Their instincts are sharper than you think

a fat grey cat looks menacingly out from behind a wall, licking his lips — iStock / 101cats

Your indoor cat may never have seen a live mouse, stalked through the undergrowth, or proudly deposited something on your floor that you wish they hadn’t. And yet, the moment a fly gets into the house, or you wiggle your toes under the bedsheets, your cat transforms into a laser-focused predator with Olympic-level intensity.

So what’s the deal? If a cat grows up indoors, do they lose their predatory instincts? Are they just play-acting at skills they no longer need to survive?

The answer is no. Indoor cats may lack experience with real prey, but their instincts are fully intact and easily activated. In fact, a 2021 study suggests that indoor cats may actually be more motivated toward predatory play than cats with outdoor access, showing more intense reactions to prey-like stimuli.

Let’s talk about what instinct is, what’s learned, why your indoor cat might actually be more into hunting than you think – and what you can do to meet their needs.

Are cats born with hunting instincts?

Unequivocally, yes. Domestic cats descended from African wildcats; elite obligate predators whose entire lives revolve around catching dinner. And while dogs have evolved into omnivorous, all-purpose companions, cats have stayed true to their carnivorous roots. Their vision, hearing, reflexes and brains are all finely tuned for hunting small, fast-moving prey. This isn’t a hobby they picked up along the way; it’s part of their day-to-day operating system.

Even kittens born and raised indoors show hunting behaviours incredibly early. They (adorably) stalk littermates, pounce on tails and practice those tiny, dramatic bum wiggles before launching onto an unsuspecting sibling. That’s instinct. But instinct is not the same as skill.

Knowing you want to hunt is innate. Knowing how to hunt well – how to stalk, when to strike, how to handle prey without getting injured, what to do after the catch – comes from experience. Free-roaming kittens’ mothers teach this by bringing stunned or injured prey, allowing safe practice in stalking, pouncing and delivering a killing bite. Most cats kept strictly indoors don’t get that education. Which means they aren’t unmotivated, they’re just inexperienced.

How indoor cats ‘practice’ hunting

The 2021 study showed indoor cats were more engaged, reactive and persistent in predatory play than outdoor cats. Why? Because play fills the gap.

Except for the occasional spider, moth or fly, most indoor cats don’t encounter live prey. But they still need an outlet for predatory behaviour. So they improvise: toys, shadows, feet under blankets, dust bunnies, light reflections, even forbidden electrical cables. Play isn’t separate from hunting; play is how cats practice hunting.

Outdoor cats get constant real-world stimulation, even when they’re not actively hunting. Every trip outside exposes them to shifting scents, rustling leaves, bird calls, moving shadows, changing terrain and the unpredictable behaviour of other animals. Navigating fences, bushes and uneven ground challenges coordination and balance. They also experience choice and consequence: where to go, when to hide, what to watch, when to retreat. Even unsuccessful stalks or aborted chases provide feedback that fine-tunes timing, distance and restraint. In short, outdoor cats constantly practise hunting through observation, exploration and decision-making, without necessarily making a kill.

Indoor cats don’t get this ambient enrichment, which is why play isn’t optional. It’s their primary way to engage the same sensory systems, motor patterns and problem-solving skills that outdoor cats exercise simply by being outside. Without it, their predatory drive doesn’t disappear; it builds.

During the study, cats with outdoor access were less interested in prey-like toys compared to indoor cats, and indoor cats began searching sooner and spent more time investigating prey-like sounds. This suggests that a lack of exposure to real prey may heighten indoor cats’ sensitivity to potential prey cues. Outdoor cats that have dealt with real prey that can escape, fight back or injure them with sharp teeth, beaks or claws, may be more discriminating. They know not all moving objects are worth the effort.

Does an indoor cat need to hunt?

Yes and no. They don’t need to hunt for survival – you’re providing all their food, but they do need to hunt to feel fulfilled. Hunting behaviour isn’t just about satisfying a cat’s hunger. It provides:

Mental stimulation.
Physical exercise.
Stress relief.
Increased confidence and resilience.

When cats can’t express those instincts, they may get bored, frustrated or anxious, which can show as:

Misdirected predatory play towards humans or other animals: ambushing, attacking hands and feet, biting and swiping.
Destructive behaviour: knocking over ornaments, clawing furniture, shredding paper, chewing plants or cables.
Night-time disruption: zoomies, vocalising, attention-seeking.
Obsessive-compulsive behaviour: overgrooming, pacing, tail-chasing.

So while your cat doesn’t need to catch anything alive, they do need opportunities to stalk, chase, and ‘kill’ something, even if it’s a crumpled receipt, bottle cap or shoelace.

Do some cat breeds have a higher prey drive?

All cats have hunting instincts, but prey drive varies and is influenced by genetics and temperament. Breeds with strong hunting tendencies include:

Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest Cats: historically rodent catchers; large, athletic, enjoy chase-based games, often playful into adulthood.
Bengals: speedy, agile, and curious; easily bored without enrichment, prone to turning everyday objects, other animals, or people into ‘prey’.
Siamese and Oriental: intelligent, interactive and focused on moving targets; may bring ‘kills’ like toys or socks to owners.

Breed doesn’t define hunting ability. Non-pedigree cats often show strong prey drive, and early life experiences and environment matter just as much as genetics. Indoor cats with a high prey drive need intentional enrichment, or their energy may be redirected towards your curtains, sofa or feet.

Practical tips for indoor hunting practice

Supporting your cat’s hunting instincts isn’t about encouraging aggression; it’s about giving them appropriate outlets for predatory behaviour. Here’s how:

Mix it up: use a variety of toys – furry mice, kicker toys, balls, feathered wands, tunnels and paper bags – to simulate different prey types and hunting environments. Cats tend to have individual prey preferences, so experiment to see what captures their attention.
Rotate toys: novelty keeps prey interesting. Rotate toys weekly so they feel ‘new’ again. A toy your cat ignored last month might suddenly become irresistible.
Move toys unpredictably: move toys in ways that mimic real prey movement, scuttling along the walls, darting underneath furniture or swooping from perch to perch. Cats learn to anticipate motion, pounce and grab. Erratic changes in speed and direction, interspersed with periods of stillness, engage their predatory reflexes.
Use sound: crinkly paper, dried leaves, or toys that rustle and mimic the sound of prey in the undergrowth.
Short, frequent sessions: cats hunt in bursts, catching up to 20 small prey a day. Two or three 5–10 minute sessions daily are more satisfying than one marathon, and help to prevent overstimulation.
Timing: play before meals and bedtime to mirror natural behaviour and encourage your cat to sleep through the night.
Celebrate successes: allow your cat to complete the predatory sequence:
eye → stalk → chase → pounce → catch → kill → consume.
Once they’ve caught, bitten and bunny-kicked the toy, offer a treat or a small meal. Completing the hunting loop keeps play rewarding and prevents frustration.
Use puzzle feeders: food-motivated hunting can be mimicked by puzzle feeders, treat-dispensing toys and scatter feeding. These combine physical exercise with mental stimulation and mimic natural feeding patterns. Earning food through effort satisfies food-driven hunters.

Remember: your cat isn’t just playing; they’re honing their hunting skills. Each stalk, pounce and swipe strengthens coordination, sharpens reflexes, and satisfies an instinctive predatory drive that’s central to who they are.

So… does your indoor cat still know how to hunt?

Yes. They know exactly what to do. They just need safe, appropriate opportunities to do it.

Indoor cats may lack polish if they never learned from their mother or practised with real prey, but the desire to hunt is still very much intact. When supported through play, it becomes a healthy outlet for energy, focus and stress relief. When ignored, it spills out in less charming ways – ambushing feet, shredding furniture or launching midnight zoomies across your face.

Intentional, structured play is essential. Play isn’t optional enrichment; it’s how indoor cats hunt. Supporting this drive helps prevent aggression and keep your cat mentally and physically healthy, so embrace their predatory instincts and consider how (and how often) you’re playing with your cat.

The bottom line

Indoor cats are far from lazy couch potatoes. Even without outdoor access, they retain the instincts, curiosity and drive of skilled predators. Early-life experiences shape how refined their hunting skills are, but the environment you provide determines whether those instincts are expressed in healthy or problematic ways.

So the next time your cat goes full stealth mode over a feather on a string, remember: it’s not ‘just’ play. It’s hunting. And despite living a cushty indoor life where they’ll never need to catch their own dinner, your cat is still the predator they were born to be – focused, capable and fully operational… even if the only thing they ever catch is a sock.

References

Caro, T. M. “Effects of the Mother, Object Play, and Adult Experience on Predation in Cats.” Behavioral and Neural Biology, vol. 29, no. 1, May 1980, pp. 29–51, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0163-1047(80)92456-5. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.

Crowell-Davis, Sharon. “Cat Behaviour: Social Organization, Communication and Development.” The Welfare of Cats, edited by Irene Rochlitz, Springer, 2007, pp. 1–22.

Dickman, Christopher R., and Thomas M. Newsome. “Individual Hunting Behaviour and Prey Specialisation in the House Cat Felis Catus: Implications for Conservation and Management.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol. 173, Dec. 2015, pp. 76–87.

Shajid Pyari, Muhzina, et al. “Inexperienced but Still Interested – Indoor-Only Cats Are More Inclined for Predatory Play than Cats with Outdoor Access.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol. 241, Aug. 2021, p. 105373.

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Does My Indoor Cat Still Know How to Hunt?