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the domestic cat (Latin: Felis cactus) is a small, typically furry, carnivorous They are often called house cats when kept as indoor pets simply cats when there is no need to distinguish them from other felids and felines Cats are often valued by humans for companionship and for their ability to hunt vermin. There are more than 70 cat breeds, though different associations proclaim different numbers according to their standard

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Size and Appearance: Almost impossible to describe, the domestic cat comes in a wide variety of colors and coat lengths. There are long-haired breeds like the Persian, and cats with virtually no hair like the Mexican Hairless.

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skills have never really been lost throughout the whole process of their domestication. Your kitty will still feel the need to go out and hunt birds, mice, frogs, in fact anything that is small enough to catch.

This is a puzzle to most people as they can’t understand why cats continue to hunt, especially as we provide plentiful food and water for them.

Funnily enough it was the hunting skills that first endeared the feline population to humans in the first place.

Thousands of years ago when humans began to grow their own crops, mice and rats began to become a problem in the storing of these foodstuffs.

The cat’s ability to kill rodents with ease and their apparent acceptance of humans meant that they were welcomed into people’s homes.

So cat hunting was admired, in fact cats which were prolific hunters became very valuable animals and their off spring could be bought and sold for large sums of money

Unfortunately hunting instincts will always remain with our cats, even though they may no longer need to hunt for food.

HOWEVER there a few things we can do to try and reduce the occurances.

We can do somethings which will reduce their efficiency at killing and reduce their cat hunting opportunities.

A bell attached to a collar is a good first warning to any prey that may be being crept up upon. Perhaps a little frustrating for your cat, but they still get some of the hunting experience.

Keeping your pet inside during the hours of dawn and dusk when small rodents are most active may save the odd field or wood mouse, but the birds will have to be vigilant all day long.

Make sure you feed your cat adequately so that it does not go out still feeling hungry and on the lookout for an extra snack. Follow the guidelines on the food packaging for your cat’s size and age.

You can also try to reduce the instinct outside by playing games with your cat EVERY DAY that mimics hunting.

Choose the toy which will suit your own cats particular favorite form of hunting i.e if they like to catch birds then they like to stalk and then jump for their prey. So string with feathers attached is ideal. If they like to catch lizards, then small scuttle balls and toy mice might suit them better.

You could try the catbib which is designed to prevent your cat from being  not able catch birds and small animals. Research has said that it is 81% effective. Red more about the catbib here

Cats are sometimes described as the perfect carnivore because their whole being is designed for hunting and eating animal flesh, from their claws and teeth to their digestive system.

In fact they are one of the few animals that need to have some nutrients that traditionally could only be found in meat (although this can now be synthetically reproduced in some cat food).

From a very early age kittens are taught by their mothers that mice and birds are good to eat.

She will bring them to her kittens alive and dead to play with and to eat. Eventually they will watch her stalk and catch prey and will learn the techniques themselves.

There is no way for us to prevent this, even if kittens lose their mother they still have a natural instinct to chase and catch fast moving small items.

The actual cat hunting instinct to kill does not remain for most domesticated cats as their owners provide their food for them. However it seems that cat hunting is more than just a way to feed themselves, it is also a sense of fun for them.

Many happy hours are spent hiding and stalking prey and then pouncing and chasing the prey around. In fact I'm sure a lot of cats do not want to intentionally kill the prey.

One of our cats always looks so upset and disappointed when their furry plaything stops running away.

I simply find these perfectly formed dead mice in the garden or under my table, hardly a chew mark in sight

I am often asked questions about certain strange cat behavior associated with cat hunting. Many people just can’t understand what on earth their pet is doing when they catch sight of their prey.

Here are the two most commonly asked questions and answers:

Chattering teeth – Have you ever seen a cat watching a bird through a window? It’s body tenses up, the bird is fixed with a constant stare and then quite strangely the kitty begins to chatter its teeth and emit a strange rattling noise.This is known as a vacuum reaction. They have become so engrossed in the sight of their prey, that they start to imagine that they have already caught them and are killing the animal with their bite.Cats have a very distinct way of biting their prey, which ensures a quick death with little risk to their selves. This biting action is similar to the chattering teeth motion you see at the window.

Here is a demonstration of this chatter

Cats will often sway their head from side to side very quickly just before they pounce on their prey. This is important so that when they do pounce that they do not miss their target.

Cats have binocular vision which when they shake their head quickly allows them to accurately judge just how far away their prey is and so gives them a better chance at hitting their target.

There are several possible reasons why you might see your feline pet teasing and tossing their prey around.

Firstly for a well-fed domesticated cat living in a nice clean home, finding a mouse or rat can be an exciting experience and the chase is something that they want to prolong and enjoy.

After all if it wanted to it could just use it’s specialised bite to instantly kill the prey, but where’s the fun in that? They are not attacking the prey for food, so the instinct for the chase is the stronger of its emotions.

Secondly, you may be watching a female trying to catch an animal and keep it alive to present to her young family for training purposes as mentioned above.

Lastly it may be that the animal is nervous of its prey and does not wish to get hurt. This is especially true with rats, as they can give a very nasty bite. In these cases the cat is probably trying to subdue the rat until it is able to give the killing bite, which has to be administered to the nape of the neck to be sure of killing the prey outright.

Uhgggggggg, this is the normal human reaction at discovering a dead mouse or bird left for them on their doorsteps or brought to them by their sweet kitty.

Actually our reaction should be "Thank you very much" and to give plenty of strokes. Why? Well in our cats eyes we are part of their family and if they feel that a member of their family is not able to catch it’s own prey then they will try to provide some.

This is why neutered female cats are often the main culprits of this behaviour, as they do not have kittens of their own and their instincts dictate to them that they need to bring us some food. It’s very sweet really; it’s just a shame that we do not appreciate a good gooey mouse as much as our feline friends do.

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Cats,, unlike dogs, are obligate carnivores, which means they must have meat in their diet to live (dogs can live on a vegetarian diet). Cats require significantly larger amounts of protein in their diet, as well as fats, and less carbohydrate and vegetable matter.

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Cats are animals that do not have a specific habitat that is suited to them and their habitats can often change; they are referred to as a cosmopolitan species. Cats are able to adapt to a variety of environments including forests, deserts, urban and the homes of humans.

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According to a myth in many cultures, cats have multiple lives. In many countries, they are believed to have nine lives, but in Italy, Germany, Greece, Brazil and some Spanish-speaking regions, they are said to have seven lives,while in Turkish and Arabic traditions, the number of lives is six.The myth is attributed to the natural suppleness and swiftness cats exhibit to escape life-threatening situations. Also lending credence to this myth is the fact that falling cats often land on their feet, using an instinctive righting reflex to twist their bodies around. Nonetheless, cats can still be injured or killed by a high fall

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You should to be vigilant to changes in your cat’s behavior. Changes could be a sign of distress, boredom, illness,injury, stress or fear. Signs to look out for:

High levels of grooming, hiding, sleeping hunched or altered feeding/toileting habits as well as spraying indoors all indicate stress or fear

Unwanted habits such as aggression, spraying indoors, disappearing or avoiding people all suggest your cat being in pain or frightened.

If any of these symptoms become an ongoing problem speak to a vet or clinical animal behaviorist.

Cats can scare easily, so make sure they can reach everything they need (e.g. bed, water, litter or outdoors) without passing things or other animals that may frighten them.

If your cat is scared with no place to escape and hide, they may become aggressive. Provide constant access to safe hiding places where they can escape if they feel afraid.

Cats sleep for many hours of the day, but when they’re awake they need opportunities to exercise. If they don't go outside, provide suitable indoor activities to keep them active.

Play is a good way for your cat to be active and have fun. Provide safe toys and regular opportunities to play alone and with people.
Puzzle feeders or hiding dried food are both good ways to entertain your cat at meal times.

Cats naturally use objects to scratch, mark territory, strengthen muscles and sharpen their claws. To allow this natural behavior, provide sturdy scratching posts which are tall enough for your cat to use fully stretched. This is particularly important for indoor cats..

Kindness is key! Never shout at or punish your cat, they are very unlikely to understand and can become more nervous or scared.

Preventing your cat from hunting wildlife

A cat’s natural instinct is to hunt it’s prey but there is a real concern domestic cats are impacting the welfare of local wildlife.

To help prevent your cat bringing home unwanted surprises, and to protect local wildlife, we recommend:

Restrict outdoor access at dusk and dawn when wildlife is most active, at least an hour before sunset and an hour after sunrise.

Restrict outdoor access after bad weather such as rain, to allow birds to come out and feed.

Attaching a bell to a quick-release safety collar.