Can someone explain WHY I SAW A CAT EAT A BIRD?

Question

I guess I've been closed minded when it comes to cats, thinking that they only eat cat food that consist of compounds that are from tuna and stuff.

However, I saw a cat kill, and ate a bird. In its entirety!

First off, how did the cat eat the bird without choking?
Two, can someone tell me is it natural that I just saw a cat eat a bird?

It was in a video on youtube that I saw it, it wasn't in person or anything. You can watch it if you like.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uph7letsRSk

So can someone tell me please?

Answer 1

Birds, along with small rodents, reptiles and fish, are a cat's natural prey. Cats didn't always eat cat food and many cats even today have no access to cat food. They still have to eat and they go back to their natural instincts.

I have a feral colony in my neighborhood and have found the remains of several birds. Even though I feed the ferals, they still supplement their diet with birds, rats, lizards and squirrels. (Once in a while, I even get a "present.")

The cat in question did not choke on the bird's bones for two reasons: a bird's bones are hollow (this helps them stay light enough to fly) and the cat's back teeth are designed to help them chew through tough material.

Answer 2

All domestic cats are just a door away from going back to being wild--they are one of the few human domesticated animals that can survive fairly well if left outside to fend for themselves. They are born hunters but need to practice to get their skills up to being useful (most will hunt moving things--string, bugs, small animals, birds) but not all will be good at capturing their victim, and not all will kill their victims (many cats just play with their victims until they get bored when the victim no longer moves, or the victim finds somewhere to hide or get away). It's why cats will sometimes bring you half-dead or dead mice, moles, birds, etc. It's just the way cats are. And it's why in some areas, the local bird populations have been decimated by domestic cats--they kill or severely damage the wild birds even though the cats don't need the food, it's just something fun to do for the cats. And it's another reason it is recommended that you keep your cats indoors all the time.

We had an indoor cat who killed a bird. Bird must have flown in one of the slightly open windows because when we got home, all we found was a mess of blue feathers, a beak and one bird leg--no sign of blood or anything else. We didn't see him catch and eat the bird but there was no dead body anywhere and I'm pretty sure the bird didn't fly back out since birds indoors can't always determine where the open window is.

Answer 3

Cats catch and eat birds all the time. It's all a part of nature. Cats are carnivorous predators and they like birds, small mammals, insects, and small reptiles and amphibians. While I personally think it's rather unfair to have cats and feed wild birds in my garden, I do put the bird feeders up high out of the cats' reach, but they still catch one now and then. I don't mind that they kill and eat birds, but I can't stand to watch them play with them the way they do. So I keep my cats inside when the birds are eating. Amazingly, it's the well-fed house cats who catch the most live food. They often catch birds and other small animals just because they can. That's just the way nature works. It's not pretty and it may seem unfair, but that's just the way it is.

Answer 4

If you live in a bird flu area I would be concerned but otherwise, the little assasins will be just fine. My cats are outside cats and unfortunately, they will catch a bird or two. It is a totally natural thing for them to do and the bird flu is not effecting the common birds yet as I know of. The bones wont hurt them either.

Answer 5

Birds and rodents are the natural prey of cats--it's what they evolved to hunt and catch. Sorryit upset you, but a cat does what it does.

Commercial cat food has only been available for the past 80-100 years. All cats prior to that were either catching their own food or fed from scraps from the butcher.

Answer 6

Yes its natural! Cats are predators also! My outdoor cats kill mice, birds, moles and killed a baby bunny and ate that also. They eat like a lion would eat. Sometimes they leave the head and eat everything else. I have seem them eat heads too so its cat is different. Mine like to play with there prey for awhile.

Answer 7

yep its natural, no need to be so alarmed.

i saw my mini dachshund swallow a bird whole, he was only a few months old too so the bird was about half the size he was. i freaked out too, i called my vet and said to just give him a few spoonfulls of vasoline so it could come out the other end. and of course to bring him in if anything happened, but he was fine... also i've seen a cat eat an entire mouse before without chewing it or anything.

Answer 8

woooowwwwwwww.... you must be a sony playstation generationer.... when I was a kid I saw cats eating birds and rabbits all the time, lizards... etc. Then again, we only had atari and we got sick of pac-man FAST! So playing outside, riding bikes, walking down to the lake, fishing, making mud pies, saving tadpoles, starting gardens, tetherballs, volleyball, tire roll, swinging... chase, tag, neighborhood football, skateboarding... it was just common, to see domesticated cats and dogs here and there... doin what comes natural... so sorry that you got so upset by this.. if it is not something your used to, I can understand how it would be so devastating.

Answer 9

It's innate for cats to eat birds. I've seen my cat kill birds and mice many times. They were wild animals once...

Answer 10

cat + bird = cat's lunch
It's completely natural. Not pretty to watch.