An uncomfortable truth for many people with cats is that, when cats are allowed free access outdoors, many will engage in hunting behaviour. This often raises the question of whether there is anything we can do to stop our cats from catching wild animals. For example, one idea is that feeding choices can affect a cat’s prey drive. So, how true is this?
Predation by cats most commonly includes birds and small mammals, but other animals such as reptiles and amphibians may also be caught. In fact, depending on the geographical location, small reptiles may actually be the most common prey species for cats.
The true impact of cat hunting behaviour on populations of wild animals remains controversial, and is also a very emotive topic. In some isolated geographic areas (such as small islands), there is no doubt that free-ranging cats have played a huge role in the decline or eradication of some native species. However, in larger mainland areas, the impact of predation is much harder to estimate.
Many factors contribute to questions about the true impact of cats on prey animal populations. These include uncertainties on:
A further consideration is that predation may not necessarily have a major impact on wild animal populations at all. There is some evidence that cats may often prey on weaker or sick individuals that might not have survived otherwise.
Despite the many uncertainties about the actual numbers, it is clear that cats can have an important impact on ecosystems. However, it is widely understood that free-roaming cats that are not fed by humans are likely to have a much larger impact than both owned cats and cats that are fed by humans.
Interestingly, while being an owned (or a free-roaming cat fed by a human carer) cat may reduce predation rates, this isn’t always the case. It is clear that many cats—especially younger cats—with outdoor access will still engage in hunting behaviour despite a plentiful supply of food.
Many strategies have been advocated to help reduce predation by pet cats.
The most successful approach is to simply keep cats indoors, or to provide access outdoors in a confined enclosure. This is highly effective at avoiding predation but may not always be a practical solution, and in some instances, confinement indoors may actually introduce welfare concerns.
For some cats at least, training them to use a harness and lead may also be an alternative way of providing safe access outdoors.
Alternative or additional strategies that may be effective in helping reduce hunting behaviour in cats include:
Interestingly, simply increasing the amount of time spent playing with your cat might also reduce their desire to hunt, especially if the playtime mimics natural stalking and hunting activity.
Selective breeding of cats in the future may be another strategy that could eventually lead to reduced predation rates. There appears to be marked variation in hunting behaviour between individuals which is likely to be driven at least partially by genetics.
A group of researchers based at the University of Exeter in the UK have been studying cat predation by domestic cats for several years. In one of their recent publications1, they looked at predation rates in pet cats before and after the introduction of potential control measures. Over the course of several weeks, they specifically looked at:
The results of this study suggested that playing with the cat and using a brightly coloured collar might both help to reduce predation. Curiously, however, the intervention that appeared to have the biggest effect was the switch to a grain-free, high-meat protein diet.
This dietary change was reported to reduce predation rates by 36%, while the introduction of 5-10 minutes of daily play reduced rates by 25%. The brightly coloured, large collar reduced the rates of bird predation by 42%, but did not appreciably affect predation of small mammals.
The findings of this study are intriguing and suggest further work in the area of cat hunting behaviour should be carried out. That being said, in a study from Australia published in 1998, feeding meat to cats was also associated with a lower level of hunting activity2—although the frequency of feeding (number of times a cat was fed each day) did not have any influence.
It seems evident that a number of different interventions may help to reduce predation by pet cats allowed outdoors, and the best strategies will likely involve combining a number of different approaches for any individual cat. However, the fact that simple changes such as wearing large, highly coloured collars and increased playtime can reduce predation rates is very encouraging.
The potential for the diet to influence hunting behaviour is also fascinating. Further research in this area is needed before firm recommendations can be made, but at least two studies have now suggested a higher meat content in the diet may reduce the tendency to hunt. Perhaps this diet more closely mimics the cats’ natural diet in the wild. Being aware of this and adjusting your cat’s diet may be an option to help reduce predation.
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