As both raccoons and domestic cats share the same environments in many suburban and urban areas, the question of whether these masked bandits pose a threat to our feline friends is an understandable concern for pet owners. While raccoons are generally not considered a major predator of cats, there are certain circumstances where conflicts and predation can occur. Let’s take a closer look at the facts.
The Raccoon’s Diet and Hunting Behavior
Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will eat a wide variety of plant and animal matter based on what is readily available in their environment. Their natural diet consists primarily of insects, rodents, eggs, fruits, nuts, slugs, frogs, and even fish when accessible. They are well-known scavengers and will raid garbage cans, compost piles, and pet food bowls left outside.
While raccoons are certainly capable of killing and eating cats, they are not typically viewed as efficient cat predators from an evolutionary standpoint. Raccoons lack the pursuit and hunting capabilities of more specialized cat predators like coyotes, foxes, or bobcats. Their usual modus operandi is to target easier prey sources that require minimal effort to acquire.
That being said, certain scenarios can increase the risk of raccoons preying on cats:
- Kittens and Small Cats Very young kittens and smaller cats under 5 pounds may be viewed as suitable prey by a particularly bold or undernourished raccoon. Their small size makes them easier targets compared to an average adult house cat.
- Unattended Cats Cats that are allowed to roam unsupervised, especially at night, have a higher chance of encountering aggressive raccoons in search of an easy meal. Indoor cats are at virtually no risk.
- Sick or Injured Cats Any cat that is ill, elderly, or injured could struggle to escape or defend itself effectively against a determined raccoon attack.
- Food Sources Areas where raccoons are accustomed to being fed by humans, either inadvertently through unsecured garbage/pet food or directly, can embolden them to be more aggressive in pursuing atypical food sources like cats.
Protecting Your Cat from Raccoon Encounters
While outright predation is relatively uncommon, taking some basic precautions can minimize any risk of your cat having an unpleasant run-in with a raccoon:
- Keep cats indoors, especially at night when raccoons are most active
- Use secure locking mechanisms on pet doors
- Don’t leave any food sources out that could attract raccoons
- Use motion sensor lights/sprinklers to deter raccoons from prowling near your home
- Clear brush and dense weeds from your yard to eliminate raccoon denning areas
- Keep cats up-to-date on rabies vaccinations as a precaution
In general, healthy adult cats are usually more than capable of fending off or evading a solitary raccoon if an encounter does occur. Their combination of speed, agility, claws, and feisty demeanor typically deters raccoons from viewing them as worthwhile prey. However, a raccoon mother protecting her young or multiple raccoons ganging up could potentially overpower a cat.
What to Do If You Witness a Raccoon Attacking a Cat
Despite responsible pet ownership, unexpected conflicts can still transpire. If you happen to witness a raccoon attacking a cat, it’s crucial to put safety first and not directly intervene, as raccoons can be vicious when cornered and have the potential to carry rabies.
The best approach is to scare the raccoon away using loud noises (banging pots/pans), bright lights, or a high-pressure hose or water sprayer from a safe distance. Once the raccoon has safely fled the area, immediately look for the closest emergency animal hospital to rush the cat to for any required treatment of injuries. Report the incident to your local animal control office as well.
While truly devastating cat vs raccoon encounters are relatively rare occurrences for pet owners compared to other threats like vehicular accidents or dog attacks, it’s still wise to remain vigilant and take precautions. With some common sense practices to minimize interactions between raccoons and your domesticated felines, you can rest assured knowing your furry family members have a lowered risk of ending up as unintended quarry for these resourceful urban scavengers.
