Research overview: hunting by sound in the domestic cat

Cats frequently locate and strike at prey they cannot see, relying on hearing to guide the attack. This overview surveys how acute sound localization and broad, high-reaching hearing enable cats to hunt by ear, detecting the faint rustles and ultrasonic squeaks of rodents in vegetation, snow, or darkness. The mobile pinnae sharpen directional estimates, while the high-frequency sensitivity matches the sounds prey produce. The survey discusses observations of cats orienting their ears, freezing, and then pouncing toward sound sources, behavior consistent with auditory targeting. It frames hearing as a primary hunting sense that complements night vision and tactile whisker guidance at close range. Considering hunting by sound integrates feline auditory physiology with predatory behavior, explaining why a cat's ears swivel toward the slightest noise and how the auditory system is tuned to convert prey sounds into precise, lethal strikes.