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Alley
October 22nd 03, 07:54 PM
Okay, this is what I'm hoping someone more knowledgable on
cat nature can help me with. Do cats normally hunt
squirrels?

Interestingly, I wondered this out loud to my boyfriend just
a few weeks before moving into our new place. Our new house
is in an area populated by a TON of squirrels. I wondered
what my indoor cat's first reaction would be to this since I
expected he would use a doggie door put in for our three
dogs to have access to the yard. Would he try to chase the
squirrels?

So, this afternoon, after doing some yard work, I walk
inside to my bedroom cleaning up and preparing to go on a
run. I'm standing at my bureau pulling socks out of my
drawer and reaching for my sneakers when I see grey fur
against the dark green hue of our carpeting. Not really
thinking, I thought to myself "I must've dropped some faux
fur fabric" and went to pick it up. But before grabbing it I
realized it was really a tree squirrel sprawled out lying
there dead! Imagine my surprise.

It's kinda odd because it was in a location cornered off in
our bedroom, not near any doors or windows (no chimmney in
our house), the only entrance point being the doggie door on
the complete opposite end of the house. I'm thinking one of
the animals had to have dragged it in through there, into
the bedroom. I determined it had to have been the cat since
he was the only animal who seemed to have known it was there
and went into the bedroom to look for it, almost checking to
make sure it was still there.

It just seems so unlikely that this little pudgy indoor cat
of mine could be such the quick
little hunter to catch a squirrel. If not, it's definitely
going to make me rethink this doggie
door business or risk making these not-so-cute discoveries
on a regular basis.

So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their
cats hunting squirrels?

A.

Judy
October 22nd 03, 11:36 PM
"Alley" > wrote in message
om...
> Okay, this is what I'm hoping someone more knowledgable on
> cat nature can help me with. Do cats normally hunt
> squirrels?

I've never know a cat to catch a squirrel, but I imagine there are those who
do.

There are a lot of squirrels in my neighborhood and they are feisty little
beggars and can be quite nasty. The cats in the area (including my own) do
show great interest in them and chase them and on occasions when I've seen
mine get to close, the squirrels have actually made moves in her direction,
which sent her running.

Personally, I think that if a cat and a squirrel ever got into it, there's
be a bloody mess and I don't have any idea which of the two would come out
on top.

As for the "doggie flap", my brother had one installed but took it out not
long after. He often came home to a house full of strange cats, and live
offerings that his cat had brought in, mice, moles and a few birds flying
around.

Anyway, I'll be interested in reading peoples experiences when it comes to
cats and squirrels.

Judy & Matilda.

Judy
October 22nd 03, 11:36 PM
"Alley" > wrote in message
om...
> Okay, this is what I'm hoping someone more knowledgable on
> cat nature can help me with. Do cats normally hunt
> squirrels?

I've never know a cat to catch a squirrel, but I imagine there are those who
do.

There are a lot of squirrels in my neighborhood and they are feisty little
beggars and can be quite nasty. The cats in the area (including my own) do
show great interest in them and chase them and on occasions when I've seen
mine get to close, the squirrels have actually made moves in her direction,
which sent her running.

Personally, I think that if a cat and a squirrel ever got into it, there's
be a bloody mess and I don't have any idea which of the two would come out
on top.

As for the "doggie flap", my brother had one installed but took it out not
long after. He often came home to a house full of strange cats, and live
offerings that his cat had brought in, mice, moles and a few birds flying
around.

Anyway, I'll be interested in reading peoples experiences when it comes to
cats and squirrels.

Judy & Matilda.

Nadine
October 23rd 03, 12:22 AM
Ally wrote:
> So, I'm wondering if anyone has any
>experience with their cats hunting squirrels?

I can't speak for every cat out there, but all of mine have been
accomplished hunters. I have received everything from insects to
squirrels, and even a few snakes over the years. I would think the
squirrels were either young, old or sick for them to have gotten caught,
but they did get caught. Once a cat gets hold of one they don't
normally make it. :-(

Nadine
October 23rd 03, 12:22 AM
Ally wrote:
> So, I'm wondering if anyone has any
>experience with their cats hunting squirrels?

I can't speak for every cat out there, but all of mine have been
accomplished hunters. I have received everything from insects to
squirrels, and even a few snakes over the years. I would think the
squirrels were either young, old or sick for them to have gotten caught,
but they did get caught. Once a cat gets hold of one they don't
normally make it. :-(

Alley
October 23rd 03, 12:57 AM
"Judy" > wrote in message
...
> There are a lot of squirrels in my neighborhood and they are feisty little
> beggars and can be quite nasty. The cats in the area (including my own) do
> show great interest in them and chase them and on occasions when I've seen
> mine get to close, the squirrels have actually made moves in her
direction,
> which sent her running.

I still haven't had an opportunity to observe my cat interact with a
squirrel (or any other neighborhood cats, for that matter). I've never even
seen my cat climb a tree yet. In fact, the b/f and myself joked about the
cat probably never even venturing outside our yard because he'd be too
disgusted with trying to make it over the fence.

> Personally, I think that if a cat and a squirrel ever got into it, there's
> be a bloody mess and I don't have any idea which of the two would come out
> on top.

I also noticed that there were no puncture wounds or blood on the squirrel.
I guess it's also possible that perhaps the squirrel died and the cat just
dragged in his discovery.

> As for the "doggie flap", my brother had one installed but took it out not
> long after. He often came home to a house full of strange cats, and live
> offerings that his cat had brought in, mice, moles and a few birds flying
> around.

And after today, this has entered my mind, too :(.

> Anyway, I'll be interested in reading peoples experiences when it comes to
> cats and squirrels.
>
> Judy & Matilda.


Alley

Alley
October 23rd 03, 12:57 AM
"Judy" > wrote in message
...
> There are a lot of squirrels in my neighborhood and they are feisty little
> beggars and can be quite nasty. The cats in the area (including my own) do
> show great interest in them and chase them and on occasions when I've seen
> mine get to close, the squirrels have actually made moves in her
direction,
> which sent her running.

I still haven't had an opportunity to observe my cat interact with a
squirrel (or any other neighborhood cats, for that matter). I've never even
seen my cat climb a tree yet. In fact, the b/f and myself joked about the
cat probably never even venturing outside our yard because he'd be too
disgusted with trying to make it over the fence.

> Personally, I think that if a cat and a squirrel ever got into it, there's
> be a bloody mess and I don't have any idea which of the two would come out
> on top.

I also noticed that there were no puncture wounds or blood on the squirrel.
I guess it's also possible that perhaps the squirrel died and the cat just
dragged in his discovery.

> As for the "doggie flap", my brother had one installed but took it out not
> long after. He often came home to a house full of strange cats, and live
> offerings that his cat had brought in, mice, moles and a few birds flying
> around.

And after today, this has entered my mind, too :(.

> Anyway, I'll be interested in reading peoples experiences when it comes to
> cats and squirrels.
>
> Judy & Matilda.


Alley

kaeli
October 23rd 03, 02:08 PM
In article >,
enlightened us with...
> So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their
> cats hunting squirrels?
>


Rowan would if I'd let her off her leash. She sure tries.

If she had a yard I felt safe to let her wander in, birds, bunnies, and
squirrels would be in mortal danger.

-------------------------------------------------
~kaeli~
Jesus saves, Allah protects, and Cthulhu
thinks you'd make a nice sandwich.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace
-------------------------------------------------

kaeli
October 23rd 03, 02:08 PM
In article >,
enlightened us with...
> So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their
> cats hunting squirrels?
>


Rowan would if I'd let her off her leash. She sure tries.

If she had a yard I felt safe to let her wander in, birds, bunnies, and
squirrels would be in mortal danger.

-------------------------------------------------
~kaeli~
Jesus saves, Allah protects, and Cthulhu
thinks you'd make a nice sandwich.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace
-------------------------------------------------

Fat Freddy
October 23rd 03, 02:53 PM
> > So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their
> > cats hunting squirrels?

The squirrels love to sit on the back fence and taunt the cats and make
them chase them. The squirrels have much better footing on the top of
the fence and sometiimes the cats fall off into the blackberry bushes.
Even though the cats never win, both they and the squirrels seem to
enjoy the game. When the cats get too close the squirrels jump off onto
a tree and yell at the cats from there.

However, in the front yard, where there is an oak tree, the squirells
have free reign to the yard to gather and bury the acorns and the cats
just watch them and never chase them.

Fat Freddy
October 23rd 03, 02:53 PM
> > So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their
> > cats hunting squirrels?

The squirrels love to sit on the back fence and taunt the cats and make
them chase them. The squirrels have much better footing on the top of
the fence and sometiimes the cats fall off into the blackberry bushes.
Even though the cats never win, both they and the squirrels seem to
enjoy the game. When the cats get too close the squirrels jump off onto
a tree and yell at the cats from there.

However, in the front yard, where there is an oak tree, the squirells
have free reign to the yard to gather and bury the acorns and the cats
just watch them and never chase them.

Mich Somday
October 23rd 03, 05:04 PM
"Alley" > wrote in message:

> So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their
> cats hunting squirrels?


Hi Alley,

My tiny little calico girl, Creepie, is a very intrepid hunter who has
indeed snagged a few squirrels. They've all been pine squirrels and
flying squirrels, though. We don't have the big fox or gray squirrels
here. She's always come out unscathed and left us our gift of dead
rodent near our recliners. She's been known to kill small weasels and
full grown rabbits, too. Runtus and Iddy seem satisfied with mice,
birds, etc. Some cats, like Creepie, have more of a killer instinct
than others, I think. Some love the hunt; she loves the kill.

Good luck with your kitty. I've seen some pretty chubby felines react
with lightning-quick reflexes when it comes to getting what they want.
You just might have one of those! :)

Kindest Regards,

Mich

Mich Somday
October 23rd 03, 05:04 PM
"Alley" > wrote in message:

> So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their
> cats hunting squirrels?


Hi Alley,

My tiny little calico girl, Creepie, is a very intrepid hunter who has
indeed snagged a few squirrels. They've all been pine squirrels and
flying squirrels, though. We don't have the big fox or gray squirrels
here. She's always come out unscathed and left us our gift of dead
rodent near our recliners. She's been known to kill small weasels and
full grown rabbits, too. Runtus and Iddy seem satisfied with mice,
birds, etc. Some cats, like Creepie, have more of a killer instinct
than others, I think. Some love the hunt; she loves the kill.

Good luck with your kitty. I've seen some pretty chubby felines react
with lightning-quick reflexes when it comes to getting what they want.
You just might have one of those! :)

Kindest Regards,

Mich

rose ricciuto
November 1st 03, 02:26 AM
My cats never brought a squirrel home but I used to have a house full of
chipmunks every summer - they never killed them - just brought them in
and let them go - then they were my problem and I had 5 cats! Of course
there was also the mouse that lived behind the refridgerator and ate dry
cat food - but that's another story.

rose ricciuto
November 1st 03, 02:26 AM
My cats never brought a squirrel home but I used to have a house full of
chipmunks every summer - they never killed them - just brought them in
and let them go - then they were my problem and I had 5 cats! Of course
there was also the mouse that lived behind the refridgerator and ate dry
cat food - but that's another story.

William Hamblen
November 1st 03, 12:42 PM
On 2003-11-01, rose ricciuto > wrote:

> My cats never brought a squirrel home but I used to have a house full of
> chipmunks every summer - they never killed them - just brought them in
> and let them go - then they were my problem and I had 5 cats! Of course
> there was also the mouse that lived behind the refridgerator and ate dry
> cat food - but that's another story.

I occasionally find uneaten pieces of squirrel at the back door.

--
When the fog came in on little cat feet last night, it left these little
muddy paw prints on the hood of my car.

William Hamblen
November 1st 03, 12:42 PM
On 2003-11-01, rose ricciuto > wrote:

> My cats never brought a squirrel home but I used to have a house full of
> chipmunks every summer - they never killed them - just brought them in
> and let them go - then they were my problem and I had 5 cats! Of course
> there was also the mouse that lived behind the refridgerator and ate dry
> cat food - but that's another story.

I occasionally find uneaten pieces of squirrel at the back door.

--
When the fog came in on little cat feet last night, it left these little
muddy paw prints on the hood of my car.

Wendy
November 17th 03, 04:32 PM
One of my cats did get a squirrel in her younger days so it can happen. She
was unmarked so it must have been a slow squirrel.

Wendy

"Alley" > wrote in message
om...
Okay, this is what I'm hoping someone more knowledgable on
cat nature can help me with. Do cats normally hunt
squirrels?

Interestingly, I wondered this out loud to my boyfriend just
a few weeks before moving into our new place. Our new house
is in an area populated by a TON of squirrels. I wondered
what my indoor cat's first reaction would be to this since I
expected he would use a doggie door put in for our three
dogs to have access to the yard. Would he try to chase the
squirrels?

So, this afternoon, after doing some yard work, I walk
inside to my bedroom cleaning up and preparing to go on a
run. I'm standing at my bureau pulling socks out of my
drawer and reaching for my sneakers when I see grey fur
against the dark green hue of our carpeting. Not really
thinking, I thought to myself "I must've dropped some faux
fur fabric" and went to pick it up. But before grabbing it I
realized it was really a tree squirrel sprawled out lying
there dead! Imagine my surprise.

It's kinda odd because it was in a location cornered off in
our bedroom, not near any doors or windows (no chimmney in
our house), the only entrance point being the doggie door on
the complete opposite end of the house. I'm thinking one of
the animals had to have dragged it in through there, into
the bedroom. I determined it had to have been the cat since
he was the only animal who seemed to have known it was there
and went into the bedroom to look for it, almost checking to
make sure it was still there.

It just seems so unlikely that this little pudgy indoor cat
of mine could be such the quick
little hunter to catch a squirrel. If not, it's definitely
going to make me rethink this doggie
door business or risk making these not-so-cute discoveries
on a regular basis.

So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their
cats hunting squirrels?

A.

Wendy
November 17th 03, 04:32 PM
One of my cats did get a squirrel in her younger days so it can happen. She
was unmarked so it must have been a slow squirrel.

Wendy

"Alley" > wrote in message
om...
Okay, this is what I'm hoping someone more knowledgable on
cat nature can help me with. Do cats normally hunt
squirrels?

Interestingly, I wondered this out loud to my boyfriend just
a few weeks before moving into our new place. Our new house
is in an area populated by a TON of squirrels. I wondered
what my indoor cat's first reaction would be to this since I
expected he would use a doggie door put in for our three
dogs to have access to the yard. Would he try to chase the
squirrels?

So, this afternoon, after doing some yard work, I walk
inside to my bedroom cleaning up and preparing to go on a
run. I'm standing at my bureau pulling socks out of my
drawer and reaching for my sneakers when I see grey fur
against the dark green hue of our carpeting. Not really
thinking, I thought to myself "I must've dropped some faux
fur fabric" and went to pick it up. But before grabbing it I
realized it was really a tree squirrel sprawled out lying
there dead! Imagine my surprise.

It's kinda odd because it was in a location cornered off in
our bedroom, not near any doors or windows (no chimmney in
our house), the only entrance point being the doggie door on
the complete opposite end of the house. I'm thinking one of
the animals had to have dragged it in through there, into
the bedroom. I determined it had to have been the cat since
he was the only animal who seemed to have known it was there
and went into the bedroom to look for it, almost checking to
make sure it was still there.

It just seems so unlikely that this little pudgy indoor cat
of mine could be such the quick
little hunter to catch a squirrel. If not, it's definitely
going to make me rethink this doggie
door business or risk making these not-so-cute discoveries
on a regular basis.

So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their
cats hunting squirrels?

A.