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Why do cats like to eat mice?
The main reason why cats like to eat mice is that mice are rich in protein, especially taurine. Mouse meat is the most comprehensive nutritional supplement for cats. Of course, cats don't only catch mice. They will capture animals smaller than themselves, but in their living environment, mice are usually the easiest to find, so mice become the primary prey of cats.
Why do cats like to eat mice? It's because catching mice is in their nature. However, why do cats show a special interest in mice? The main reason is that mice are abundant in protein, especially taurine. Mouse meat provides the most comprehensive nutrition for cats.
Cats cannot synthesize taurine, but it is essential to them. If cats lack taurine, their night vision will deteriorate, and long-term deficiency can lead to night blindness, making it impossible for them to venture out at night. Taurine found in mice is exactly what cats need.
Mice and fish are rich in taurine, so cats usually choose to catch mice to intake taurine. For pet cats, owners are more willing to feed them fish or other foods containing taurine. However, since only humans are aware of taurine and have given it a name, animals have gradually developed a demand for this substance over long-term evolution. As a result, this inherent trait has been passed down as genetic information.
It should be noted that cats don't only catch mice. They will prey on animals smaller than themselves, but in their living environment, mice are the easiest to find. Therefore, mice become the primary target of cats' hunting. Moreover, other carnivores also eat mice, such as snakes, ferrets, and owls. We almost never see them eating mice in daily life, and what we see most is cats eating mice, giving us the impression that cats love catching mice.