Do Cats Eat Squirrels?

Cats love to eat small prey, and squirrels fit that bill.

If a squirrel presents itself, cats will not pass up the opportunity to catch, kill, and eat it.

Cats are natural predators, so it should come as no surprise that they enjoy dining on squirrels.

While some pet owners may be hesitant to let their cat hunt and kill wildlife, it is a natural behavior.

Cats will hunt and eat squirrels whether or not they are domesticated, so it’s important to understand the risks involved in allowing your cat outside unsupervised.

If you’re worried about your cats hunting too much, try bringing them indoors at night when small mammals like squirrels come out of their burrows.

This will help keep them safe and may also help reduce the population of squirrels in your area.

Do whatever you feel is best for both you and your cat, but know that cats eating squirrels is a natural occurrence.

Do Cats Attack Squirrels?

Cats can attack squirrels at any time.

Cats are predators by nature, and every animal that a cat kills gives them more confidence in their hunting abilities, which can grow until the cat is an expert hunter of anything they choose to hunt.

Squirrels may be small but they are fast and very good at hiding so it is rare for cats to actually capture them.

Cats will, however, hunt squirrels to practice their hunting techniques and improve their confidence levels but may not actually eat the prey after capturing it.

Cats are also very curious by nature so they may attack a squirrel just for fun or out of curiosity.

Cats can kill squirrels at any time if they choose too because cats are natural predators.

However, it is rare for a cat to actually eat the squirrel after capturing it.

Cats will attack and kill squirrels as practice or out of curiosity but most likely will not eat the prey after capture.

Why Do Cats Eat Squirrels?

There are a few reasons why cats might eat squirrels.

Cats like the adrenaline rush that comes from pursuing and hunting their prey, so chasing down a bushy-tailed squirrel can be entertaining for them.

In the wild, squirrels are natural predators of small birds, so cats may see them as an easy meal.

Cats eat squirrels because they enjoy the thrill of the chase, and squirrels are a favorite food for cats.

Cats also like to kill prey for entertainment, and because squirrels are natural predators of cats, it is in their nature to hunt them.

Finally, cats may eat squirrels because they find their bushy tails attractive.

Do Eating Squirrels Harm Your Cat?

Cats are carnivores and their diet should consist of mostly meat.

While it is possible for your cat to get a contagious sickness from wild prey, there are also other dangers to consider.

Poisoned bait or other harmful substances can also be consumed by these animals.

It’s incredibly easy for your cat to ingest intestinal parasites, so you’ll want to be especially careful about what your pet eats.

For the safety of both your cat and the squirrels, it’s best not to let them interact with one another.

If you’re still curious about whether or not cats eat squirrels, ask your veterinarian for more information.

If you have a backyard bird feeder, be sure to keep an eye on your cat.

Cats are natural predators and will often try to catch the birds.

While this may be entertaining for you, it can be dangerous for the birds. If your cat is successful in catching a bird, it’s important to take him or her to the veterinarian for an exam.

There may be internal injuries that you can’t see and your vet will be able to perform any needed emergency surgery.

It’s also possible for your cat to catch a parasitic infection from the bird, like toxoplasmosis or salmonella.

If you’re not sure whether or not squirrels will harm cats when they eat them, talk with your vet about what can happen if one of these animals ends up in your cat’s stomach.

Your vet will be able to provide you with the best advice for keeping your pet safe and healthy.

What should you do if a cat ate a squirrel?

You can call your veterinarian for advice, but it’s likely that the cat will need to be hospitalized for a few days and given antibiotics to clear up any potential infection from eating the squirrel.

Cats can also get very sick from parasites that are common in wild animals like squirrels, so hospitalization is important to ensure that the cat doesn’t develop a serious illness.

Cats usually recover from eating squirrels, but be sure to keep an eye on your cat for any clinical indicators that may indicate a problem.

How To Protect Squirrels from Cats?

There are a few ways to protect your squirrels from cats.

One way is to keep them in an enclosed nest or house. Cats are not able to climb up and get to the squirrels, so they will be safe.

You can also use a cat repellent spray to keep cats away from your squirrels.

Make sure you reapply the spray after a rainstorm.

Cats hate the smell of vinegar and other ingredients in cat repellent sprays, so they will stay away from your pets.

Keep Your Cat in an Enclosed Space

Another way to protect squirrels is by keeping your cat indoors because being outside will expose them to predators such as cats and dogs which stoke their hunting impulses.

Cats love to climb and jump, so you should provide them with a tall cat house or enclosure that they can use for their natural instincts and needs.

How to Stop Cats Killing Squirrels?

Cats are natural predators and if they’re not given some direction, they may take it upon themselves to rid your yard of these bushy-tailed creatures.

There are a few things you can do to help stop this from happening.

Make sure your cat is properly fed.
A well-fed cat is less likely to injure itself.
Increase play time.
Cats need exercise just like dogs do.
Restrain your cat’s activities

Restrain your cat’s activities at night by keeping him inside from dusk till dawn with you. This will help keep him safe and allow the squirrels to go about their business undisturbed.

Attach a bell to your cat’s collar.

The jingle of the bell will help you locate him and alert other animals and birds to his presence.

And finally, educate yourself about ways in which wildlife can be protected from cats. Cats pose a threat not only with their claws but also with their mouths so it is important that they are not fed from outside.

Taking these steps will help keep your cat’s prey away and allow you to enjoy the companionship of a furry friend without worrying about his safety or ruining other animals’ lives in the process.

How Many Squirrels can a Cat Eat?

One or two is usually the most they’ll manage in one sitting, but if you have a huge cat, you’ll need to consume a lot less food than a squirrel because squirrels have a lot of flesh.

Cats like their meat fresh and they’re not as patient as dogs when it comes to waiting for their food.