Dome cat owners may wonder why their beloved feline pet loves to eat mice, even if they have provided a bowl full of commercial cat food. They could research the ancestry, biology, and wiring of the cat to find the answer.
Nearly a century ago, cats were mostly outdoor animals. Since cats tend to be exceptional hunters, people keep them to control pests. Those who want to see them hunt in action can observe the behavior of African wildcats, their closest wild cousins. These nocturnal animals hunt mainly at night. They have very precise hearing that allows them to find their prey based solely on auditory cues. African wildcats mainly hunt birds, insects, mice, rats, and small reptiles. They rarely drink water and only get moisture from the prey they consume.
Cats eat their prey in order to obtain an essential amino acid called taurine. Unlike other animals, the taurine produced by cats is not enough, so it is necessary that they include it in their diet. Meat has the right amount of taurine to meet the needs of a cat’s body, making them so-called “obligate carnivores.” Commercially available cat foods contain taurine.
Although domestic cats behave similarly, human protection has encouraged them and achieved the ability to hunt during the day and at night. In general, cats are born to hunt. From 6 weeks of age, kittens already pounce on their food. Hunting is a cat’s natural survival instinct. Cats tend to hunt cautiously, slowly approaching their prey by crawling on their bellies towards them before jumping.
House cats that stay indoors hunt less than those that live outdoors, as there are no mice to catch. In the wild, the mothers of wild kittens teach them how to kill their prey. House cats rarely develop this ability. For this reason, they are seen playing with what they catch or bringing a mouse to its owner as an “offering” since most of them do not know how to kill one.
Cat lovers should understand that it is normal for their favorite pet to hunt down a mouse and eat it. Although this may seem disgusting, for cats it is normal and, above all, fun. Hunting is a natural behavior among cats, and they need to exercise this ability even if they are hunting their toys or a feathered fishing rod. In case domestic cats go hunting, their owners should remember to deworm them twice a year, as rodents carry intestinal parasites that can infect both them and humans.