Hunting Functions of Cats –a Simple Study

Hunting functions are associated with several sensory as well as motor functions of brain. The anatomical parts related to the hunting functions include canine teeth that helps in tearing of the tissues in an appreciable manner. The canine teeth are laterally flattened state in the house cats.

During the hunting functions, the commands associating stalking activity and the pouncing activity on the prey species are assisted by premolar teeth. These premolar teeth help in cutting the flesh or feed materials subsequent to hunting done by impulse from cerebral hemispheres.

The development of organs might not be full in the neonatal period. Hence, the neonatal brain structures need to have full development if the hunting functions are to be exercised in an appreciable way.

Movement recognition is given emphasis in the hunting functions rather than the vision based reflexes and the anatomical development for exercising hunting functions in cat species achieve satisfactory developments only at sixth to twelfth week, during which time, animal also learns on how to kill.

During the hunting functions, there is a need of correlation of many anatomical structures and by muscular activity, even the tail is kept in twitched position with great intensity and the impulse travel through nerves are of immensely useful in this action.

Cat has no lateral jaw motion and similarly, rudimentary molars are present in cats, indicating on the lesser need of molar grinding actions in cat species. In hunting functions, the command from brain gives thrust for muscular activity in cat, thus leading to the successful placement of the sharpened claw that is in retracted status over the prey species and this helps the hunting functions effectively in cats.

The hunting functions obliterate the fear reflex in cat species and ultimately, when the cats exercise the hunting functions, adequate contraction of insertion points of muscles occur. Hence, there is a coordinated movement of limbs, jaws, ears, tail etc. and finally, hunting event happens in cats. Any disturbance in any of the anatomical structures in cats will ultimately have some impact in the hunting functions and there may be disturbances in muscular functions and derangements in hunting finally.

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