Research overview: aiming the pinnae to localize prey

When hunting by ear, a cat actively orients its pinnae toward a sound source to maximize gain and sharpen localization before striking. This overview surveys how pinna aiming integrates with the broader auditory localization system to help cats pinpoint hidden prey. By pointing the ears, the cat increases the received signal and exploits the directional filtering of the pinna, refining its estimate of where the prey lies. The survey relates this behavior to observations of cats freezing with ears fixed on a noise, then pouncing accurately toward an unseen target. It frames pinna aiming as the behavioral expression of the cat's flexible ear control in the service of predation. Documenting how cats use their ears to localize prey ties together pinna mobility, directional gain, and spectral cues into a single hunting strategy, showing that the cat's ears are working tools during the silent, focused moments before an attack.