Dome cat owners may wonder why their beloved feline pet loves to eat mice, even if they’ve been provided with a bowl full of commercial cat food. They could investigate the cat’s ancestry, biology, and wiring to find the answer.

Nearly a century ago, cats were mostly outdoor animals. Since cats tend to be exceptional hunters, people keep them to control pests. Those who want to see them hunt in action can watch the behavior of African wildcats, their closest wild cousins. These nocturnal animals hunt mainly at night. They have very precise hearing that allows them to find their prey based solely on auditory clues. African wildcats mainly hunt birds, insects, mice, rats, and small reptiles. They rarely drink water and only obtain moisture from the prey they consume.

Cats devour their prey in order to obtain an essential amino acid called taurine. Unlike other animals, the taurine that cats produce is not enough, so they need to get it in their diet. Meat has the right amount of taurine to meet the needs of a cat’s body, making them so-called “obligate carnivores.” Commercially available cat foods contain taurine.

Although domestic cats behave in a similar way, human protection has encouraged and managed their ability to hunt during the day and at night. In general, cats are born to hunt. At 6 weeks of age, kittens already pounce on their food. Hunting is a cat’s natural survival instinct. Cats typically hunt cautiously, slowly approaching their prey by crawling on their bellies towards them before they pounce.

House cats that stay indoors hunt less than those that live outdoors, since there are no mice to catch. In the wild, feral kitten mothers teach them how to kill their prey. Domestic cats rarely develop this ability. Therefore, they are seen playing with what they catch or bringing a mouse to its owner as an “offering” since most do not know how to kill one.

Cat lovers should understand that it is normal for your favorite pet to catch a mouse and eat it. Although this may seem gross to them, for cats it is normal and, above all, it is fun. Hunting is a natural behavior among cats, and they need to exercise this skill even if they are hunting for their toys or a feathered fishing rod. In case domestic cats go hunting, their owners should remember to deworm them twice a year, since rodents are carriers of intestinal parasites that can infect them as well as humans.