>>Very true. The “domestic” cat has diverged very little from its wild cousin, the wildcat.
I have 5 outdoor cats (rescued strays) and despite eating their weight in cat food each month, they hunt constantly. I love to sit out in the back yard want watch them all. We’re in florida, so there is an abundance of lizards and mice. They are pure killers.
I've got a German Shorthaired Pointer (dog) that is the same way. Lord have mercy on the critter that strays into our yard. With people she's timid and shy, but with squirrels, rabbits, lizards, cats, birds, mice, etc... she's a hell-hound.
my daughters barn cats bring dead mice and other critters and leave them at her garage door so she won’t go hungry..She loves her cats but says that is gross, they are also good enough hunters that she sometimes finds rabbit fur in the garage or barn
“I have 5 outdoor cats (rescued strays) and despite eating their weight in cat food each month, they hunt constantly. I love to sit out in the back yard want watch them all. We’re in florida, so there is an abundance of lizards and mice. They are pure killers.”
That indicates to some degree that they hunt simply for pleasure.