Why do cats play with their prey?

People sometimes think of cats and cruel or heartless because they might catch a mouse or bird, and let it go, only to pounce on it again - maybe several times. So this week I wanted to look into why cats play with their prey? Are cats evil, or is there something more to it? 

First off, catster.com says that wild cats rarely play with their prey, and that wearing down their prey can waste time  that could allow another animal to take away the kill or give the prey animal a chance to get away. They also say that most cat species actually have a pretty low success rate at hunting. This makes them opportunistic hunters. They will go after prey when they see the chance even if they aren't hungry, because the next time they might miss out. 

So that gives us a clue as to why our domestic cats will try to hunt down a mouse, even though they are well fed and don't need to hunt for a meal - the instinct to hunt is still alive and well, even if they aren't hungry. But, why do cats play with their prey? 

One reason given by betterwithcats.net is that they actually don't know how to kill their prey. Kittens who see their mother hunt and kill prey can learn how to deliver the killing blow from watching her, but cats who are separated from their mothers, (or maybe their mother doesn't hunt either), might not know how to kill their prey. If a mouse wanders into your house to get out of the cold, your cats hunting instincts will be triggered. They have learned to pounce and run and wrestle from playing with you or other cats, but they might not know how to finish the hunt. They might not even realize that this new mousey isn't a toy like the other ones they might have. 

Another reason given by betterwithcats.net is that they are learning by doing. If your cat hasn't hunted much before and suddenly has the opportunity to catch live prey, they might be trying out different things to see what would work. They might try to pounce on it when it comes near, then let it go and chase after it to see how that strategy would work out. 

Your cat might also be trying to teach you a thing or two. If they bring you a live mouse and then let it go, to chase after it, they might be trying to show you what you should do to hunt down your own dinner so that they don't have to do everything for you! Catster.com says if your cat meows loudly after catching their prey, they might be calling you over so that they can take advantage of this teachable moment.

They might even be bringing you what they perceive as a gift. Your cat may be trying to provide dinner for you, since you provide so many meals for them, or want to show off how well they are earning their keep by catching small pests around the house.

One theory says that cats are trying to tire out and disorient their prey in order to make the kill easier but as noted before, in the wild, cats aren't seen to play with their prey. However, domestic cats are well fed, and don't need to kill in order to get a meal, so they might be looking for some entertainment. So, yes, it could just be fun for your cat to catch, release and then re-catch their hapless prey. I know that sounds mean, but before you go thinking that all cats are jerks, remember that they don't see the world the same way as us. Catster.com says your cat's idea of fun is to be stimulated and to use their natural instinct for hunting. Your cat isn't thinking about what the poor mouse or bird is feeling, they are seeing something they can chase, pounce on, and then chase again! To them, it's not much different from chasing after a ball or wand toy.

And that might explain why your cat might continue to play with their prey even after it is dead. They might not be sure that it is dead, and are poking it or batting it around to see if it will start "playing" again. They might be hitting it they same way they might hit a ball so that they can get it to move and they can run after it.

If your cat has hunted and killed their prey, betterwithcats.net cautions that it can be dangerous for them to eat it. They cite an article by Patricia Walters of the New England Animal Medical Center that says bones are the most common object to get stuck in a cats throat. They could also pick up a parasite or bacteria from live prey that can make them sick. Furthermore, if a mouse or rat has eaten poison, it might have come into your home seeking water. If your cat then kills that creature and eats it, it might ingest the poison too. So, if your cat has made a kill, try to dispose of the remains quickly. If your cat has eaten some of the prey, it might be time to have the vet check them out!

Cover photo by Daniel Jericó on Unsplash