Process Essay
Little Hunters at Home:
How Domestic Cats Hunt
Having a cat in one’s house makes daily life full of sparkles. Rubbing its silky-smooth belly and listening to its delicate purring can easily soothe every owner’s troubled mind. Aside from what is mentioned above, it couldn’t be more fun to watch your cat jump from bed to shelf like a little James Bond, chasing after a tiny litter out of nowhere. It might seem to horse around when cats perform this kind of behavior, but if you take a closer look at such movements of your kitty, you may better understand how your pet prepares for being a great hunter.
According to International Cat Care (2019), the whole hunting practice starts with locating the prey. Cats follow their predatory nature to hunt for food. However, when it comes to domestic cats, it does not necessarily connect with the consumption need. Sometimes, they hunt just for exercise and entertainment. Hence, cats see any moving object as a potential target. It can be a rolling ball of yarn, a floating piece of tissue, or a shining laser dot. Once a cat spots its prey, it will begin focusing on the aim and paving its way to a successful catch.
The second action of hunting is to approach the prey. These born stalkers don’t hurry at all. They slow down their pace to observe patiently how the target moves. The crouching position makes them difficult for prey to detect. And the gesture also helps them spring faster and further. Before the crucial pounce, they wiggle their butts to check their balance and make sure that their hindlimbs are firmly set on the floor, which enhances the force of the spring as well. The moment they find the precise distant perfect for a catch, they leap to the goal and make a deadly strike with no mercy and hesitation. Once again, the silent killers effortlessly prove their talent for hunting.
After cats get prey in their paws, they are still not ready for the feast. These hunters are careful enough to manipulate the prey in order to be certain that it is completely dead and has no possibility to bite back. If a cat is afraid of getting hurt, it will take more time to toy with the prey, while a hungry cat will play more intensively, for it wants a quicker devour. Though this behavior looks like casual fun, it involves quite an intelligence inherited from their ancestors. Finally, it is time for the diligent hunters to dig in!
For a cat owner, it may be definitely a surprise to wake up and find a dead rat or a dismembered cockroach beside your pillow. Then you may encounter a proud feline warrior waiting for praise. After all, it has just done a big mission. Creating such a shocking scene is its own way to share its glory with you. Despite the horror scene, you should pay attention to the potential injuries your warrior may get during the fight. Infections resulting from contact with sick prey can be hazardous to your sweet furry companion’s health. In case of the risk of hunting, it will be a better choice to spend time playing with your kitty using a cat teaser and snack!
Sources
1. Why Do Cats Wiggle Their Butts Before They Pounce?, Live Science:
https://www.livescience.com/64950-why-cats-wiggle-butts-before-pouncing.html
2. How to Exercise Your Cat’s Predator Instinct Without Letting Her Hunt, Catster
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cats-predator-instinct-hunting
References
International Cat Care. (2019). Understanding the hunting behaviour of pet cats: an introduction.
Retrieved from
https://icatcare.org/understanding-the-hunting-behaviour-of-pet-cats-an-introduction/
(All the images are from Wix Media.)