The cat almost always starts by eating the head of its catch. Among several hundred instances observed by Prof. Leyhausen there were only three exceptions. It seems to prefer to eat in a squatting position, although it will also do so standing up. As a rule, the cat does not chew, but uses its fangs to cut up its prey into chunks or strips, which are then swallowed whole.
In principle, cats can catch any living creature of their own size or smaller. Prof. Leyhausen observed that they generally do not attempt to attack creatures Larger than rats or pigeons. Insects, from houseflies to ladybirds, are eagerly chased and usually greedily eaten, too. Fish, frogs, lizards and snakes are killed and frequently also consumed. Shrews and moles are caught, but have never been recorded as being eaten. Young wild rabbits, squirrels, polecats and weasels are occasionally caught. However the favorite prey are rats and mice. The intensity with which the cat chases after rats does not depend on the size or the strength of the cat, but is more a matter of temperament, and undoubtedly also depends on how experienced the cat is in fighting. A fully-grown rat can successfully defend itself against a cat and sometimes even put it to flight.
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