Cat Hunting Behavior

Cats are carnivores and are hard-wired from birth to hunt. Even indoor cats have the urge to chase and pounce, which is why they love to play with prey-shaped toys and moving objects, like laser beams. Some aspects of cat hunting behavior, such as leaving dead animals around, may confuse cat owners. There are other things, such as teeth chattering, that owners may not recognize as hunting behavior.

  1. Leaving Dead or Half-dead Prey

    • Cats learn to hunt from their mothers. In the wild, the mother will catch prey and consume it in front of the kittens to teach them what to eat. The mother then brings live prey, kills it in front of the kittens and lets them eat it. In the final stage, the mother brings live prey and has the kittens practice killing and eating. When the cat leaves dead, or half-dead, prey for its human hosts it is trying to teach its humans how to catch and eat prey.

    Chattering and Head Swaying

    • Cats kill prey with a quick bite to the back of the neck. When a cat stalks its prey, it snaps, or chatters, its teeth to simulate the killing bite. Cats sway their heads in order to get a "bead" on their prey. The swaying allows them to gauge the distance and speed of the prey.

    Playing With Toys

    • Cats like to chase and pounce, even when they're not hungry. In the wild, a cat may play a game of catch-and-release with its prey simply for the joy of the chase. In the home, the cat will toss its toys around to simulate movement. It may also pounce on moving objects, such as feet under bed covers.