What does a cat eat in the wild?
Table of Contents
Like all felines, the cat is a carnivore whose digestive system is adapted to a diet rich in protein. In the wild, it feeds on small prey, mainly rodents, and birds. Plants also participate in the proper functioning of their metabolism.
The wildcat diet
The real wildcat or sylvan cat ( Felis silvestris )
is a hunting animal that inhabits the forests of central Europe,
currently extinct in the majority of French territory. It lives in
deciduous forests, marshes, moors, and low mountains where it nests in
holes in trees, burrows, or between rocks. The wild cat's diet
consists of small rodents (mice, rats, field mice, voles, shrews),
rabbits, hares, and other small prey such as squirrels and
birds.
Occasionally, it may also feed on
small reptiles (snakes, lizards), amphibians, and batrachians
(frogs). It can even consume large insects and of course, fish if necessary.
Its natural predators are large raptors, badgers,
foxes, and martens. Formerly considered a pest, the wild
cat is now classified as a protected species: it is forbidden to hunt,
keep, sell or buy it.
Feral cat, stray cat: what is the difference?
The term "heart" cat refers to a domestic cat ( Felis catus ) returned
to the wild, unlike the true wild cat which is a species in its own
right. These two animals still share some common points in terms of
lifestyle and behavior: they feed on the game, lead a solitary life, and
are found in the same habitats.
A domestic cat living outside can become a "heart" if it is good enough
to hunt on its own and if it enjoys the proximity of forests or fields
where it can find prey. This is what distinguishes it from the stray
cat, the latter living more in town in contact with people. Unlike the
wild cat and the feral cat, the survival of the stray cat depends on
human activities since it feeds on remains found in the street, in the
garbage, and on food possibly distributed by local residents.
How to feed a wild cat?
In France, it is very unlikely to encounter a real wild cat for the
reasons mentioned above. However, it may occasionally happen to come
across feral cats in the forest or in the countryside. It is not useful
to try to feed them since these animals have returned to their natural
state and will generally refuse any contact with humans.
In addition, only live prey is likely to attract them, except in the
event of scarcity where they may possibly consume something else. We can
therefore always try to feed a cat returned to the wild, by giving it
fresh meat, but this risks being consumed by other predators and
scavengers!
How to feed a stray cat?
A stray cat, living in an urban environment near people, can be fed
like any domestic cat. Indeed, the domestic cat can absorb a more varied
food than the wild cat, because its intestines are longer than those of
its cousin whose metabolism is almost exclusively adapted to the
consumption of fresh meat.
It is therefore quite possible to give industrial food (kibble, food)
to stray cats in your neighborhood. They can also be offered leftover
meat or offal, preferably lightly boiled, as well as well-cooked cereals
(rice, etc.), small quantities of dairy products, and cooked green
vegetables.
What plants do cats eat?
In nature, the cat eats certain herbs (grasses) to purge itself, but it
can also happen to it to consume fruits fallen from trees such as
apples, pears, and peaches. Fruits and plants are a source of essential
nutrients (fibers and vitamins) for the wild cat. However, it remains
carnivorous and its metabolism is not adapted to the consumption of raw
vegetables.
Tags:
Cats Feeding