Why aren't cats fierce and dangerous like lions, tigers or other big cats?

7/26/2019

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animals Story: Why aren't cats fierce and dangerous like lions, tigers or other big cats?

Domestic cats are among the most deadly and effective predators on earth. There are several species of mammals and birds that have been wiped out, or driven to the brink of extinction, because a handful of pet cats escaped into their ecosystem. Mortality from housecat attacks in the UK is estimated at two million small animals a year.

The primary trait that makes them so murderous—aside from the fact that they're just good at killing—is that they enjoy it. They kill for fun, whether they need food or not. That is true of very, very few other species. There is an excellent sequence in the TV special Living with Tigers, chronicling the education of a pair of Bengal tigers transported to an African preserve. The day they figured out how to stalk and kill effectively, they went on a murder spree and killed every animal in sight. For the sheer joy of bloodshed.

Predators focus on prey with the size and defenses that they can handle. Domestic cats are small animals, so their prey is small. Don't let that fool you into thinking they are not one of the fiercest and deadliest predators on this planet. In no small part that is because we bred them for wanton killing, by using them for vermin control.

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Do you believe domestic cats can be dangerous?

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33 Comments

Martha Prefontaine

Man is the other predator that kills for sport or fun.

Michael Sydney Brighouse

how many of that 2.000,000 animals are rats and mice. we would be over run with them if it wasn't for our cats. mike.

Jaime Quintao Silva

Cats can be nice, cute and playful. They enjoy sleeping on your lap, purring when you gently scratch their bellies, but they are efficient and competent killers. In Brazil, we have a popular saying about cats and dogs that says (roughly translating it): He who doesn't have dogs should go hunting like cats (stalking and catching their prey by surprise and alone, - no barking, no shots, silently but effectively).

marianna r burt

It's in their nature but often doesn't develop if they're kept inside. I'll always remember Pawlette, a very old former stray. Somehow a mouse had gotten into the house -- the 3 younger cats were watching it in confusion when she walked up, grabbed it firmly, snapped its neck, & then devoured it -- all in about 20 seconds. Then she looked around as if to say "See -- that's how it's done!"

hellokitty collins

MAN IS THE MAIN PREDATOR THAT KILLS FOR SPORT OR JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT!!

ninakamwene

I love all cats big and small. I keep two cat pets because they remind me of me. Freedom, authentic and focus. Egyptians domesticated them as mousers to save their grains. I was in Jordan and Petra where cats are respected.

Louise Hadden

Cats that have been dumped by humans, if survive, hunt for food. When any species is put in this situation they do the same. Spay/Neuter your cat to stop the problem. However humans kill for sport and have caused the extinction of so many species, probably more than any animal on this planet.

Doris Dallaire

I think humans are more deadly, killing millions of animals to eat (and we eat far more than we need), for sport and to use as trophies or to make money. Plus we kill millions of other humans in wars (think WW1 and WW2) and out of anger, jealousy, greed and hatred. We have also made many species extinct and brought countless others to the brink of extinction with our garbage and pollution. So really humans are more deadly than cats!

Satish Chandran

Cats are never afraid of any animal,whatever be the size or terror.

Betty Wiendels

Satish Chandran, Cats are afraid of German shepherd dogs.

mlnred

I worked in a cat only veterinary clinic, for 10 years. No matter how domesticated you think a cat is, it can go primal in a spit second and tear you up. I’ve seen them go up a wall to the ceiling in a panic. A bite can put you in the hospital with IV’s for hours or days. Feral cats are cats that have not had human touch and are wild. Very different from abandoned cats left in the wild that can be handled by humans again with trust building. Be careful of little kids around cats, they are not play toys. Having said that, I couldn’t live without a cat!

Animals kill to survive, but too many people abuse and kill for fun. Animals are not evil but people are.

Susan Kent

Yep murder mittens for sure. You cannot owe a cat, it owns you!

Joe Mangan

Karen W, "Too many little bloody gifts were left on the doormat." I have heard an explanation of that on radio by a zoologist as follows: The cat thinks you are also a cat, and thinks you are useless at catching prey, and is teaching you how to do it.

Joe Mangan

The questioner is obviously not a mouse.

Conrado De Leon

Cats ARE predators and they kill for sport, that's absolutely true. The Egyptians "adored" them because they protected their crops from vermin. My cat is always watching for birds which he never eats after hunting them. We rescued and nursed a couple of oven birds and a benteveo, who survived Tiz Neh.