Word Count: 881
Cats as Carnivorous Predators
Throughout the course of evolution the cat’s ability to survive in the wild has
become extremely dependent upon its hunting ability. In order for feral, or
undomesticated, cats to survive on their own in the wild they have developed hereditary
traits and instincts from their ancestors throughout time. Though these hereditary traits
that they have inherited are helpful for undomesticated cats, they can often cause
problems when domesticated house cats revert back to the ways of their ancestors, often
influencing the ways that cats kept as pets are managed. Cats are carnivorous predators
and pet owners must accommodate this lifestyle by feeding them a meat-based diet with
high protein, providing them with a play outlet to avoid predatory aggression, as well as
keeping them inside or monitoring their activities while outside to avoid the unnecessary
killing of birds or any other type of animal.
As carnivorous predators, cats require a high protein, meat-based diet. The need
for a meat-based diet is essential because the meat is often high in not only proteins and
calories, but it also has a great deal of amino acids, especially taurine, which is important
in the development of eye sight. Pet owners must be aware that “the protein requirement
for maximal growth for kittens is 24 % when the diet exceeds all of the essential amino
acid requirements” (Journal of Nutrition, High Dietary Protein and Taurine… pg.2228).
Carnivores need this amount of protein at a young age to build muscle for hunting and to
keep them well nourished.
The diet of the cat is based on development and they should be fed according to their
stage of development towards an adult cat. In the wild, cats eat just about anything they
can get their paws on; rats, mice, birds, and reptiles. Kittens have a need for higher levels
of protein and calories for proper development until they reach the age of 18 months,
when the levels of protein drop to just the right amount of protein to sustain themselves.
Another reason why cats need to have a healthy meat-based diet is because they have a
shorter digestive system than most omnivores and herbivores. They have to absorb more
nutrients in a shorter amount of time, thus the need for a lot of protein because they have
a very short time to digest it.
Being a carnivorous predator, the cat needs some sort of play outlet besides its usual
habitat or the owner may become the object of play predatory aggression. All animals
need stimulation of some kind to guard against boredom. The inquisitive nature of the
cat causes them to often times become destructive reverting back to ancestral behaviors
in search of attention. Once the cat receives the attention that it desires they often times
will continue to display the traits of a predator and stalk its owner like prey and bite or
attempt to tackle anything that moves. There are many ways to keep a house cat from
reverting to its predatory instincts such as; providing the cat with play toys, squirting that
cat with water whenever it makes an attack, as well as getting a second cat to keep each
other company.
A third and final challenge in owning a carnivorous predator is the fact that owners must
often consider keeping the cats inside in an effort to avoid the unnecessary killing of
birds, rodents, reptiles, and other small mammals. “Contrary to what seems like
common-sense-that a cat with a full belly has no reason to hunt-the evidence is
overwhelming that even contented well-cared-for house cats are often instinctive,
prodigiously effective predators” (Luoma, Audubon: Catfight. pg.86). Cats hunt as a
survival mechanism. Through evolution the cat’s ability to survive depended upon its
hunting ability. The cat’s hereditary instincts are a major factor in the reason why cats
are often willing to kill, even on a full stomach. As an attempt to decrease the number of
deaths that cats cause in the population of rodents, reptiles, birds, and other mammals, cat
owners should try to keep their pets inside and monitor their activities while they are
outside or in play outlets because, “roaming cats in general-including friendly house-hold
tabby-cumulatively do far more damage to wildlife, birds, small mammals, and reptiles
than anyone ever expected” (Luoma, Audubon: Catfight. pg.86).
Pet owners must accommodate the lifestyle of their cat as a carnivorous predator. A
meat-based diet will give the cat high proteins, calories, as well as a good amount of
amino acids to help the cat through the stages of development and keep the cat well
nourished and healthy. A play outlet is essential for keeping the cat busy and helps keep
cats out of mischief and avoids misdirected predatory aggression from the cat to the
owner. Also, cat owners must be aware of the activities of their pet while the cat is
outside or in play outlets to avoid the meaningless killing of unneeded prey in birds,
rodents, reptiles, and other small mammals. Keeping carnivorous predators as pets can
often times be difficult and time consuming but with the correct managerial tactics,
keeping a cat as a pet is very low maintenance
Keywords:
word count cats carnivorous predators throughout course evolution ability survive wild
become extremely dependent upon hunting ability order feral undomesticated cats
survive their wild they have developed hereditary traits instincts from their ancestors
throughout time though these hereditary traits that they have inherited helpful
undomesticated cats they often cause problems when domesticated house revert back
ways their ancestors often influencing ways that kept pets managed carnivorous predators
owners must accommodate this lifestyle feeding them meat based diet with high protein
providing them with play outlet avoid predatory aggression well keeping them inside
monitoring activities while outside avoid unnecessary killing birds other type animal
carnivorous predators require high protein meat based diet need meat based diet essential
because often high only proteins calories also great deal amino acids especially taurine
which important development sight owners must aware that protein requirement maximal
growth kittens when exceeds essential amino acid requirements journal nutrition dietary
taurine carnivores need this amount young build muscle hunting keep well nourished
development should according stage development towards adult wild just about anything
paws rats mice birds reptiles kittens have need higher levels calories proper until reach
months when levels drop just right amount sustain themselves another reason healthy
because shorter digestive system than most omnivores herbivores absorb more nutrients
shorter amount time thus because very short time digest being predator needs some sort
play outlet besides usual habitat owner become object play predatory aggression animals
stimulation some kind guard against boredom inquisitive nature causes times become
destructive reverting back ancestral behaviors search attention once receives attention
desires times will continue display traits predator stalk owner like prey bite attempt tackle
anything moves there many ways keep house from reverting predatory instincts such
providing with toys squirting water whenever makes attack well getting second keep each
other company third final challenge owning predator fact owners must consider keeping
inside effort avoid unnecessary killing birds rodents reptiles other small mammals
contrary what seems like common sense full belly reason hunt evidence overwhelming
even contented cared house instinctive prodigiously effective luoma audubon catfight
hunt survival mechanism through evolution ability survive depended upon hunting
hereditary instincts major factor reason willing kill even full stomach attempt decrease
number deaths cause population rodents reptiles mammals should pets inside monitor
activities while outside outlets roaming general including friendly hold tabby
cumulatively more damage wildlife small mammals than anyone ever expected luoma
audubon catfight accommodate lifestyle will give proteins calories good amino acids help
through stages nourished healthy outlet essential keeping busy helps mischief avoids
misdirected aggression from owner also aware activities while outside outlets
meaningless killing unneeded prey rodents small pets times difficult consuming correct
managerial tactics very maintenance
Keywords General:
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