> there will be traces such as a bunch of feathers and inedible parts
When my family lived in Hugo MN (north of St. Paul), we regularly saw feathers and other remains left by our cats. Occasionally they would leave a bird (or mouse) half dead on our kitchen floor... as an offering? Note that cats might not leave a lot of remains when they hunt, and the sometimes hide the parts they do leave.
Also, while our cats regularly hunted birds, the local blue jays liked to hunt our cats... for sport. The would send one bird out at one end of the yard as bait, and wait for the cat to start hunting it, creeping slowly towards the bird. Then another bird (or several) would suddenly dive bomb it from behind, dropping 20-25 feet strait into the cat's rear end. Our cat would end up launched (and/or leaping) 6+ feet in the air.
When my family lived in Hugo MN (north of St. Paul), we regularly saw feathers and other remains left by our cats. Occasionally they would leave a bird (or mouse) half dead on our kitchen floor... as an offering? Note that cats might not leave a lot of remains when they hunt, and the sometimes hide the parts they do leave.
Also, while our cats regularly hunted birds, the local blue jays liked to hunt our cats... for sport. The would send one bird out at one end of the yard as bait, and wait for the cat to start hunting it, creeping slowly towards the bird. Then another bird (or several) would suddenly dive bomb it from behind, dropping 20-25 feet strait into the cat's rear end. Our cat would end up launched (and/or leaping) 6+ feet in the air.