Hunting instinct in cats
Hunting instinct is the level of an animal's natural interest in hunting live prey. Even domestic cats have it and can easily be tested at home. To determine how developed the hunting instinct is, you need to scratch your fingers on the surface. The faster a cat reacts to a sound, the higher its level of interest.
Cat hunting consists of several mandatory stages, including:
- prey detection;
- sneaking up on the victim;
- decisive shot;
- holding with teeth.
The hunting instinct is well manifested in games with a pet. Before throwing, the animal freezes and begins to sway, tensing its body. If the prey escapes, the cat expresses dissatisfaction with its voice.
The level of development of the hunting instinct is influenced by the conditions of keeping animals. Cats living in apartments catch mice for fun. Yard cats are more adapted to hunting and do it not out of interest, but for food.
On a note. All kittens from birth have the makings of a predator. But they learn hunting techniques from their mother. If kittens do not learn the appropriate skills at an early age, they will not catch mice in the future.
Sterilized individuals
Some are convinced that castration in no way affects hunting instincts. But sterilization does not pass without a trace and affects not only the physiological part, but also the behavioral part.
After castration, the pet becomes more passive: it sleeps longer, is lazy and has little interest in what is happening around it. Moreover, after the procedure the animal is prone to gaining excess weight, which affects its mobility.
After castration, veterinarians recommend choosing a special diet for your pet that is low in fat, as well as elements that stimulate activity. On sale you can find special food for sterilized cats, which facilitates the physiological adaptation of the animal.
Who is better at catching mice, a cat or a cat?
According to experts, cats are the best rodent hunters. Unlike cats, they catch mice and rats without being distracted by such secondary factors as the instinct of reproduction and the protection of personal boundaries.
The hunting instinct is most pronounced in domestic females before the onset of estrus and during the period of feeding offspring. In addition, it is cats who teach growing kittens how to hunt, while simultaneously honing their own skills.
Important! Cats perceive all birds and small rodents as potential prey, without dividing them into friends and foes. Therefore, if in addition to mustachioed predators in the house there are hamsters, parrots and other living creatures, it must be protected from cat claws.
Nutrition
Even if a cat successfully hunts and does not return home without prey, it still needs to be fed, and fully, but most importantly - correctly. The physical condition of the animal - strength and endurance - depends on a balanced diet.
In a good half of cases, pets do not eat their prey, but strangle it: they bring it to the porch to show respect to the owner, or give it to kittens to learn the hunting craft. Street cats feed on caught mice, and other reasons, such as games, fade into the background.
It is better to give preference to natural products or good industrial feed. It is very important that the food provides the animal’s body with all the necessary minerals and vitamins. A balanced diet will have a positive effect on both your pet’s immunity and its activity.
Which breeds are better at catching mice?
Cats that do not belong to a specific breed are the best at catching mice. The effectiveness of hunting by such individuals is explained by their lifestyle and the need to independently obtain food. And although their “professionalism” is incomparable with the hunting skills of purebred cats, among the latter there are also recognized rat catchers.
These include indigenous varieties, the formation of which occurred under natural conditions:
- American Shorthair. Representatives of this cat breed have a rich history and were previously used to catch rodents in food warehouses and stores.
- Burmese cat. This intelligent and charming animal loves to eat and is a master at catching mice.
- British Shorthair. The compact cat with a plush coat is also considered a good hunter. She not only catches mice, but often brings them to their owners.
- European cat. Similar animals were common in Ancient Rome. They prefer to hunt at night and are considered excellent rat catchers.
- Cymric. These powerful, short-tailed cats with sharp claws are designed to be kept in open areas and have innate hunting skills.
- Kurilian Bobtail. The bobtail cat has long hind legs, due to which it can develop high speed and jump long distances. The Kurilian Bobtail is capable of not only catching a mouse, but also driving away strange dogs that have sneaked into the area.
- Maine Coon. A powerful cat with well-developed muscles and strong hunting instincts, it is suitable for keeping in a private home with free access to the outdoors. The Maine Coon reacts with lightning speed to rodents and leaves them no chance.
- Manx. These cats have always been popular among farmers and sailors. They have developed hunting instincts and are skilled at catching mice.
- Nibelung. Rare long-haired cats with a complex, freedom-loving character are endowed with developed hunting instincts and are known as excellent rat catchers.
- Russian blue. The small cat has lightning-fast reactions and can move silently. She is able to catch the slightest rustle and immediately rushes in pursuit of prey.
- Siberian. A fast cat with excellent reactions is considered an unrivaled hunter. The shaggy Siberian prefers to live in wide open spaces and can pursue prey in any weather.
American shorthair cat
Burmese cat
Cymric cat
Kurilian Bobtail
Siamese, Abyssinian, Bengal, Burmese and Persian cats are good at catching mice. All of them were formed in natural conditions with minimal human intervention and do an excellent job of fighting rodents.
Hantavirus infections
Several species of rodents are known to carry hantavirus. Cats can be infected with hantavirus but do not show any symptoms, so the virus is not harmful to them. Additionally, cats cannot transmit hantavirus to humans.
However, humans can be exposed through contact with infected rodents. 6 Although serious complications caused by hantavirus are uncommon in humans, exposure can lead to a serious illness called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
The main signs of a mousecatcher cat
In order for a kitten to become a good rat catcher in the future, it must be taken from a mother who has well-developed hunting instincts. And so that she has time to pass on her skills to her offspring, it is recommended to pick up the baby no earlier than 4 months.
On a note. If a kitten is adopted from a stray mother, there is a high probability that it will grow into an excellent mouser. In purebred animals, the hunting instincts are dulled, especially if several generations of his ancestors were housed.
You can also determine which kittens will catch mice in the future by their appearance. It is believed that a good hunter should have the following characteristics:
- A triangular head with powerful jaws, long mustaches and high-set ears topped with tassels.
- Camouflage color. It is believed that cats with tortoiseshell, pied, grey, red, black, tabby or spotted coats have an easier time remaining undetected.
- Short hair. A thick, long coat interferes with hunting and, when wet, acquires a characteristic odor that repels mice and rats.
- Well-built body with strong bones, well-developed muscles and large paws.
Behavior change
There are often cases when cats behave quite aggressively towards household members and guests. Pets are capable of not only scratching furniture, but also attacking. The animal experiences a kind of stress (usually due to dissatisfaction). This behavior goes from episodic to permanent status, since the pet considers it the norm.
The problem can be solved if the animal is sterilized in a timely manner. The cat becomes more accommodating as the source of “indignation” ceases to be relevant
If even several months after the operation the cat still continues to be mischievous, then the cause should be sought in other factors (constant stress, illness, lack of attention, etc.). In the first days after the operation, the animal may behave too calmly
It will seem that in such a short period of time the pet's activity will decrease significantly. But actually it is not. The rehabilitation period for each individual is different. For some, a couple of days are enough to recover, while for others it takes up to several weeks or even months.
The main thing is to provide your pet with complete care. This applies not only to nutrition, but also to attention. After all, the animal needs the support of its owner more than ever.
It is important to find that “golden” mean that will be optimal for creating a postoperative environment for a cat
Is it possible to teach a cat to catch mice?
In the absence of appropriate conditions and proper upbringing, even a kitten with good heredity will not make a good hunter. You can help your pet develop natural instincts and learn to catch mice by using games with live bait. To do this, you need to set traps and give the rodents caught in them to the cat. Instead of live bait, you can use special toys or a laser pointer.
On a note. Games are a powerful stimulant, but they need to be used in doses. Otherwise, the cat will completely satisfy its hunting needs with such entertainment and will not catch mice.
To awaken natural instincts in your pet, you should not overfeed it. It is necessary to reduce its portion so that the cat feels a slight feeling of hunger. Malnutrition activates the animal's interest in mice and awakens its hunting instincts. You cannot completely deprive your cat of food, as this will lead to health problems.
Recommendations
A hunting cat spends a lot of time outdoors, in contact with other animals, which increases the likelihood of infection and the development of diseases. To protect your pet from diseases, you need to remember the following rules:
For preventative purposes, you can take your cat to the veterinarian for examination once every six months.
The importance of a pet's appearance
Appearance is very important when choosing a hunter cat. First, pay attention to the color of the coat - it should serve as camouflage. For example, discreet colors are suitable for our nature - gray, brown or variegated. Also, not only the color, but also the length of the coat plays an important role: too long can interfere with hunting. In addition, when wet, its strong odor can scare away potential victims. And, of course, the mustache is the natural locator of your home hunter. With their help, the animal navigates in the dark, catches air vibrations and estimates the distance to prey. And therefore the rule “more is better” works here.
Predator on the hunt
Tailed liberators of Leningrad
When all the cats in the besieged city were eaten in 1943, rats began to multiply at a catastrophic rate. They ran through the streets like a businessman in search of corpses, climbed into apartments, destroyed furniture and the last supplies.
The rodents were shot by special brigades and crushed by tanks, but the “rat troops” did not retreat. The city was saved by rat-catching cats of Russian and Siberian breeds. They were brought in trains from all over the country after the blockade was broken.
Today, two sculptures remind us of the four-legged liberators. One depicts the cat Vasilisa standing on the ledge, the second depicts the cat Elisha sitting opposite. St. Petersburg residents believe that whoever throws a coin on a cat pedestal will be lucky.
Heredity and upbringing
Heredity and upbringing play a huge role not only among people, but also in the animal world. An experiment conducted quite a long time ago proved this. To conduct it, two cat families were chosen: purebred and domestic. The parents of these families had their kittens replaced. Thus, purebred cats raised yard kittens, and yard parents raised purebred ones. Yard cats began to teach their children how to hunt in natural conditions, while for purebred cats the whole process was like a game. As a result, purebred kittens became excellent hunters, while domestic kittens were significantly inferior to them in this regard.
The cat is entrusted with caring not only for itself, but also for its offspring.
Of course, it cannot be denied that heredity is very important, but as a result of inaction, even pronounced instincts can be suppressed. Therefore, if you need a hunter cat, it is better to pay attention to yard animals. Well, if the breed is important to you, a good alternative would be to buy a kitten from a family that lives outside the city and has access to a spacious area.
Relationship with the owner
A true Briton is smug and self-sufficient, and views his owners as breadwinners. It is not without reason that this breed is considered suitable for business people. They don't like to sit on their hands and can't stand noisy companies at all.
After a long day of work, the pet will greet the person reverently and tenderly, and will rub against the legs. They don’t like it when the owner stays late somewhere and doesn’t come home from work on time.
If there is a child in the family, you should not have a Briton for his entertainment. Representatives of this breed are very patient with children, but they will not allow themselves to be made into toys. They will hide and run away.
It is very rare for a straight-eared Briton to be “tame.” He doesn't often ask to be held and petted. However, when he needs to climb onto his owner’s lap, he will follow along until he achieves his goal.
