Answer: The hunting instinct is strong in cats but, although this constitutes perfectly natural behavior, unfortunately their prey may be harmful in a number of respects.
The first of these is the transmission of parasites. As will be seen latter there are a number of parasites of the cat which use another animal species in which to undergo part of their life cycle. When such an infected animal eaten by the cat, the parasite(s) gains entry to the cat’s body and can develop there. Mice rats can act as hosts for the cystic stage of the tapeworm and for larvae of the two roundworm larvae are also found in other species which may eaten by the cat, such as earthworms, birds and rabbits.
Slugs and animal often cry the level of the feline lungworm. Although at time they mat be eaten by a cat, it is more likely that slugs and snail will be eaten by such species as birds, rodents, frog or snakes and that the cat will, in turn, eat one of these. The lungworm larvae transfer from each of these species to the one that has consumed it, until they reach of their final host-the cat.
Almost any animal species can carry stages of the microscopic coccidian parasite Toxoplasma Gondi whose final host is again a cat. These intermediate hosts include birds, rodents, earthworms and flies, as will as all the meat producing animals and even man. There are other similar coccidian with simpler life cycles which again in fact the cat though the eating of rodents, etc
All of these parasites have developed life cycle which depend upon the cat’s ability to catch and eat its prey so that they may spared and ensure their survival. Only the lungworm and Toxoplasma usually present any really serious health risks to the cat, but many of the parasites present public health risks.
Another hazard is that by eating rodents which are already dead or dying from the effects of rat poison the cat itself can become poisoned. This is thought to be the most common way in which cats become poisoned by rodenticides. In general they are much more fastidious then dogs and are therefore less likely to consume rat are mouse bait directly, although at times this happens either out of the animal’s inquisitiveness about the presence of the poison in its territory, or because it develops a liking for a particular poison and deliberately seeks it out. Examples of such ‘addictable’ poison are the rodent poison alphachloralose, and metaldehyde which is contained in slug pellets.
Although not really to be regarded as prey, the wasps and bees which cats occasionally chase and catch in the mouth can of course produce a painful sting. If the tongue is stung it may swell and block the back of the throat, necessitating immediate first aid treatment.
