How do you explain to a Jain that it is in the nature of a cat to hunt and kill pigeons

In Jain understanding, a cat’s instinct to hunt is part of its worldly nature, but nature does not become dharma. Jain dharma asks a person to respond with ahimsa, compassion, and restraint, not by approving the killing, but by protecting life where possible.

A Jain would explain it like this:

• The cat is acting from instinct and karma-bonded nature.
• The pigeon is a living being with the desire to live.
• The duty of a Jain is to prevent harm as much as possible, without hatred toward the cat.
• If possible, protect the pigeons, separate them, or create conditions that reduce violence.
• At the same time, one should not blame the cat with anger, because it is also a soul under karmic bondage.

So the Jain view is:

“This is the cat’s natural tendency, but we should not call it right. Nature explains behavior; Jain dharma guides conduct.”

In short, a Jain can acknowledge the cat’s nature while still maintaining that killing is not approved, and compassion should be extended to all जीव.