How do cats catch mice and rats? - briefly
Cats use keen hearing and vision to locate rodents, then silently approach and pounce with rapid claw strikes that immobilize and kill the prey. They combine stealth, sudden acceleration, and a powerful bite to secure a quick capture.
How do cats catch mice and rats? - in detail
Cats rely on a suite of sensory and physical adaptations to secure small rodents. Acute hearing detects high‑frequency rustling, while binocular vision provides depth perception for judging distance. Vibrissae sense minute air currents near potential prey, and a keen sense of smell identifies the presence of mice or rats.
The hunting sequence follows a predictable pattern:
- Detection: Auditory cues or scent trigger alertness.
- Stalk: The cat lowers its body, aligns its spine, and moves with minimal paw contact, often using vegetation or furniture as cover.
- Positioning: A crouched stance shortens the distance to the target, optimizing the angle for a forward thrust.
- Pounce: Explosive extension of the hind limbs propels the cat forward, delivering momentum to the prey.
- Capture: Retractable claws grip the animal’s torso or hindquarters, preventing escape.
- Kill: A precise bite to the neck severs the spinal cord or crushes the trachea, delivering rapid incapacitation.
- Consumption: The cat may eat the kill immediately, store it, or discard it after a brief assessment.
Physical traits support each phase. A flexible spine allows a sudden stretch during the leap; retractable claws provide both stealth and grip; sharp canines ensure an effective killing bite; and a tapetum lucidum enhances vision in low light, extending hunting opportunities to dawn and dusk.
Domestic felines exhibit the same fundamental behavior, though experience and environmental complexity influence success rates. Juvenile cats practice stalking on moving objects, while seasoned adults refine timing and precision. Larger breeds may target rats more frequently due to greater strength, whereas smaller cats often focus on mice.
After a successful capture, cats typically perform a brief grooming session, cleaning fur and paws. This behavior reduces the risk of pathogen transmission and restores the animal’s coat for subsequent hunts.