They can squeeze into small spaces by narrowing their shoulders and chest and can reach speeds of up to 20-30mph by lengthening their spines. Their whole bodies are made for hunting, and their senses are highly developed. Domestic Cats as Predatorsĭomestic cats are highly evolved hunters and can hunt as effectively as wild predators. This means that our feline friends descend from the most proficient hunters. Before they were domesticated, they had to hunt for themselves and provide their own food, and only the best hunters would survive. They were originally wild cats that showed up on early farming settlements to hunt for mice, and they were kept mainly for pest control rather than companions. Much like their ancestors, they are solitary hunters. Image courtesy of Shutterstock Why Do Domestic Cats Hunt?Ī domestic cat is a predatory species. The lion is an apex predator, and our feline friends are descendants of these carnivorous and majestic cats. What Is an Apex Predator?Īn apex predator is an animal at the top of the food chain and is not threatened by natural predators. If humans disappeared from the planet, our cats would continue to survive very easily on their own. Cats are predators and prey but can be considered apex predators because they do not rely on humans for survival. There is no animal that is out looking to feast on a domestic cat, but they can still be killed If they find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. They are apex predators in their respective environments, just like lions and jaguars are in the wild.
They are hard-wired to hunt, and even though they have been domesticated for many years, they still have that hunting instinct.īut are cats apex predators? The interesting answer is yes. Domestic cats have a strong motivation to hunt, and even though they are loveable and affectionate pets, they are highly skilled predators.ĭomestic cats descended from the North African wild cat and share several of their characteristics.
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