Thanks for stopping by! Get The Way of Cats, delivered, by asking for my RSS feed. Get my free cat advice newsletter by signing up here and get the FREE eBook, Ten Cat Tricks (Every Human Should Know.)Cats are all predators, but their expression of this drive will vary by their genetic inheritance and their early experiences. Some cats will be so domesticated that they readily make friends with small prey, while others have such a wild side they shape their play, and their needs, around it.
Of my present three cats, RJ is the one with the strongest prey drive. I know this even though he does not have access to the outdoors to show his mighty hunter skills. In play, he is the one who must complete the cycle by wrestling, and subduing, something.
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When we play with the laser pointer, he needs the stuffed dog to end the session. When we bring out the wand toy, he has to finish with his teeth clamped on the toy at the end, and won’t relinquish it until he is certain it has given up the ghost.
RJ is an example of how much genetic heritage contributes to this behavior. Observation of wild and feral cats have concluded that while kittens are born knowing how to pounce and chase, their mothers teach them how to kill and devour. Without this input and reinforcement, a cat is less likely to take their play all the way.
RJ had very little interaction in his early years, because he wouldn’t even play with toys when we first got him. Once we got his instincts activated, he showed such a strong drive that our play with him now needs the end game that simulates the killing phase.
Not all cats need this. My cat Myron would chase a sponge ball all day, but he would groom the family hamsters. Mr. Bond loves to ambush, but he concludes play by upending the toy, or losing interest. He has no need to complete the prey cycle.
Beta cats tend to have the strongest prey drive, indicating that these cats are probably the closest to the wild state. Domestication has expanded cats’ assertion and terraforming qualities, as in Alphas, or emphasized their sensitive and observational qualities, such as Gammas.
But any cat can display strong prey drives. Feral kittens, scrappy strays, or cats with access to the outdoors have the opportunity to develop the complete hunter package.
What this means to us as pet parents is that we must take care of our cats who have these strong drives, and usually we must make a special effort. Toys which start with our input, like wand toys or laser pointers, need to end with a final struggle that we supply. Something must be subdued before the cat feels completion.
All needs reach for satiation.
Cats who show signs of stress or frustration might be missing this final element. When our cats ask for food, we don’t just show them a can. When our cats ask for play, they might need the full cycle.
For all cats, the play’s the thing. Some cats are happy with Act One and Act Two, sighting and chasing the prey. But some of our cats need Act Three, the subduing and killing of their prey. They don’t know why they need it, they just do.
Cats who keep asking for play, cats who seem to seek out objects to destroy, and cats who wail or cry for no discernible reason might be needing the complete prey cycle. Our help can give them the relief they are asking for.
Cat wants and cat needs are usually the same thing.
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