Cats are not just pets since they are hunters by nature. In the wild, they need to hunt for small animals to get something to eat. Hunting is also fun for them and they enjoy the process of hunting. They do this to entertain themselves, for mental stimulation, and to stay fit. But do domestic cats hunt snakes?
Cats will hunt down any small animal that catch their attention. Snakes are included on this list of their prey, if they are available. Although snakes are uncommon around the house, they might still find them outside. It will awaken your cat’s instinct to hunt down a snake and get rid of it.
What Attracts Snakes to Your House?
Snakes will be attracted to your house because they need to have shelter and food. It will help them to survive and they will come to your house if they sense that you have a food source of theirs at hand. That includes mice, rats, fish, frogs, moles, snails, slugs, grasshoppers, and some small farm animals.
These slithering creatures will find a place to hunt, breed, and rest. Snakes are attracted to thick grass, leaf piles, faucets, garden hoses, and ponds. There will be snakes around your home if their predators are not present in your area. They are most likely to live in such a perfect place.
Snakes are scary because of their reputation for being venomous. Although there are safe non-poisonous types of snakes around, it’s still not a good idea to have them roaming around your house or yard. A nice landscape with a good water source is like an invitation for snakes to visit.
If you want to get rid of snakes the most natural way, get a cat. They are snake predators and your cat will hunt them down. It’s also a good idea to avoid having small animals around that snakes like to eat. Avoiding having a garden pond, or any unnecessary water source around the house, will discourage snakes as well.
Are Snakes Afraid of Cats?
Cats are bigger than most snakes and they are one of their natural predators. Although snakes have a bad reputation for being dangerous, they can still be afraid of animals bigger than them. Many animals are scared of snakes, but cats are different. They will hunt and eat a snake if given an opportunity.
The reason why snakes are afraid of cats is that they move quickly. Cats will attack using their claws and sharp teeth. Snakes will usually try to escape or will be defensive if they don’t have a choice but to fight. They will try to intimidate the cat by making loud noises such as hissing.
When the snake rattles its tail, it’s also trying to scare the cat away. Snakes will also try rearing up to make themselves look bigger. They will try to do feigned strikes with their mouth closed as a warning. If all else fails, the snake will do its actual strike using its fangs and venom.
Snakes will make sure that they don’t come across any cats. However, there are times that cats will find them no matter how quiet they are. When the confrontation happens between a snake and a cat, the snake will try to be defensive. It will hiss, shake its tail, rear up, and strike.
Can Cats Tell If a Snake is Venomous?
Unfortunately, cats can’t tell if the snake is venomous or not. They only use the instinctive knowledge that they have from where they came from. Cats have been domesticated for a very long time. They depend on their human relationships for their survival these days. When they find a snake, they will hunt it, venomous or not.
If you live in an area where there are venomous snakes around, your cat will be in danger. Make sure not to leave your cat unattended if this is the case. Cats will not be able to tell if the snake will be bad for them and your cat may end up seriously injured or worse, dead.
Luckily, most common snake bites on cats are non-venomous, but they can still pose a danger to them. Snakes will most likely bite their legs since that’s the closest part they can get. It can still be painful for the cat and the wound might bleed. The non-venomous snake bite looks like a horseshoe.
While the venomous snake bite will look like two puncture marks. It will cause swelling and pain in the affected area. Symptoms such as bleeding, pale gums, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty in breathing can be observed. The cat might also experience vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, drooping eyelids, dilated pupils, incoordination, paralysis, and convulsions.
See Also: Do Domestic Cats Hunt Squirrels?
And: How Do I Get My Cat to Stop Attacking My Dog?
Will My Cat Kill a Snake?
As natural hunters, cats can sense movements that catch their attention. Even if your cat doesn’t look like a hunter, it will investigate and try to catch prey. It will be unlikely that you’ll see an indoor cat hunting for snakes. If you have an outdoor cat, you will sometimes see it catching stalking small critters. You may also witness it stalking a snake.
Cats will kill a snake since they enjoy hunting and death is usually the end result. If your cat is agile and smart, it will be enough to kill a snake. Your cat may even eat the snake if it’s small enough. The encounter with the snake can make your cat sick if it happens to be venomous.
Cats are ambush creatures and they have different techniques to catch their prey. If they find a small creature, they will hunt it down. Cats will crouch down, hide, and wait for the right moment. The unsuspecting animal will never know what got them once the cat leaps and strikes.
No matter how fluffy or friendly your cat may look, it will always go for the kill. They are predators back in the wild and they will take every opportunity to hunt. The instinct to hunt will always come out when they have spotted unsuspecting prey.
Conclusion
Do domestic cats hunt snakes? Yes, they do and they can kill these creatures without an issue. Cats love to hunt and they will do it when an opportunity presents itself. Snakes will try to avoid having an encounter with a cat if possible. But if it can’t be avoided, snakes will fight back and they can harm your cat.
As a feline owner, you should always protect your cat from snakes. Even if it can kill a snake, it can stress your cat and possibly result in your cat getting bitten. If you have a problem with snakes in your yard, it’s best to call a pest control company and keep your cat safe and sound.
Featured image: A Green Snake
