House cats are known for their potential as lethal predators, but many don’t live up to that reputation. Viral TikTok videos often show cats calmly observing mice that seem like easy targets, yet the feline shows little interest in hunting. According to scientists, this behavior doesn’t indicate that these cats are lazy or “broken.” Rather, it’s a reflection of their kinder, less aggressive personalities.
Research suggests that a cat’s friendly nature could play a significant role in how often it hunts. Emmanuelle Baudry, an ecologist and lead author of a study titled Pet Cat Personality Linked to Owner-Reported Predation Frequency, explains that cats with pleasant, sociable temperaments—those that get along well with both humans and other cats—may be less driven to catch prey.
“This isn’t a case of cats being defective,” Baudry told USA TODAY. “These cats are perfectly fine—friendly, wonderful pets.”
For years, the connection between a cat’s personality and its hunting behavior was largely overlooked by scientists, Baudry and her co-authors noted in their 2022 study. Only recently did biologists start to explore the idea that a cat’s individual personality traits might influence how often it engages in predatory behavior.
Wailani Sung, a cat behaviorist who contributed to the 2022 Netflix documentary Inside the Mind of a Cat, praised the research from France, calling it “super interesting.” Sung noted that modern studies are shedding light on the subtle complexities of cat behavior, and how their personalities impact actions like hunting.
As research continues, it’s becoming clearer that not all cats are born to hunt—some are just too nice for the job.
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