It depends on if it's a fully domestic cat or one that has spent significant time living on it's own in the wild (stray/feral).
I've seen a domestic cat play with a mouse until it's dead, then act like it doesn't know what to do with it. An old stray cat (that had rejoined domestic life but didn't have the energy to catch and play with the mouse) would then get up and eat it in two chomps.
at the cat rescue i volunteered at, the kittens who were too feral/fearful to become pets were moved over into the 'working cat' program. they'd be put in the storage areas of the rescue and allowed to roam freely in those areas, but still be near humans and be fed/litterbox trained. then businessowners could adopt them to keep the rodent population under control in their businesses. a real win-win-win situation, considering those cats would likely be put down otherwise.
Cats tire out mice and injure mice specifically for eating but sometimes they just mutilate the body, those seemingly playful pats of their paw have a lot of force and can send a mouse across the room. The mouse is taking consequential damage on every swing, which can come in quick succession, and the mouse is not fast enough to escape.
The cats in turn avoid any bites when they go to actually eat it. They could theoretically do something else to kill and eat faster, but its more akin to their long range attack ensuring they take no damage, avoiding any skin piercing infection.
I had a neighborhood cat that wanted to live with me. He introduced himself while I was working on my truck. He would literally watch me work on my truck. He was always looking on right behind me, even when under the truck. (maybe because mice sometimes hide in vechicles?)
Anyway for months he would leave a dead mouse on the house mat.
I felt sorry for him, and let him stay in the utility room, and showed him how to use a dog door. (I would have kept him, but he ended up having a home. He lived in a 8 million dollar mansion, and was feed fresh Salmon, he hated the dog.)
I found all that out later. I couldn't let him in the house 24/7 because of allergies.
He would sneak in and bring on mice. The mice were so quiet, I didn't even notice them until he arrived.
I found out later he was going to multiple houses daily, and we all spoiled him.
He did want to live with me, but finally gave up.
I think some wild animal got him though. The wealthy family that owned him was devistated. People on that Neighborhood social site condemned the family for not keeping him indoors, but they didn't know he liked his freedom.
He lived a full life, but killed a lot of rodents. Which didn't bother me at the time. Well it kinda did, but rats I just can't live with.
I used to believe all cats should be kept indoors, but once certain cats are used to freedom it's painful to watch them suffer mentally by being inside. I learned where the Tom Cat phrase came from by knowing him.
