Cats and Squirrels

[WaulML6]

Our neighborhood is overrun with cats but it is also overrun with squirrels.  What is the problem that the cats don't catch the squirrels.  An odd problem don't you think.  You'd think the cats would catch the squirrels and they both keep multiplying.  Anyone else with this problem?

[Skyenkit]

We had lots of squirrels all over our neighborhood before and since we got a cat didnt see any squirrel around anymore our cat killed them all.

[alice44]

We have squirrels but my cat stays indoors and just watches them 

[patycake56]

we have been overrun with squirrels my husband just uses his 22 to take care of them

[rainman306]

Squirrels I pretty fast I think, plus most of these cats are probably quite domesticated and not that adapt at cathing prey.

I once saw a squirrel really bully a chipmunk ... was kind of a funny sight to see.

[Skyenkit]

Our cat stay outside he never want inside since he was little kitty. He is so fast he could climb a tree really quick. He even catches birds.

[jmccaskill]

Squirrels are pretty difficult to sneak up on! There are always a lot of them around in the parks that are used to humans and beg for handouts, no fear of people but if you walk a dog withing 100 feet of them they take note and head for the tree tops. Cats are surely stealthier than dogs on a leash, or free running for that matter, but I think the big rodents are too aware to get caught very often. That and cats I am familiar with would not dare approach anything near their own size with the thought of murder! 

[patti4me]

We have more squirrels now than we used to.  The outdoor cat we used to have kept them killed off for a lot of years but then she died and the squirrels kept multiplying.  We have a cat now that is inside/outside and we got her when she was a kitten thinking she'd grow up to be a big, bad hunter.  Wrong!!  She's a little petite cat and some of the squirrels are almost as big as she is!  lol  She has killed a couple in the 4 years we've had her but she mostly just scares them up a nearby tree.  The next time I'm in the market for a cat I hope I can be sure it will grow into a large cat.

[Delphyne]

There are many reasons why the cats would not kill or choose to kill the squirrels.  Some cats, if raised around a certain animal their whole life, will not target the animal as prey.

I used to own snakes and had to buy mice for them all the time.  As a result, our cats were always shown mice.  One of our boys refused to chase or kill mice now.  He will lay down and cuddle with it. 

I think it just depends on the circumstances -- how fast the squirrels are, how badly the cats want the squirrel, and how hungry the cats are.

"It is better to feed one cat than many mice."  ~~ Norwegian Proverb

[rainman306]

I wonder if back in the day if squirrels where ever on a cats menu of prey?

[WaulML6]

thank you all.  One of the cats got a squirrel this morning.  Yeah!  found it's tail on front porch.  Think it was the mama cat with her 4 kittens.  Yea

[shelly927]

I had, and i repeat had this problem, i was helping the problem but, i was enjoying feeding the squirrels until, oneday a squirrel jumped on my legs, he was trying to get the nuts i had hanging from my pants pocket, i yelled so loud to get off me, he ran to the edge of the sidewalk and just look at me with a sad look like,  he did not mean to do that, but i was so mad he did that, and that was just last year nov. 2012 to this day i have not giving them anymore nuts and, i don't see that many anymore.  they will never hurt you. and he did not put a scratch on me.

[lgemini]

I have that problems as well, but I love the cats.  Cats do not eat squirrels maybe that is why they wont chase them.

[davidf938]

If your photo is any indication, you have a dog.

[sherri89101]

You need a feral cat that will hunt for its meal!