Can Raccoons Hurt Cats?
Raccoons are well known for getting into stuff, including the bowls you leave out for your kitty or the pet food you store in your garage or shed . This can lead to worries about pet safety from wildlife and unexpected and unpleasant confrontations. Let's learn more!
Can Raccoons Hurt Cats?
In short: Yes, absolutely. While we may think of raccoons as mischevious bandits, we need to remember that they are wild animals. Like all wildlife, they will retalliate if they feel cornered, threatened, or protecting young or territory. And, while cats might have an advantage when it comes to speed (although, raccoons can reach speeds of up to 15 kmh), raccoons are more powerful and can indeed seriously injure your feline companion.
Understanding Raccoon Behavior
Raccoons are curious, bold, highly intelligent, and generally unafraid critters. Highly adaptable and not just surviving, but thriving in the urban jungle of metropolitan cities such as Toronto. Did you know that Toronto has been crowned the Raccoon Capitol of the World? They aren't necessarily known to go out of their way to pick a fight, unless it's over food or territory.Luckily, most adult cats recognize the difference in size and strength when confronted by a raccoon and won't seek a fight.
But, cats and raccoons also have quite a few things in common. Did you know that raccoons also 'purr' when they are happy? Both animals are most active at night and are excellent climbers with sharp claws and teeth. Which is the precisely why physical confrontations can have dire consequences.
Raccoon Habits and Habitat
Raccoons are primarily nocturnal. So are feral and our domestic cats. So, right there is the potential for encounters. With woodland spaces becoming smaller and more scarce, raccoons have moved into our neighbourhoods and are now quite happy and successful in urban spaces. They are smart, able to learn by observation, and extremely resourceful when it comes to procuring food sources. Suburban backyards and inner city trash bins provide plenty of food and chimneys or attics in human dwellings can double nicely as denning sites.
Raccoon Aggression Triggers
The biggest trigger has got to be perceived danger to raccoon kits. Like every mother ever and anywhere, Momma raccoon will fiercely defend her den and her young. Next in line would be feeling cornered and/or threatened, closely followed by disputes over food or territory. Raccoons are generally solitary animals and do not share territories. The last and probably most dangerous reason for raccoon aggression would be the raccoon having contracted rabies and exhibiting symptoms.
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