I grew up having many cats in Japan. These cats were usually left outside because my parents didn't want them to scratch the floors in their house. (The floors of traditional Japanese houses are usually covered mats made out of straw, called "tatami". If you know martial arts, you may know what I am talking about.)

My cats used to hunt many small animals such as sparrows, frogs, snakes, lizards, and insects. They brought them back to show me these trophies proudly. It was thrilling to watch the cats crawl slowly toward prey and dash at it like a cheetah.

Looking back on those days, I now know that I lived with cats who enjoyed their instincts to the fullest. They were very agile, and the way they gazed at prey and swiftly pounced at them was certainly a sight to see.

Now I'm a grown-up. I live in the Unites States with my husband. We have a cat who stays all day inside the house. He is a beautiful and elegant black cat and we love him. Our cat doesn't hunt for food. We provide him with natural cat food and a good shelter throughout the year.

But I often miss watching the instincts that nature gave these elegant animals.