If my outdoor cat hunts, does that mean he’s missing something in his diet?

He's not missing something in his diet, but he may be missing something in his mental stimulation or enrichment. It's a very natural behavior for cats to hunt—that's really what they're built for. And when you think about cats in feral situations or in the wild, most cats will eat anywhere from 10 to 20 tiny meals a day. And they spend almost their entire waking time hunting because some of those hunting adventures are not always successful. When we think about cats getting some enrichment, if you have a cat that goes outdoors and can do so safely, then hunting is an excellent opportunity for them—provided they're not significantly affecting our local wildlife populations, especially songbirds. That's something to keep in mind. But we can also mimic this sort of enrichment with certain toys and puzzle feeders and things like that in the house or other safe environments.

No, it doesn't necessarily mean that the cat is missing anything in their diet. Cats are natural hunters, and some like to do it more than others. Whether they eat what they hunt or not is purely up to the cat, but it doesn't mean that there's a lack of nutrition in the diet.

That's kind of funny. No. Cats are hardwired to hunt. This is how they survived and stayed alive through their evolution. So an outdoor kitty that hunts isn't missing anything. Their bodies are enacting what their brain is telling them to do. Many people get angry at cats for hunting, but they can't help it. This is just part of who they are. And indoor cats will have hunting behaviors too.

No, that's just natural cat behavior. They are hunters and tend not to have the scavenging ways as much as dogs do. It is a natural behavior for cats. They'll hunt bugs in your house, but that's just what cats do.

No, he's a cat. That's what cats do. Watch Animal Planet! Granted, they're going after mice and moles, not gazelles and antelope. But they're not missing something in their diet. They are hunting. It's the same as somebody taking a little fishing line out of the house and they put a little stuffed mouse at the end of it. Cats are also just hunting. That's what they do. Their nature is to hunt. He's not lacking anything. He's just doing what he's supposed to do.

No, a cat is going to hunt because it's a natural behavior and an instinctual behavior for a cat. If they are outside, they will often hunt because it's fun and normal. They are not missing something out of their diet; they're just supplementing their diet with prey.