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==Prey Selection==

==Prey Selection==

Cats usually catch '''prey that is around 1% of their own bodyweight'''<ref name = "Pearre">Pearre, S. Maass, R. (1998) Trends in the prey size-based trophic niches of feral House Cats ''Felis catus'' L. ''Mammal Review''. 28(3), 125-139.</ref> , with 80% of reported prey caught being <50g in weight according to one study<ref name ="Brio">Brio, Z., Lanszki, J., Szemethy, L., Heltai, M., Randi, E. (2005) Feeding habits of feral domestic cats (''Felis catus''), wild cats (''Felis silvestris'') and their hybrids: trophic niche overlap among cat groups in Hungary. ''Journal of Zoology''. 266, 187-196.</ref>. In an observational study of feline predatory behaviour in suburban nature preserve in New York, mammals and birds made up 52% and 23% of kills respectively, with an overall '''success rate for killing of 13%''' <ref name ="Kays">Kays, R. W., DeWan, A.A. (2004) Ecological impact of inside/outside house cats around a suburban nature preserve. ''Animal Conservation''. 7, 273-283.</ref>. Cats show preferences in terms of their predatory targets, and are tolerant of '''high failure rates in predatory attacks'''.  

Cats usually catch '''prey that is around 1% of their own bodyweight'''<ref name = "Pearre">Pearre, S. Maass, R. (1998) Trends in the prey size-based trophic niches of feral House Cats ''Felis catus'' L. ''Mammal Review''. 28(3), 125-139.</ref> ; in one study 80% of reported prey caught was <50g in weight<ref name ="Brio">Brio, Z., Lanszki, J., Szemethy, L., Heltai, M., Randi, E. (2005) Feeding habits of feral domestic cats (''Felis catus''), wild cats (''Felis silvestris'') and their hybrids: trophic niche overlap among cat groups in Hungary. ''Journal of Zoology''. 266, 187-196.</ref>. In an observational study of feline predatory behaviour in a suburban nature preserve in New York (USA), small mammals and birds made up 52% and 23% of kills respectively, with an overall '''success rate for killing of 13%''' <ref name ="Kays">Kays, R. W., DeWan, A.A. (2004) Ecological impact of inside/outside house cats around a suburban nature preserve. ''Animal Conservation''. 7, 273-283.</ref>. Cats therefore show preferences in terms of their predatory targets, and are tolerant of '''a high failure rate in their predatory attacks'''.  

The selection of '''prey target is also influenced by hunger'''. Although hunger does not appear to affect the rate of hunting behaviour, larger, potentially more dangerous, prey will be targeted when cats are hungry <ref name ="Biben">Biben, M. (1979) Predation and predatory play behaviour of domestic cats. ''Animal Behaviour''. 27, 81-94.</ref>. In the same study, hunger was shown to increase the speed of killing behaviour, with satiated cats toying with prey for longer.

The selection of '''prey target is also influenced by hunger'''; although hunger does not appear to affect the rate of hunting behaviour, cats will target larger and potentially more dangerous prey when they are hungry <ref name ="Biben">Biben, M. (1979) Predation and predatory play behaviour of domestic cats. ''Animal Behaviour''. 27, 81-94.</ref>. The same study indicated that hunger increases the speed of killing behaviour, with satiated cats toying with prey for longer.

Apart from small mammals, birds and rodents, cats will also hunt and consume insects. Evidence for the specific nutritional contribution of insects to the diet of the cat is limited. However, insects (particularly spiders) are rich in taurine <ref name ="Weisenborn">Weisenborn, W.D. (2012) Sulfur contents of spiders and insects in desert riparian habitat. ''Florida Entomologist''. 95(4), 952-960.</ref>, an essential amino acid in the cat.

Apart from small mammals, birds and rodents, cats will also hunt and consume insects. Evidence for the specific nutritional contribution of insects to the diet of the cat is limited. However, insects (particularly spiders) are rich in taurine <ref name ="Weisenborn">Weisenborn, W.D. (2012) Sulfur contents of spiders and insects in desert riparian habitat. ''Florida Entomologist''. 95(4), 952-960.</ref>, which is an essential amino acid in cats.

==Motivation to Hunt==

==Motivation to Hunt==