How To Simulate the Prey Sequence for Your Indoor Cat

Cats are natural-born hunters, but when they live indoors, they miss out on expressing their instincts to stalk and catch prey. Without proper mental and physical exercise, indoor cats can become bored, frustrated, or even develop behavioral issues.

A great way to keep your feline friend happy and engaged is by simulating the prey sequence, which consists of four key hunting behaviors: stalk, chase, pounce, and kill. By mimicking this sequence through play, you provide your cat with an enriching, rewarding experience that satisfies their natural instincts.

Understand the Prey Sequence

The prey sequence consists of four instinctive actions:

1. Stalking – The cat crouches low, eyes locked on the target, ears forward, and body still.

2. Chasing – Once the prey (or toy) moves, the cat lunges forward in pursuit.

3. Pouncing – When close enough, the cat leaps and grabs the prey with its paws.

4. Kill Bite – The final move where the cat delivers a “killing” bite, usually by shaking its head while gripping the prey.

By recreating this sequence, you give your indoor cat a thrilling and natural hunting experience.

*Choose the Right Toy

To effectively simulate hunting, pick a durable and long feather wand with toys that resemble real prey. A long feather wand is one that is usually over 30 inches. This allows you to create enough distance to initiate the next phase of the prey sequence. 

1. Initiate the Stalk Phase

Start by slowly moving the toy around the room. Let it “hide” behind furniture, peek out, or scurry along the floor. Your cat should watch intently, body low to the ground, tail twitching—this means they are locked in on their target.

Avoid waving the toy frantically at first—real prey doesn’t act that way. Instead, keep movements slow and realistic.

2. Engage the Chase

Once your cat is fixated, make the toy move quickly but erratically, like real prey trying to escape.

• Drag a string toy around corners or under rugs.

• Make a feather wand dart through the air like a flying insect.

• Roll a small toy across the floor as if it’s a mouse running away.

This phase should get your cat running, leaping, and engaging in full-speed action.

3. Encourage the Pounce and Capture

As your cat gets close, allow them to catch the toy occasionally. If they never “win,” they may lose interest. Once caught, let them bite, kick, and shake the toy as they would with real prey.

If using a wand toy, let it go limp when they catch it—this mimics the feeling of a real capture.

4. End With the Kill Bite and Reward

After a few rounds of chase and capture, let your cat finish with a final “kill” bite. Some cats will naturally grab the toy, bite it, and kick with their hind legs. 

To make the experience even more rewarding, follow up with:

• A small treat or meal (just like a real hunt ends with eating)

The prey sequence technique was a game changer for me and my cats. I hope it can be that for you and your cat too!