Have you ever seen your kitty aggressively stalk a toy feather or jump gracefully on a high massage chair? These acts are not merely acts of cuteness, but rather stem from their long history of being a wild animal. Cats of today may seem relaxed when hunting anywhere around the house, but their instinct to hunt stems from survival, accuracy, and being cunning. To better understand and appreciate our feline companions let us look at their history of hunting and see why they behave the way they do.
Domestic Cats Have Wild Cat Ancestors
Ancestors of cats today were wild desert cat hunters who lived in areas with extreme weather conditions which meant that they had to be able to hunt to sustain their lives. Felines were in the wilderness approximately 7,000 years ago, even before their domestication started, and during that time, survival of the fittest was the only rule. They were accompanied by strength and deadly swiftness but also were deadly for larger animals.
Since cats have been living with humans for thousands of years which means they have barely been domesticated, these primal instincts remain unbroken. These instincts explain why they love high places, why they like to chase moving objects, and everything else that should not make sense. In simpler words, if your cat is playing, it is able to realize its true potential as a hunter.
The Love Cats Have for Heights!
One observation that appears quite universal across all cat types, is a preference for elevated resting areas. Cats are often seen perching on top of wardrobes, shelves, and windows. As mentioned, this might be a remnant of where their wild ancestors used to wait out high up from predators while they scanned the vicinity for their prey.
In the unknown, being elevated up provided the now wild cats the much needed advantage of plotting their next course while sitting out threats. In your case, a live cat could just be looking forward to climbing up their condo tree or being in such an elevated position that would suit their alpha hunter role.
Removing Your Cats Stress
A canister of furbearers in itself isn’t enough, to entirely remove your gentle house cat’s desire during those times when they were hunters, so what’s left? Well anything that mimics the movement of prey trimming their instinct to stalk paw up and pounce be it a feather toy, crumpled paper or even laser pointers.
Here’s what makes your cat’s a natural born hunter:
Sharpened senses: As previously stated, cats possess fascinating hearing and sight, particularly at night. Their eyesight is so good that they can easily see a heated solution when the night is fully set up.
Time and Timing: Wild cats have to use a lot of restraint in order to time their attack correctly, like your cat does when it gently wiggles its tail and starts to bond before launching itself against the target.
Endurance and Rapid Movement: Felines are a gifted kind of athlete. They were skilled jumpers and leapers as a result of their muscular rear quarters and flexible spines.
Play as a Function in the Life of Modern Cats
Playing isn’t just amusing for a house cat, it is absolutely necessary. Play aids in the release of energy, offers mental workout, satisfies their instinctive needs to hunt and aids physical exercise. Otherwise, cats can become bored and anxious and even aggressive when they feel that they do not receive the correct kind of stimulus.
Tips for keeping your cat busy include:
Toys That Engage:The use of feather wands, balls with bells, or laser pointers is very effective for engaging a cat in a stimulating search.
Food Puzzle: These items offer a frustratingly satisfying whisker tension and encourage your cat to overly exude physical energy strength to food.
Toy Rotation: Changing toys makes play interesting all the time.
Climbing Areas: With cat trees, shelves, or window hammocks, your cat can feel safe and entertained.
Cats History In Hunting
Have a look at the intriguing facts regarding history of cats as they were once wild animals, their methods of hunting can be fascinating.
Natural Born Hunters : Cats today are a direct descendant of feline animals that were born wild and their natural method of survival was to hunt small creatures, therefore it is in their gene to have this instinct to prey.
Night Vision: Cats have far greater sensitivity to light than humans, enabling them to seek and hunt in darkness.
The Powerful Purr: It is commonly assumed that the soothing sound a cat makes, the purr, is used to acknowledge contentment. However, wild cats pregnant females also use this sound to placate their kittens and reduce the number of nearby threats.
Concealed Stalkers: The cushion-like paws of cats ensure noiseless movement, which wild cats utilized to their advantage while hunting.
When instincts turn into trouble
A cat's emotional state has an impact on its behavioral patterns, sometimes, when they feel bored or lack entertainment, they start performing unpleasant duties, like "attacking" your ankles or pushing stuff off the table. These generally occur out of boredom or excess energy, rather than meanness. Redirecting your energies in an appropriate manner can help deal with these instincts.
Instinctive Actions Help: Provide your cat with an abundance of toys, interactive elements, and scratching posts.
Create a Safe Environment: Ensure that they have ample space to climb as well as space they can burrow and hide in so they feel safe.
Commit to Daily Play: Ensure to accept and play with your cat on a daily basis to meet their requirements for both physical and mental stimulation.
Acknowledging Their Inner Nature
Cats may have switched the outdoors for warm homes but their fierce ancestors are still within them. If you pay attention to their habits and offer them ways to exercise those instincts, you are not just keeping your feline content but also enriching your relationship with them.
So next time your cat jumps on the top of the cabinets, could be chasing after a toy mouse or may spend hours looking out the window, remember – they are not doing it for fun. They are engaging in activities that span millions of years of history in relation to the wilderness and you.
Also, allow your cat to be a pet that wants to hunt. All of the tools, the environment, and the affection are to be given to them so they can be free. A satisfied self residing feline pet equals a satisfied home.