The Secret Lives of Cats: Hunting Instincts and Behavior

Cats balance their wild instincts with domestic life, showcasing their remarkable adaptability and hunting prowess.

### The Secret Lives of Cats
Cats are lively pets and fierce hunters, captivating human attention and challenging our knowledge about them. A research team is conducting experiments and using GPS technology to uncover the **wild instincts hidden in domestic cats' behavior**. The study reveals the cats' **quick and precise hunting movements**, with a common **crouching position** shared by domestic cats and big cats like tigers.

### The Incredible Hunting Skills of Cats
Tigers and domestic cats share a unique power to **attack prey with lightning speed**, thanks to their flexible spines and tense leg muscles. Domestic cats, despite their smaller size, possess the **same strength as larger felines** and exhibit **remarkable agility**. The hunting instincts of cats, even those living with humans, drive them to **hunt regularly**, and their behavior can be influenced by factors such as **feeding and environment**.

### The Unique Eating and Hunting Habits of Cats
Cats have a strong survival instinct for fresh meat, relying on it for **essential amino acids and taurine**, which they cannot produce themselves. Their short intestines make it difficult to digest plant-based proteins, and they obtain most of their moisture from meat. Cats have evolved to have a unique hunting and territorial behavior, with a preference for **familiar paths** and a sophisticated method of **dividing their territories to minimize encounters and fights**.

### The Territorial Behavior of Urban Cats
Urban cats display overlapping territories, leading to **tension and conflict**. Oji, a dominant cat, patrols his territory and has a history of **confrontations** with Smudge, another local cat. The two have established a **tentative division of the streets**, avoiding direct encounters to maintain their claimed areas.

### The Dynamics of Cat Territories
Wild cats roam far from their city homes, claiming a **broader territory** than Smudge. The balance of power shifts when a new gray cat with **fighting experience** disrupts the wilderness area, leading to **confrontations and injuries**. In contrast, farm cats coexist peacefully, sharing territory and food, while town cats exhibit a mix of behaviors, some staying **close to city homes** and others roaming far like country cats.

### The Hunting Behavior of Village Cats
Safi, a village cat, exhibits a wild lifestyle, hunting at midnight and picking up unusual **eight-legged passengers**. Dr. Sarah Ellis is studying Safi's unique hunting traits, including her **body movements** and **arousal levels** before attacking prey. The research highlights the importance of a cat's upbringing in developing hunting skills, with the mother cat playing a **crucial role** in teaching her kittens.

### The Adaptation of Cats to Domestic Life
Cats have instinctively hunted and patrolled their territory, but they have chosen to live alongside humans, adapting to **pet life**. Ted and Dora, born on a farm, have completely changed their behavior and lifestyle since moving to the **city**. The socialization period from two to eight weeks is crucial for a cat's development, helping them **adapt to urban life** and become **comfortable with people**.

### Socializing Cats for a Smooth Transition to Pet Life
Exposing cats to various experiences, including different people, animals, and sounds, is crucial for **reducing anxiety and aiding their adaptation to unfamiliar environments**. Early socialization, starting at four weeks old, helps kittens **bond with humans and prepares them for adoption**. Cats have a unique ability to switch between wild instincts and domesticated behavior, making them **adaptable to both home and wild environments**, which is key to their **popularity as pets**.

### The Dual Nature of Cats: From Fierce Hunters to Beloved Pets
* 🐱 Cats are lively and charming pets, yet they are also **fierce fighters and remarkable hunters**, captivating human attention with their **fascinating behaviors**.
* 🔬 Leading cat experts are conducting scientific experiments to uncover the **secret lives of cats**, challenging common knowledge about these beloved animals.
* 📊 A research team has been tracking wild cats on a farm to observe their hunting behaviors, discovering that these cats can **effectively control the mouse population**.
* 🎥 Using GPS technology and special cameras, the team has captured rare footage of cats hunting, revealing their **quick and precise attacks** that last **less than two seconds**.
* 🐾 The study highlights that while domestic cats have **strong hunting instincts**, their behaviors can be influenced by their **environment and the availability of food**.
* 🍖 Cats have evolved to require a **carnivorous diet rich in nutrients like taurine**, which is **essential for their health and survival**, leading to their **instinctive hunting behaviors**.
* 🌍 The adaptability of cats allows them to live alongside humans, with domesticated cats often exhibiting **less fear of people** compared to their wild counterparts.
* 🏡 Ultimately, the unique ability of cats to **balance their wild instincts with domestic life** is what makes them special and cherished as pets by many.

[앙코르] 우리는 고양이에 대해 얼마나 알고 있을까?🐱 고양이의 숨겨진 야생 본능 | 고양이의 야생 본능

국내 유일의 동물 전문 다큐멘터리 프로그램!
BBC Studios 비롯하여, NHK Enterprise, ZDF Enterprises, Terra Mater Studios, Earth Touch 등 전 세계 최고의 다큐멘터리 제작사들이 제작한 프로그램을 엄선, 우리말로 더빙하여 일반 시청자들에게 소개하는 프로그램이다. 정확한 해설로 시청자들의 생태계 이해를 극대화한다.
 
생생한 대자연의 세계가 안방에!
아프리카의 초원 지대는 물론, 극지방, 사막 등 세계 곳곳에 서식하는 다양한 동식물을 총망라하는 프로그램으로, 전문 다큐 제작사들의 노하우가 화면 곳곳에 녹아 있다. 아이들에게는 주옥같은 교육 자료로, 어른들에게는 일상에서 벗어나 자연과 조우하는 청량제로 그 역할을 한다.
 
온 가족이 함께!
시청자 층이 다각화, 세분화되고 있는 요즘 추세에 비추어 볼 때, 온 가족이 한 자리에 모여 편안한 마음으로 서로 대화를 나누며 시청할 수 있는 몇 안되는 프로그램이다. 컴퓨터 그래픽이나 화려한 무대가 아닌, 카메라맨이 직접 땀 흘려가며 촬영한 화면 하나하나는 시청자들로 하여금 대자연의 위대함과 생태계의 신비, 자연의 소중함을 일깨워 줄 것이다.
