Scientists from the University of Exeter have discovered the role of hunting in the life and nutrition of cats. The research is published in the journal Ecosphere.
The authors of the article used radioisotope analysis to understand what cats eat. So, before and after the control period, they cut off one vibrissa, and calculated the sources of protein in the food of the animal by the ratio of isotopes of carbon and other elements.
According to the results of British scientists, the vast majority of cats' diets (96 percent) consisted of homemade food. Wild animals accounted for only 3-4 percent. According to one of the researchers Martina Cecchetti, if cats have food from their owners, then they eat almost entirely on it. As a result, scientists concluded that it is not hunger that makes animals hunt, but instinct. “As predators, some cats can hunt instinctively even if they are not hungry, committing so-called excess killing,” they explained.
The collar, which repels birds, helps to reduce the number of wild animals that the cat preys. In addition, the researchers also advised pet owners to play with them regularly and feed them meat food.
In May, scientists from the University of New York concluded that cats love to sit not only in real, but also in imaginary boxes. Researchers believe such discoveries provide a better understanding of how animals interact with humans.
