![]() ![]() (And wouldn’t you consider a mouse running through your living room out of the ordinary?)Īmerican Shorthair cats are thought to be descendants of the felines that came over with colonists on the Mayflower, or perhaps even earlier. Although usually friendly and mellow with people, these “watchcats” are quite reactive and may be quick to attack when something is out of the ordinary. They’ve retained these hunting skills as they eventually spread to lands beyond the island. Manx cats, with their distinctive lack of tail, began life on the Isle of Man as mousers. But while they were once known for keeping rodents out of barns during brutal New England winters, today Maine Coons are beloved indoor pets and appreciated for their undemanding attitude and playful yet gentle antics. This combination of traits has earned them a reputation as intimidating mouser cat for several centuries. Not only are Maine Coon cats often polydactyl, at up to 25 pounds they are one of the largest cat breeds. Polydactylism is seen more often in certain breeds (also known for their mouser abilities), including the Maine Coon cat, Highlander cat, and Pixie-bob cat. And because of these extra toes, they are top-notch mousers, climbing higher and faster and perhaps having better balance than their non-polydactyl peers. Polydactyl cats have extra toes on one or more of their paws. Talk to the volunteers at your local shelter or rescue for suggestions on which kitties may be perfect for the mouser life. Although every kitty deserves a pampered life indoors, there are many strays (some even semi-feral) that would love nothing more than to keep mice out of the barn. That’s right, the best mouser cat is probably sitting at your local shelter waiting to be adopted. If you’re looking for a feline that will excel at rodent control, look no further than…. Some cats are better mousers than others. Naturally, these cat and mouse games led to the designation of domestic cats as “mousers.” This is why cats are considered obligate carnivores. Unlike many species (including humans and dogs), cats can’t synthesize taurine on their own they must ingest it in their diet, which can only be found in animal sources. What is it about mice and rats that kicks cats’ predatory instincts into overdrive? It turns out that cats consume their prey to get taurine, an essential amino acid. Keeping these pests away from food sources benefited the farmers, which led to the domestication of house cats. Unfortunate songbird statistics aside, cats as apex predators have played an important role for the past 10,000 years: As agricultural practices spread, cats served as nature’s best rodent control. Yet another reason to keep your kitty indoors! We must not forget that cats’ superior hunting abilities are sometimes to the detriment of nature: Cats are responsible for the death of 1.3 to 4 billion birds in the United States every year. With a characteristic flap of skin extending from the posterior end of the ribcage to the hind leg, the Egyptian Mau is capable of great bursts of speed. Their hind legs are long, giving them the appearance of walking on their tip-toes. The alluring Egyptian Mau is considered the fastest domestic cat breed. How fast can cats run?Ĭats can run as fast as 20 mph for short bursts-and some breeds can run up to 30 mph ! They lengthen their spines by alternately extending and flexing their backs, allowing for extra-long strides. ![]() Although both of these cats appear wild, they are domesticated, man-made breeds that love humans as much as hunting. The smaller Serengeti can jump 7 feet into the air, while the large Savannah-which holds the Guinness World Record for tallest domestic cat-has no trouble reaching great heights. ![]() Breeds that are notably strong jumpers include the Serengeti cat and Savannah cat. How high can cats jump?Ĭats can jump as much as nine times their height from a standing position. But the truth is, cats are perfectly evolved ambush predators: They can lengthen their spines to allow for bursts of speed, narrow their shoulders and chest to squeeze into tiny spaces, jump many times their height from a standing position, and land on their feet almost every time they fall. It may seem like a leap to say that domestic house cats are carnivorous beasts at the top of the food chain. ![]() Big cats such as lions, tigers, jaguars, and lynx are considered apex predators in their respective habitats. Let’s find out why felines in almost every ecosystem are considered apex predators.Īpex predators have no natural predators in their ecosystem-meaning they are at the top of the food chain. And domestic cats eat 3 million chickens and more than 20 billion rodents and birds every year-just in the U.S. ![]()
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