Reader Rick Longworth sent this video of a “wildcat” (I’m not sure whether this is a feral tabby or a European wildcat [Felis silvestris silvestris]) catching a rodent in the snow. Nor can I be sure if he actually sees the prey, or is, like a fox, hunting by sound. It’s hard to gell. Finally, I don’t understand most of the Spanish caption, so readers can help out here (below). But it is a lovely video of a feline predator in action. Look how fast that mouse is consumed!
Be sure to enlarge it by clicking on the four arrows to the right.
The caption:
Los gatos monteses no lo tienen fácil para cazar cuando hay grandes nevadas. Por eso, se desplazan por las zonas donde hay partes descubiertas donde les es más fácil localizar a los ratones y otros micromamíferos que componen la mayor parte de su dieta.
Credit: David Álvarez at “Naturaleza Cantábrica”
I wish my cats would do that ,eat prey on the spot and not bring it home to show me .
My cat is a voracious squirrel hunter, she leaves the tails by the backdoor.
I was inside my shed once with the door open ,a Squirrel came in ran round the walls then ran out again ,then a couple of seconds later one of my cats appeared in the doorway.
Pretty certain that it is a wildcat – the thick, barred tail is a giveaway
Agreed– also note the “clubbed” tail tip.
Gato montés is indeed the wild cat in Spanish.
“The mountain cats don’t have it easy hunting when there has been a lot of snow. For that reason, they gather in areas where the ground is partly uncovered, where it is easier to find the mice and other small mammals that compose most of their diet.”
An attempt at translation, not literal, but using English idioms, and without checking a dictionary
Nice video.
Gorgeous animal!
My front-step mouse was killed by one of my cats two weeks ago – it had lived in its burrow by the step since last summer and one of them finally couldn’t hold back anymore.
The seem to have an understanding with the birds that come to the feeders as they sit on the steps and watch them w/o making any effort to go after them.
I wish mine did .
If they bring birds in alive and they look as if they could survive i take them to a wildlife rescue center a few miles away .
One time i had just got back from there when one of them brought another bird in .
It escaped and flew off when i managed to get it off the cat .
The 2 black cats are the worst .
All I can figure is that they know my cockatiels are not toys or food for them and they’ve extended that to the feeder birds.
Its not as if they’ve never hunted (and eaten) wild birds.
What an elegant cat!
No wonder they get hair balls, right.
Love this! Thank You for sharing! 👍❤️😸
Fascinating!
Lovely video. Interesting that it is hunting by daylight as I believe they are mainly nocturnal. Reduced food availability of food may lead to them hunting by daylight more in the winter.