- When cats stalk prey on cut lawns it causes a conflict because there is not enough cover. Tail swishing is a visible sign of mental conflict. Nose licking also indicates displacement behavior (the same as us scratching our head for example).
- The domestic cat is essentially crepuscular, hunting at dawn and dusk using its effective low light vision (cat’s eyes). However, it varies. It could be at night (in warmer weather) or at midday (in colder weather).
- Hunting reflects the activity of the domestic and feral cat’s prey.
- The classic domestic cat hunting strategy is waiting and watching patiently at a place where prey is likely to appear.
- Domestic, stray and feral cats use long grass as cover when stalking if available.
- A kitten instinctively knows how to pounce. Having stalked and pounced on prey the cat may position itself on its side to allow it to use its hind claws to rake the prey.
- Maine page on Social Play in the Domestic Cat.
- The best cat hunters are mothers followed feral cats67. Mother cats are approximately 3-4 times more efficient at catching prey than non-mothers68.
- Mothers delay killing prey, sometimes playing with it. There are good reasons for this: domestic cat hunting. A conflicting reason is give by Paul Leyhausen who says that play with killed prey is called, “overflow play” and is a release of tension after a difficult but successful hunt against a potentially prey such as a rat.
- Dr Bruce Fogle says, “few cats can catch birds”. Birds are less often eaten than ground dwelling animals as the feathers need plucking. Many wild cats pluck bird feathers carefully before feeding (cat eats a bird). Bird kills seem high because the bird is not eaten. See mouser cat.
- Main page on domestic cats and behavior including hunting.
- Cats can have a big impact of native species if these species live on small islands. There are documented cases.
- In my view not enough is known about the impact of feral cats on prey species such as birds. We don’t even know how many feral cats there are. The situation has become political, contentious and polarised.
- Main page on this: How feral cats affect wildlife.
- Main page on hunting birds: Domestic cats do not decimate bird populations.
- Domestic cats bringing prey back to our home could be a reflection of the wildcats habit of dragging prey to a hidden site as a food store for the next meal. The cougar buries prey under a twigs and leaves mound constructed for the purpose.
- In Los Angeles (at April 2010) the authorities have stopped the support of the city for people practicing TNR on the basis that it affects bird populations and has no benefit to the feral cat population.
- There is concern over the impact of feral, stray and domestic cats on wildlife. Some places implemented schemes to try and limit cat hunting:
| Date | Place | Scheme |
| 1989 | Melbourne | Dusk to dawn curfew of pet cats |
| 1940s | Illinois, USA | Restricting cats to homes |
| Current? | Switzerland | Cats must return to their homes at night |
