At the beginning of the story did Rainsford have any feeling for the animals he hunted? How did his experience change his feelings?

At the beginning of the story Rainsford balks (makes fun) of Whitney for considering that animals have feelings. He says animals only have instincts and nothing else. While Rainsford is being hunted by Zaroff, Rainsford concedes he now understands what an animal must feel like being hunted.