Hunting consumes a huge amount of energy and it is much more calorie-efficient for cats to sit, wait, stalk and pounce rather than travel long distances over difficult terrain.
Why do cats stalk and pounce?
Feline energy expenditure has been the subject of research by scientists from the University of California.
They developed a high-tech collar equipped with GPS and accelerometers to track and monitor wild mountain lions.
They found that not only do the cats use the most energy efficient form of hunting and stalking, but they also adjust the power oft heir pounce depending on the size of their prey.
The team also studied captive mountain lions and discovered that, despite their strength, they lack a high acrobic capacity, and therefore have a slow walking pace.
This enables them to conserve energy for killer bursts of speed and power pounces.
This article by Karen Emslie was first published by Discover Wildlife on 14 October 2026. Lead Image: A tiger about to pounce © Getty Images
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