Typical methods of preventing feline hunting, which cause conservation and welfare problems, are based on methods that many cat owners consider unacceptable, such as keeping them indoors or having them wear special collars.
But now a team of researchers from the University of Exeter in the south-west of England have discovered that gambling and diet can have a significant effect, according to a university statement released on Thursday.
Feeding a premium commercial cat food in which protein came from meat meant a 36% reduction in the number of prey animals brought home, while between five and ten minutes of play daily there was a 25% reduction, the researchers said.
“While keeping cats indoors is the only safe way to prevent hunting, some owners are concerned about the welfare implications of restricting their cat’s outdoor access,” said Robbie McDonald, professor of ecology at the Institute of Environment and Sustainability of Exeter.
“Our study shows that through totally non-invasive, non-restrictive methods, owners can change what cats want to do.”
During the study, owners simulated hunting, which allowed cats to chase, chase and throw themselves on a feather toy before giving them a toy mouse after each “hunt,” the researchers said. .
Meanwhile, scientists do not know exactly why meaty foods caused a decline in hunting, but they do have a theory.
“Some cat foods contain plant-based proteins such as soy, and it is possible that, despite forming a ‘complete diet’, these foods leave some cats deficient in one or more micronutrients, which will lead them to hunt,” he said. say Martina Cecchetti, a doctor. student from Exeter who conducted the experiments in the press release.
Cats are known for their “unusual nutritional requirements,” McDonald told CNN. “They have an unusual need for some particular nutrients, some amino acids, etc., that are best provided to the meat.”
The study involved 355 cats from 219 households in the south-west of England and lasted 12 weeks.
The researchers also examined the effectiveness of bird-friendly collared decks to reduce hunting, recording a 42% decrease in the number of birds caught and taken home. The covers were found to have no effect on the number of mammals hunted.
Cat bells also had “no noticeable global effect,” the researchers said. However, the impact on individual cats varied greatly, suggesting that some cats may learn to hunt well even when wearing a bell.
Georgina Bradley of SongBird Survival, a bird protection charity that sponsored the research, hailed the results.
“The data shows that cat owners (like me) can take a few small, simple steps to really improve the health and happiness of our pets, as well as make a big difference to our entire wildlife, especially for our beloved songbirds, ”Bradley said. .
Now, researchers will try to identify what meat reduces feline hunting, such as a specific amino acid, McDonald said.
This could allow a specific micronutrient to be added to cat food to reduce hunting without relying on meat production, which “poses clear climate and environmental issues,” Cecchetti said in the press release.
The team will also investigate whether combining a food change with this specific game routine could result in a greater reduction in hunting, McDonald said.
“We suspect the two things work in slightly different ways, if you will, in the cat’s behavior,” he said, explaining that this suggests there would be an additive effect if both food and play were changed.
Another possible area of study is to increase the number of game sessions or add a different type of game, he added.
The paper was published in the journal Current Biology.