Simon's Cat Explains Why Cats Like to Hunt

As pet parents we’ve all been a bit perplexed at times by the sight of our indoor cat stalking ‘prey.’ Why would a feline with access to food still feel that internal hunger to hunt? Simon’s Cat creator Simon Tofield and Cat Behavior Expert Nicky Trevorrow chase down the answer in a new Simon’s Cat Logic video.

Sharpened senses of sight and sound combined with nimble agility make our pals who purr excellent hunters, which is essential for a cat who must fend for himself. However, as a cat’s urge to eat is separate from the craving to pursue quarry, even a cat who has never had the need to rely on their stalking skills will chatter to chirping birds out of excitement and strike that all too familiar pre-pounce pose complete with an unblinking gaze, a frozen form and even a little “tush twitch” dance performance in preparation for a leap. Indoor cats may not get the chance to hone their tracking talent out in the wild, but they still enjoy the thrill of the hunt when they attack their favorite toy.

“Why Do Cats Like Hunting?” is the latest in a series of educational Simon’s Cat Logic clips which strives to explain the sometimes baffling behavior of our feline friends. Other videos in the series are:

The series was created by Simon’s Cat cartoonist Simon Tofield in partnership with the largest feline welfare charity in the United Kingdom, Cats Protection. Featuring 32 adoption centers and over 250 volunteer-operated branches, Cats Protection offers a new lease on life to approximately 200,000 cats and kittens in need each year.

Photo Credit: Simon’s Cat

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Grace Sydney

Grace Sydney is the Assistant Editor of CatTipper.com and DogTipper.com, covering rescue-related celebrity activities.