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In reply to the discussion: Do We Really Know That Cats Kill By The Billions? Not So Fast [View all]Aerows
(39,961 posts)and the Maine Coon cat (huge dude that lived to be 20) that was a total indoor cat did the same thing. He released the bird into my hands, and I took it outside and sent it on it's way. I don't think he harmed a feather.
On the other hand, I was doing something in the back yard and my current huntress leapt straight up in the air and snatched a bird that was flying a tad too low. She also let go when I prompted her to do so, and didn't harm a feather on it. She knows EXACTLY what to do with prey (I've seen it). They catch them in the air, bring them to the ground, then break their backs so that they cannot fly and then go about divesting them of feathers.
So you are right, if they don't know what to do with prey, they *may* not, but even when they do, most of them have a method that they learn and it isn't just munch on it while you are in the air. Gross story, I know, sorry
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