Cats are bred to hunt, and while we might not like our pet cats bringing home their prey, we often accept that hunting is part of owning a cat. However, this does not stop us from worrying about our beloved feline when they are out, and hoping they stay safe. But can we minimise the risks of hunting and reduce our cat’s desire to catch prey?
Why does my cat want to hunt?
It can be confusing for owners to understand why their well-cared-for and beloved cat still wants to go out and hunt. After all, you feed your cat a nutritious, well-balanced food they enjoy and give them tasty treats to keep them happy. So, why do they still go out and hunt?
Cats are born with a strong hunting instinct and it’s not unusual for them to spend a significant amount of time hunting. They are solitary hunters, so they hunt alone, preferring to catch small prey, such as mice, voles and birds. However, some cats will also hunt larger prey, including rabbits and squirrels.
Cats are also opportunistic hunters, so they may catch prey multiple times a day, at every opportunity, even though you keep them well fed. This trait is thought to come from their ancestors, who needed to catch prey as often as possible to ensure they had sufficient food and a well-balanced diet. This inbuilt desire doesn’t go away because they’re well fed right now – because in their eyes, they might not be tomorrow!
Can I reduce my cat’s need to hunt?
Hunting is a natural behaviour for your cat, so if you try to stop them hunting, it could cause your pet distress and risk behavioural issues developing. The desire to hunt is also not always driven by hunger, so keeping your cat well-fed may not alter their hunting habits. Trying to change your cat’s hunting behaviour can be difficult, but regularly playing games and providing interactive feeding toys to keep your pet mentally stimulated and happy may help.
Tips to help reduce the amount of time your cat spends hunting:
- Keep your cat inside when wildlife is most active at dusk and dawn – This will help reduce your cat’s hunting success.
- Put a bell on your cat’s collar – This will help reduce the chance of your cat successfully catching prey. Make sure the bell does not have any holes or grooves that claws could get stuck in. However, note that there is some evidence that in cats who have regular access to prey, the use of a bell may actually make them more efficient hunters over time, as they learn to move even more stealthily so the bell doesn’t make a noise! So, this one is probably best for cats who occasionally sneak off, rather than being a solution for seasoned and agile hunters!
- Make sure your cat is on a complete cat food that meets their nutritional requirements.
- Cats will naturally eat small meals regularly – Split your cat’s food into multiple small meals throughout the day to mimic their natural eating pattern.
- Try offering your cat different flavours of food to provide them with variety.
- Use puzzle feeders – you do not need to buy expensive puzzle toys. Instead, have a go at making some quick and simple homemade puzzle feeders using recycled packaging. These can be frequently changed and rotated to help keep your cat entertained.
- Play with your cat to try and reduce their need to hunt – Many cats enjoy chasing feathers attached to a wand or fetching a small toy or ball. Providing your cat with a cardboard box to explore will often keep them entertained for ages. Avoid using laser toys as they do not provide your cat with the opportunity to catch the toy, so can cause frustration and potentially lead to behavioural problems developing.
- Make play sessions short but frequent throughout the day – This mimics your cat’s hunting routine.
- Rotate your cat’s toys – This will help keep them entertained. Try offering balls to chase, kicker toys and catnip toys for variety.
How to keep your cat safe when hunting
We understand that you may be worried about your cat’s safety when they go out hunting. What if they go further than normal and get lost? Or if they hunt near a road and get injured? Though you cannot eliminate the risks of hunting completely, you can help keep your cat safer.
Tips to help keep your cat safe while hunting:
- Make sure your cat is microchipped – If your cat is microchipped you are more likely to be reunited with your pet if they go missing. It is also now a legal requirement for all cats to have a microchip. Always keep your microchip details up to date and ask us to regularly scan your pet to ensure their chip is working properly.
- Protect your cat against parasites – Cats who hunt and eat prey are at an increased risk of becoming infected with parasites, such as tapeworms and roundworms. Staying up to date with your cat’s worming treatment will help reduce this risk. Not all wormers will cover all parasites, so speak to one of our team to make sure your cat is protected.
- Keep your cat’s vaccinations up to date – Cats who go outside are at an increased risk of becoming unwell if they have contact with an infected cat. Vaccinations help protect your cat against several serious diseases, so keep their vaccinations up to date every year to ensure your pet is protected. Contact us to check if your cat’s booster is due.
Keeping wildlife safe
As a cat owner, you may feel that you cannot have wildlife in your garden in case it encourages your cat to hunt. However, there are things you can do to support wildlife in your garden and keep them safe, while also discouraging your cat from hunting.
Additional ways to support wildlife include:
- Don’t feed wildlife on the ground
- Use feeding stations on poles that cats cannot climb up
- Keep feeding stations away from fences, trees or any garden furniture that cats may climb.
- Keep your cat inside at dawn and dusk when wildlife is most active
Remember, any changes you make to your cat’s routine should be done gradually to prevent causing your pet any stress. But, if done carefully, you can work to reduce your cat’s hunting habits without compromising their welfare.
Many cats have a strong hunting instinct but, by redirecting their hunting behaviour with puzzle-feeding toys and spending time playing and interacting with your pet, you may be able to reduce the time your cat spends catching prey. If you are worried about your cat’s hunting habits, speak to one of our friendly team for advice.
