We all know that one of the best ways to ensure our cats’ safety is to keep them strictly indoors. The outdoor world poses dangers like predators, infected animals, airborne diseases, traffic and so forth. But did you know that your home is also a potentially dangerous zone for your pet?
Suburban areas and secluded homes can be threatening to indoor cats due to the wildlife creatures in those areas. And some wildlife animals like the raccoons are even common for densely populated urban areas.
You might or might not have heard that you’re not supposed to allow your kitty to roam the yard unsupervised or that you shouldn’t leave cat food outside / near open windows. The possible presence of nearby raccoons is one of the reasons as to why you shouldn’t do these things.
Not only are these creatures annoying, but they aren’t exactly the safest option for your cat to make friends with.
Why?
Because raccoons are dangerous to kitties of all breeds and ages.
Why are raccoons dangerous?
There are many types of hidden dangers which these pests pose for cats. Here are some of the main concerns, which you should keep in mind.
- External and internal parasites
- Transmitting rabies and other similar diseases
- Disturbing the otherwise peaceful surroundings
- Stealing your cat’s food
- Attacking or killing your cat
Yes, raccoons can pose a lethal danger to your cat or kitten, regardless of its breed. Not only do these creatures carry a variety of parasites and diseases, but they can also attack your pet.
As you probably know, having your cat fight with other felines is life-threatening. Well, raccoons are life-threatening too.
They’re larger than your typical cat and they can outshine a feline’s hunting instincts with noteworthy ease.
Yep, these menacing pranksters have enviable senses and hunting skills. So if it comes to a fight, chances are the raccoon will win it.
Unfortunately, there’s no single ultimate way to prevent raccoons from getting near your kitty. As long as you’re residing in an area where raccoons live, there’s a chance for your cat to encounter one such animal.
Do raccoons attack cats?
Raccoons are mainly nocturnal creatures, similar to cats. Plus, their wild hunting instincts mimic the inborn instincts of your kitty. And due to the feline territorial behavior, it’s possible that your cat could come face to face with a raccoon.
While it depends on the situation, it’s quite common for a raccoon to attack a cat.
If two meat-loving, territorial and intelligent hunters such as the raccoon and the cat meet, they won’t become best buddies. And having in mind the raccoon’s advantages in terms of size, speed and attacking skills, many domestic cats can’t beat them.
On the other hand, it’s also possible for two mammals of these species to become friends. Depending on the cat and the raccoon’s emotional reactions to their surroundings, they could tolerate each other’s company. But if they engage in a fight, don’t bet on your pet’s sheer luck.
Do raccoons eat cats?
Even though this has been the subject of some pretty serious controversy, raccoons can indeed eat cats, small dogs, and other tiny animals.
Kittens are in fatal danger if a raccoon is near them. The wild creature will most definitely try to attack and eat the kittens.
Larger domestic cats are far less likely to be eaten by a wild raccoon, but they can still get bitten. In such cases, the kitty may eventually be lethally injured or may contract a serious disease that could in return shorten its lifespan. Or in other words, if the raccoon doesn’t eat the cat, it could still cause a fatal outcome.
How to protect your cat from raccoons
There’s no need to opt for animal cruelty with poison or traps. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to avoid raccoons wandering around your home and your cat.
- Clean your yard. Don’t leave full trashcans outside or anything that might smell appealing to hungry and curious animals.
- Secure windows and cracks/ holes. Raccoons can easily get inside attics and basements through unsealed cracks and open windows. Once the creature is in your home, it becomes far more difficult to protect your kitty from it.
- Don’t leave food around. Don’t leave food near open windows or in the yard. The same holds for table scraps and leftovers, as they could also attract an unwanted visitor.
- Opt for a better fencing system. Pro tip – these can keep your cats at bay too.
Wildlife Animal Control has a great article on humanely dealing with raccoons, so make sure you check it out before you start setting up any sort of traps. And lastly, if you’re suspecting there’s a big raccoon population in your area, just call the local wildlife services.
Thank you for your information about raccoons. I’ve sometimes put leftover catfood outside for strays and wild animals, and now realize this is a bad idea. The most common wild animals in my back yard are opossums. I rescued two baby possums once when their mother carried them to my yard and left them. The mother possum came into my house through the cat door I had at the time. She didn’t seem to be dangerous to tne cats (or they to her). Were they? I no longer have the back door with the cat flap, but my two cats go out, and several strays (also fed by neighbors) come to look for food.
Hello, right now we saw a raccoon eating our cat’s food, she is alive, still, but she keeps getting scared. We keep her outside though. The cat or the raccoon aren’t coming back in a very long time, we are waiting for the cat but she isn’t coming. We want the RACCOON to come back. In that case, we refilled the cat food. I know it isn’t good to do that but if the raccoon comes back we can either scare it away so it won’t kill our loving cat. Right now, we are sparing time while telling you about this just for some help because i loved how you gave some good info about this, but in this case it isn’t accurate for us. I really hope you can find a way to help us. If so, please either email me from my gmail. Thank you!