Cats in wildlife are amongst the most agile hunters and are specifically Obligate carnivores in nature. Although they are graceful and mysterious creatures when it comes to their predatory instincts, there is no mystery to hold. If you, as a cat owner, have witnessed an unexpected gift of a dead bird from your pet or are concerned about the unusual dead bodies of birds in your surroundings,
The question might arise: do cats eat recently dead birds? You might be concerned about whether or not your Feline friend really eats birds or not? In this blog, we will find the answers to all the questions related to the truth behind cat-hunting behaviors. Why do acts chase birds? Why and how they hunt birds. The impact of domesticated Cats on the neighborhood birds, both pet birds and local birds’ population. Let us reveal the complex relationship between the birds and cats.
Do Cats Eat Recently Dead Birds?
One of the frequently asked questions about cat hunting birds is: Can cats eat recently dead birds? Or why do cats eat recently dead birds? The answer to such questions is a simple Yes. Cats do prefer eating recently dead birds as it is not rotten yet; that’s why they can easily consume such meat. It is in their predatory nature.
Cats rely on meat to survive, and that’s why they have the ability to hunt for small birds and rodents. Rodents are trained well to dodge their hunters, and this is also a reason why they eat recently dead birds for their survival. A recently dead bird appears fresh to cats; some of the organs are still warm and not infested with bacteria, so cats can easily smell their blood and take the opportunity to feed on them. Cats are opportunistic feeders, and a dead bird represents a healthy and low-effort meal with good texture and taste that also symbolizes a successful hunt.
Key Takeaways
- Cats rely on meat to survive, and that’s why they have the ability to hunt for small birds and rodents.
- Hunting birds not only satisfy cat’s hunger but also fulfills their psychological needs.
- Yes, household cats can eat birds, but it rarely happens as they are fed by their owners and are taken good care of with extra treats.
Do Cats Eat Birds?
Yes, cats can hunt and eat birds. Cats are great hunters of nature, and they mainly depend on small rodents and small birds for their main nutritional needs. Hunting is the instinct of cats, even if they are wild or domesticated. It is true that even if we feed our cats and kittens, they tend to bring small birds to your home, sometimes as carved in their nature.
Some people ask why do cats eat birds? cat hunt birds because of their movements, which triggers the hunting responses in cats. Birds are easy to catch and have small bones and soft tissue that can be chewed and eaten easily. Hunting birds not only satisfy cat’s hunger but also fulfills their psychological needs.
Hunting birds takes so much stealth and patience. Cats usually stalk small birds and wait for the right time to pounce on them until the birds stop moving. They usually give a killing bite on their neck or head to immobilize birds; sometimes when, domestic cats that are not hungry at all will play with small birds or even take them to the owners as a gift which raises so many questions about the impact of tamed cats on birds where the birds are in a vulnerable population.
Do Cats Eat Birds or Just Kill Them?
Cats do kill the birds for food. They can both kill the birds and then feed upon them to fulfill their hunger. Sometimes, our Feline friends kill the birds and do not bother to consume them for feeding, and there are many reasons behind this Behaviour. Whether or not the cat will eat its prey depends upon many physical, social, and environmental factors.
It is true that, at times, our domesticated Toms and Queens will just hunt a bird for boredom and play because of their instincts. Sometimes, well-fed Queens will coach their kitten to hunt down birds, and they will just leave the corpses of birds alone when both the Queen and the kittens are already well-fed.
As we have stated, the answer to the question about why do cats eat small birds. We will elaborate by saying that bigger birds are difficult to hunt, and some big birds like eagles, kites, and falcons are Faster and are very difficult to hunt; rather, most big birds have the ability to hunt the kittens down.
Do Household Cats Eat Birds?
Yes, household cats can eat birds, but it rarely happens as they are fed by their owners and are taken good care of with extra treats. Sometimes, when the cats are not properly taken care of, or they are not well fed, to be more precise, they tend to hunt for themselves, including little rats in the house, and if they have access to the garden of the house, they can even hunt for the birds in their site.
Our Feline friends, no matter how tamed and well-trained they are, will always carry a predatory instinct in their genes that will help them when owners are not around or they become ignorant. Indoor cats have no access to the birds, so they are less likely to hunt for birds, but if a bird enters the house by mistake, they can take their chance to kill them by chance.
In conclusion, we will say that just because you have a cute little household feline friend who is potty trained and well-fed doesn’t mean they cannot hunt for your pet birds or your garden’s local birds. They can do it for fun and can bring it as a gift to you as well.
Do Domestic Cats Eat Birds?
Not all household cats are domestic cats. Domestic cats can be purebred or a mixed breed; they are habitual of living amongst humans and sometimes stray. Household cats mainly live with humans inside houses.
Whether they are trained for this or not, whether they have been in a household for generations or they are domesticated strays, they can hunt for themselves, and a bird is easy prey to capture. Cats like to eat birds, and there is no second guess for that. One of the most frequently asked questions by Pet owners is: Why do cats like to eat Birds? The answer to the question is due to the following reasons:
- Instincts and Natural Behavior:
Due to the cat’s Wild ancestors, this hunting instinct is hardwired in cats, and birds are fast-moving creatures that trigger the cat’s response to chase them and hunt for them.
- Nutrition:
Cats need high-nutrition food like meat to survive. Birds provide high-value proteins, minerals, and essential vitamins as a cat feed.
- Easy Prey:
Birds are very easy to hunt as compared to other small animals in the list of cat prey. Birds usually land on the ground to either relax or feed on little worms and insects. This is the right time for cats to hunt them, and they do it easily, for it is a low-effort meal.
- Psychological Factors:
Chasing and hunting on small animals like rodents and birds provides mental stimulation to cats. This is a natural behavior that gives them a sense of agility and playfulness.
What To Do If Your Cat Eats a Bird?
If you learn that your cat has eaten a bird and you are stressed about what can happen wrong, then you should not be alarmed by this situation. There are a few steps to take to ensure the safety of your Feline friend.
- Notice the odd symptoms like vomiting and illness in the coming day or the next few hours.
- If Your Queen or Tom has come back from hunting, then you must check for any injuries on your cat’s body, like bird scratches and wounds.
- Birds may have parasites that can infect your cats. If your cat poop has worms, you need to consult a veterinary doctor.
- As a cat owner, you should limit cat activity to prevent such incidents in the future.
Why Do Cats Kill Birds and Not To Eat Them?
Cats can kill the birds and not eat them for the following reasons:
- Natural Instincts
- playing with Birds
- Curiosity
- Training their young ones
- Hunting psychology
Conclusion:
Now that we know that it is in a cat’s natural behavior to hunt for birds, they don’t care if they are endangered birds or if they affect the local population of birds. Our pet Cats harming the natural bird population is disturbing the natural food cycle of nature, and we must be concerned about this. We can limit our cat’s activity and train them not to hunt for birds.
We can also feed them properly to ensure the safety of cats and birds at the same time. Either your Tom is hunting birds in hunger, or your Queen is coaching Hunting to the kitten. In both cases, we can be good owners, be vigilant about what our pets are doing, and limit such activities.
Do cats eat bird feathers?
Cats can sometimes eat the bird’s feathers while eating the raw bird, but they do it unintentionally and mostly avoid them. When a cat catches or consumes the bird, the feathers get swallowed and can be vomited back after a few hours.
References:
- https://www.quora.com/Does-my-cat-expect-me-to-eat-the-dead-birds-he-brings-home
- https://untamed.com/blogs/nutrition/do-cats-eat-birds#:~:text=Fun%20or%20hunger%E2%80%94do%20cats,probably%20stick%20to%20specific%20parts.
