Why do cats play with their prey? PDSA Vet Nurse Gemma Renwick investigates <\/p>
Hunting is natural behaviour for cats; before we brought them into our homes, they had to hunt for their food, just like big cats<\/a> such as lions <\/a>and tigers<\/a>, says PDSA Vet Nurse Gemma Renwick.<\/strong><\/p> Over the centuries, domestication<\/a> has meant that our cats now get food from their loving humans. However, their brains are still hardwired to react to the sight and sound of prey, so hunting behaviours remain.\u00a0<\/p> For cats, hunting and eating aren\u2019t necessarily related. Many cats have an urge to carry out hunting behaviours even when they\u2019ve just eaten, especially if an unexpected small\u00a0animal scuttles or hops past them and triggers them to start a hunt.\u00a0<\/p> Cats learn the skills to hunt early on in their lives – it\u2019s instinct for them. They learn through play with their littermates, practising behaviours like pouncing while playing and often by watching their mother hunt.\u00a0<\/p> As they grow up, their urge to hunt continues to develop. Many owners will see their cats hunting or stalking and sometimes they might even bring you (usually unwanted) \u2018presents\u2019 of their prey.\u00a0<\/p> Sometimes you may find your cat \u2018playing\u2019 with a live animal in the house and understandably many owners find this upsetting. Rest assured your cat is not doing this for entertainment. <\/p> While it looks cruel and unnecessary to us, the hunting techniques that cats have developed are designed to reduce the risk of bites, scratches or injures and this often involves batting or catching then releasing their prey. This can be unpleasant for us to witness, but it is all part of natural hunting strategies for your cat.\u00a0<\/p> For many cats, hunting and stalking prey is a really important part of their routine and helps keep their brains and bodies active. <\/p> If you want to stop them from hunting, it\u2019s really important to make sure they still have the chance to perform these behaviours, otherwise they can get frustrated and anxious.\u00a0<\/p> \u201cThankfully, there are ways you can channel your cat\u2019s hunting instincts into play rather than prey. A recent study showed that daily playtime<\/a> with owners actually reduced the amount of prey that cats brought home and is a great way to spend time and bond with your cat. A few activities you can encourage are:\u00a0<\/p> \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stalking and hiding games are highly stimulating and can be done by introducing a tunnel, box or enclosed bed for your cat to stalk from. They encourage your cat to use their behaviours in the early stage of their hunt.\u00a0<\/p> \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wand toys can be used to mimic the movement of birds (by wafting them up and down) or mice (by dragging them along the floor). Fishing-rod style toys<\/a> will work perfectly for you cat.\u00a0<\/p> \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Soft toys can allow your cat to grip with their front paws and kick with their hind legs as they would during the second phase of their hunt\u00a0<\/p> Many cats will have a preference for one particular type of prey species, this could be birds, mice or something completely different such as a frog. When it comes to toys and playing with your cat, the same rules will apply, so if one game isn\u2019t working why not try a different approach.\u00a0<\/p> Just like when they\u2019re hunting, most cats prefer to play in short bursts, so if they wander off after a few minutes, it doesn\u2019t mean they didn\u2019t enjoy the game! Aim for a few short sessions (10-20 minutes) spread throughout the day, and rotate their toys to provide variety. Remember to let them catch the toy sometimes so they don\u2019t get frustrated.<\/p> Love cats? Check out our\u00a0pets<\/a>\u00a0section for advice on cat care, from\u00a0how to take your cat to the vet without stress<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/strong>how to get rid of fleas<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and even\u00a0how to stop cats pooping in your garden<\/a><\/strong><\/p> About the PDSA<\/strong><\/p>Why do cats play with their prey?<\/h2>
How to stop them hunting<\/h3>