Yes, Cats do eat bats. While it doesn’t happen most of the time, a cat will devour a bat if there is an opportunity. Cats are carnivores, and they aren’t picky eaters, meaning they can eat any meat. These two animals don’t usually see each other, but any cat would take on a bat upon sight.
But what makes a bat prey, especially to cats?
How do cats eat bats? Is it okay for these feral animals to eat them?
Let’s find out more about this.
Contents
- 1 Bats as prey to cats: Do cats attack bats?
- 2 Where do bats live?
- 3 Where do cats find bats?
- 4 How does a cat hunt a bat?
- 5 Cats or Bats? Which is faster?
- 6 What happens if my cat killed a bat? Can bats make a cat sick?
- 7 How do bats protect themselves from predators?
- 8 What happens if a cat catches & eats a bat?
- 9 What other animals eat bats?
- 10 Summary
Bats as prey to cats: Do cats attack bats?
A bat is not a usual prey to cats, but it doesn’t mean they can’t eat one.
Cats eat things that are available to them, and things they can catch on their own. Unfortunately, bats aren’t on both lists.
Even so, there are instances that both animals would cross paths. And, when they do, a cat will hunt it down and eat it. This event has already happened, and it’s already a proven fact.
Further, bats aren’t big animals. They only look like massive creatures when they spread their wings.
Without their wings, a bat’s size is only like that of rats and other rodents. Thus, bats make a perfect snack for cats to eat.
Now, let’s dive deeper into bats and find out how they become meals for cats.
Where do bats live?
First, here’s a fun fact:
Bats are the only mammals that are capable of flying.
Interesting, right?
With their forelimbs as wings, they are the only mammals capable of a real and sustained flight. Bats have maneuvering abilities far more remarkable than birds.
The reason why they are mammals is that unlike birds, they give birth and nurse their young. Further, they have hair instead of feathers.
They prefer to sleep in trees, buildings, eaves, or rock crevices.
These animals are nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the night.
In the daytime, they sleep in dark areas like the attics of buildings and caves where there’s little to no light.
With this type of life and habitat, they rarely cross paths with cats.
Now, how can they become prey for cats?
Where do cats find bats?
It’s quite a mystery how bats end up in the stomach of a cat since they have different lifestyles and locations, right?
A bat snack for cats usually happens in houses or buildings when a bat gets in during the night.
While it is unusual, bats sometimes find their way into houses and buildings.
The attic or the roof of a house or a building cools down at night during the summer. For this reason, the cold air outside comes in through cracks and holes.
These holes become a bat guide since they follow the air currents towards the tight spots. Once they find an entry to a house, they use it as their living space.
Bats usually sleep and hang in a house, either in its attic or in its walls.
That’s where cats usually see them.
How does a cat hunt a bat?
Upon seeing bats hanging in the attic or walls, the cat will begin its hunt.
While many house cats never learn hunting as their wild counterparts do, they can still manage to kill a bat.
Even domestic or house cats come from a long line of hunters before being a pet. Thus, they tend to play with things they think they can eat.
For cats, a bat sleeping in a house is easy prey. They can jump high enough to reach steep walls, and they can find paths to get in the attic with ease.
With bats being inactive during the day, they can easily fall into a playful cat’s paws.
Cats or Bats? Which is faster?
While cats are famous for being fast runners, a bat’s flight power can beat them.
An average house cat can bolt for up to 30 mph when chasing prey. Even so, a bat’s flying prowess can get up to 100 mph.
But, for cats hunting bats, speed doesn’t matter. The usual target of cats is the bats hanging in the walls or the attic.
Thus, with a quick pounce and grab, a bat can fall without escaping.
Cats usually succeed in their bat hunting activity. If a bat can sense and try to escape, a cat can jump high and fast enough to catch it.
Once it’s down, a cat will either eat it, discard it, or give it to its owner as their usual offering.
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What happens if my cat killed a bat? Can bats make a cat sick?
For cats, eating a bat may or may not have consequences.
Bats are famous for carrying rabies. For this reason, many cat owners worry about their cats if they saw them eating one. Even so, this is not entirely true.
Only a few bats carry rabies. Less than half of 1% of all bats carry rabies.
Further, bats, like any other carriers, can only send rabies through the saliva. A cat eating an infected bat is less likely to get rabies than a bitten cat.
Even so, the best way to be sure is to have the bat tested for rabies.
How do bats protect themselves from predators?
When it comes to their protection, they only rely on their enhanced hearing and in their wings.
Bats don’t lack predators they need to watch out, so they have to be extra careful.
They protect themselves with their ability to manage ultrasonic sounds.
Bats perceive ultrasonic sounds to maneuver in caves safely, even if it’s pitch dark. They can also use this to sense predators that are approaching.
Even so, with a cat’s agility against their long nap, it’s almost always a victory for cats.
What happens if a cat catches & eats a bat?
Unknown to many, there’s usually not much harm if a cat gets to devour a bat.
The only risk comes if the bat is rabid, but it’s highly unlikely to happen.
If the cat has an anti-rabies vaccine, then that would be fine.
If it’s still bothering you, take your cat to the vet and have it checked to be sure.
What other animals eat bats?
Aside from cats, bats have a lot of predators they need to avoid. These predators are the following:
Mammals
A lot of mammals eat bats when they can. Among the mammals, these animals are famous for eating bats:
- Weasels
- Minks
- Raccoons
Birds
Unlike mammals, they can devour bats since they can catch bats while taking flight. The most common birds that hunt bats are:
- Owls
- Hawks
- Common Grackles
Insects and Arachnids
Bats are small enough to become prey for small animals and insects as well. Among these are:
- Large Spiders
- Centipedes
Other Animals
Aside from the above animals, bats can also become meals with the following:
- Snakes
- Some Fish
- Bullfrogs
Summary
- Cats do eat bats. These two animals don’t usually meet, but any cat would take a bat upon sight.
- A bat is an unusual prey for cats, but it doesn’t mean they can’t eat one.
- Bats live in dark areas, but they can also find their way in houses. That’s where cats usually find them.
- A cat hunts a bat that is sleeping or hanging in a house’s walls or attic. It can jump high enough to reach and grab a sleeping bat.
- While bats are faster, cats are quick, and they attack the inactive bats. Thus, bats usually get caught and eaten by cats.
- Most cat owners are scared of rabies infection from eating bats. It’s not true since only a few out of all bats are rabid.
- There’s not much risk when a cat eats a bat, especially if it has an anti-rabies vaccine.
- Aside from cats, other animals like mammals, birds, and insects can eat bats.
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