Question
My cat particularly likes it when I bring out the cat-teaser (essentially a fake 'bird' on a stick). He makes a great deal of effort in catching it, and I assume he's enjoying himself.
Now my question is, what's going through the cat's mind? Does he know it's a game/practice for hunting, and is enjoying himself, or does he actually think he's hunting something he can't really eat - and therefore a disappointing waste of time?
I sometimes consider whether I should feed him a treat or something after playing with him to give him the whole experience of the hunt - if it's the latter case.
Answer
If the cat is "hunting" when it isn't hungry, it's doing so for entertainment value.
A cat usually isn't interested in eating a bug, just catching it. A well-fed cat may not always be interested in killing larger prey; they just get carried away, play a bit too roughly, and break the toy.
There is no requirement that every hunt end with a kill. Cats will sometimes bring toys to humans as a request. They are quite capable of understanding the concept of play.
However, like kids in the same age ranges, they may sometimes get over-excited. It's appropriate to watch out for that and not tease them past the point of exhaustion. They often get better at judging this as they get older, just as humans do; my middle-aged girl will indicate quite clearly when she needs to stop to catch her breath, and whether she wants to play again after doing so.
They're weird little critters, but they aren't that alien.
Answered By - keshlam