, but some scientists think it’s related to the natural tendency of mother cats to bring prey home to their kittens.
Are Cats Cruel?
People may think cats are cruel because they toy with their prey while it’s still alive. But the concept of cruelty really can’t be applied to cats—they only do what comes naturally. Scientists believe that a cat plays with her prey because once she catches it, she’s more likely to be wary that it might fight back. This playing is called “displacement behavior.” When you see this kind of behavior, it means that the cat is caught between wanting to kill her prey and feeling somewhat frightened of it. Hungry cats are much less likely to play with their prey than cats who aren’t hungry, presumably because hungry cats’ need for food overcomes their hesitation.
Cats are often accused of being “surplus killers” because they hunt and kill even when they aren’t hungry. It’s true that hunger and the desire to hunt are two separate motivations for cats. In fact, a pet cat will often go hunting right after eating. Some experts believe that cats crave variety in their diet, and this motivates them to hunt. However, no one has proved that providing your cat with a varied diet will curb her hunting behavior.
The Impact of Cats on Bird Populations
Most people don’t mind—and, in fact, may appreciate—the fact that cats kill rodents. But many people do mind that cats kill songbirds. Although a pet parent may be unhappy that her cat kills birds, there are no known studies demonstrating that cats significantly reduce bird populations, except on some islands. We know, for instance, that cats have preyed on the mockingbirds of Socorro Island, Mexico, pushing them to the verge of extinction. Cats also were preying on the kakapo, a flightless parrot found in New Zealand, until the birds were moved to cat-free islands. And the seabird population on sub-Antarctic Marion Island was declining drastically until the island’s cats were eradicated. In non-island locations, there’s valid concern that cats prey on defenseless ground-nesting birds, such as thrushes, warblers, meadowlarks and plovers.
Can I Stop My Cat from Killing Wildlife?
- The most effective way to prevent your cat from killing wildlife is to keep her inside your house. Cats live longer, healthier lives when protected from the dangers of the great outdoors. However, if you prevent your cat from going outside to hunt, you’ll need to find a way to provide indoor exercise and mental stimulation. Please read our articles, Enriching Your Cat’s Life and Cat Toys, for ideas that can keep your exclusively indoor cat happy. If your cat starts to treat your fingers and toes as prey substitutes, our article, Cats Who Play Rough, offers suggestions for reducing this behavior.
- If you’re not prepared to keep your cat indoors all the time but still want to curb her hunting, try walking her outdoors on a harness and leash (please read our article, Teaching your Cat to Walk on a Leash, for more information), or consider building her an outdoor enclosure.
- If you keep your cat inside after dusk, she’ll be less able to kill mammals like mice, rats and rabbits. Keeping her inside during the day will prevent her from killing birds.
- There’s no evidence that feeding your cat enough to maintain what veterinarians consider an ideal weight will prevent her from killing animals. For cats, hunger and hunting seem to be unrelated. However, if you make sure your indoor-outdoor cat has two meals a day of quality cat food, she may be less inclined to wander far enough from home to encounter many prey animals.
- If you’re concerned about your cat killing songbirds in your garden, refrain from putting up bird feeders and baths that entice birds to the area. If you want to discourage other people’s cats from coming into your yard and killing birds, think about installing a deterrent device, such as the ScareCrow® motion-activated sprinkler. Please see our article, Keeping Cats Out of Your Yard, for additional ideas.
- Attach a bell to your cat’s quick-release collar. Some studies have found that a bell reduces a cat’s success at killing birds and mammals by as much as 50%. Other studies have found no effect of wearing a bell. Because cats are silent stalkers, the bell may not sound in time to warn prey animals. Cats may even learn to move more cautiously so that the bell doesn’t ring.
- Have your cat wear a collar that emits an electronic beep, such as the CatAlert™ sonic collar, which sounds every seven seconds and mimics a bird’s alarm call. One study reported that cats killed 38% fewer mammals and 51% fewer birds when wearing a CatAlert collar.
- Alternatively, you can attach a “pounce protector” called the CatBib™ to your cat’s collar. A CatBib is a brightly colored neoprene bib that hangs in front of a cat’s chest. The bib interferes with her paws as she strikes at prey animals, giving them a chance to escape. The bright color can also notify birds of a cat’s presence. One study confirmed that cats were less successful at killing both birds and mammals while wearing the CatBib.
What NOT to Do
- Do not scold or punish your cat for killing animals. She’s performing a behavior that’s normal for cats, and she won’t understand why you’re angry with her. She’ll most likely just become afraid of you.
- Do not declaw your cat in the hope that it will make her an ineffective hunter. Declawed cats are just as good at hunting as cats with claws. Cats pull down prey with their claws, but they kill by biting. Declawing also leaves cats defenseless against other predatory animals outdoors, as well as other cats.
- Do not underfeed your cat in an attempt to make her a good hunter. There’s no evidence that keeping a cat malnourished improves her hunting ability. More likely, she’ll become weak and susceptible to disease.
