Your furry, feline, mini lion is probably the protector of your house. It keeps rats, mice, lizards and other small animals out, it may even keep an eye on the neighbour’s dog at times. Sometimes your cat may ingest these small animals too. So, do cats eat squirrels?  If you have a pet cat you really need to know the “what’s what” about your cat’s eating habits and this article will help.  

Cats do eat squires. Your cat may not hunt and eat squirrels on a regular basis but it may occasionally catch and eat a squirrel here or there. Adult squirrels are generally faster and smarter than most domesticated cats so your domesticated cat may catch and eat a baby squirrel.

Do cats eat squirrels?

Yes, cats do eat squirrels, your feline friends will eat a squirrel if given the chance. Cats are opportunistic hunters and won’t pass up the opportunity to prey on, kill and eat a squirrel. This is especially true for your domesticated cats who don’t have as much opportunity to hunt for food as wild cats would.

In addition, because domesticated cats aren’t as adept to hunting as wild cats, they aren’t as good at it and some will only hunt baby squirrels. Older squirrels are too fast and smart for them. It is beneficial for cats to eat fresh prey because this maintains the cat’s gums and teeth ensuring that they are in good condition and that the animal’s jaw muscles are exercised.

Cats eating squirrels comes with positives and negatives. A positive is that the high fluid content of the squirrel carcass also keeps the cat from having to drink water regularly. If your cat only eats pet food then it will need to drink water more frequently.

A negative of cats eating squirrels is a possibility of transmitting diseases. If you suspect your cat of eating squirrels then you need to ensure that they are up to date with their vaccinations,. Also make sure that they get dewormed periodically as an added precaution.  

Are squirrels afraid of cats?

Squirrels aren’t afraid of cats but are mindful of them. They have good reason to be mindful of cats and larger animals as well. Squirrels may be fast but cats are larger, more powerful, good hunters and can be just as fast.

Squirrels by nature tend to be non-aggressive, steering clear of other predatory type animals such as cats. That being said, a cornered squirrel will fight back. Using its sharp claws to fight and defend itself.

What to do if your cat eats a squirrel:

Squirrels are zoonotic animals meaning they can carry and transmit many different diseases. If your cat eats a squirrel then it runs the risk of catching one of these diseases, falling ill and even dying.

Your domestic cat’s immune system may not be able to fight off the diseases. What is recommended, should your cat ever eat a squirrel, is taking it to the vet. The vet will be able to determine if your cat has developed an illness.

Do squirrels carry diseases to cats?

Yes, squirrels can carry diseases to cats, if your cat is domesticated its immune system will be weak compared to that of a wild animal. Diseases such as rabies, plague, brain worms, typhus and so much more can be transferred from the squirrel to your cat.

Even more dangerous is that your pet can pass the disease on to you and your family and in turn cause greater community level sicknesses. Because of this, you need to be wary about your cat eating squirrels.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a cat will eat a squirrel if it can catch and kill it. Your domesticated cat will rather catch and kill a baby squirrel as these are slower and aren’t as smart.

Squirrels aren’t afraid of cats but are mindful of them just as with any their larger animals. If your cat eats a squirrel then take it to the vet. Squirrels can carry diseases to cats such as rabies, plague, brain worms, typhus and so much more

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other squirrel related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Why do squirrels nip off branches?, Are squirrels warm-blooded?, How to entertain squirrels?, Do squirrels eat frogs?