HUNTING BEHAVIOUR

Question
Do cats hide their prey to eat later? I have just seen a domestic cat retrieve a half eaten rabbit (baby rabbit) from a hidden corner of my garden. The cat then proceeded to eat, he clearly knew where to find the carcass. The blood spots around the hidden corner led me to believe that the half carcass had been put there when freshly killed. If they do hide their prey could it be that "gifts" brought home are a form of hiding prey?

Answer
Rosemary,

Yes, it goes back to the history of wild cats. Cats would hide or bury their extra food to protect it from other animals. Cats in the wild still do it and some domestic cats do it from the hunter instinct and not from the need of food.

It is a tossup whether a cat is bringing in part of a fresh kill to show it off to you or whether cat the feels bringing it in will protect it from other animals.

Tabbi