This is an interesting question that many cat owners may wonder about if they live in an area with a hawk population. Hawks are predators that hunt small animals, so it’s natural to be concerned about the safety of small pets. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the hunting behaviors of hawks and whether they do indeed pose a threat to small cats.
An overview of hawks and their hunting habits
Hawks are medium to large birds of prey that belong to the family Accipitridae. There are over 60 species of hawks worldwide that occupy diverse habitats from tropical rainforests to deserts. Hawks prey on a variety of small animals including rodents, rabbits, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and sometimes small birds. Their excellent eyesight enables them to spot potential prey from high vantage points or while soaring in the sky. Once prey is sighted, hawks will swiftly dive down to grab the animal with their powerful talons. Hawks do not hunt by scent like some other predatory animals. They rely on sight and stealth.
Some key facts about hawks:
- Equipped with hooked beaks and sharp talons for tearing flesh
- Use their feet to kill prey immediately upon capture
- Sometimes bring prey back to nests to feed young
- Hunting territories can range from 1 to 9 square miles
- Some species only migrate for winter, others are year-round residents
So in general, hawks are predatory birds well-equipped for hunting small animals. But do they specifically prey on domestic cats? Let’s look further.
Small cats as potential prey
Small cats, like house cats, weigh 5-10 lbs fully grown. Relative to hawks’ normal prey like mice, voles and sparrows, house cats are fairly large. That said, some hawk species are capable of taking down prey closer to 2-4 lbs. Two North American hawks sometimes mentioned as predators of small cats are the red-tailed hawk and Cooper’s hawk.
The red-tailed hawk is a common, widespread species found throughout most of North America. They do occasionally prey on larger animals like rabbits and the smallest cat breeds would fall within their capability range size-wise.
Cooper’s hawks are crow-sized hawks that specialize in hunting other birds. Though they mostly take other avian prey, Cooper’s hawks could potentially threaten very small kittens and pets under 5 lbs.
Factors impacting likelihood of predation
While some hawks like the two mentioned above are physically capable of preying on very small cats, the likelihood of this happening depends on several factors:
- Availability of more typical prey – Hawks preferentially hunt easy prey like rodents
- Presence of larger hawk species that outcompete for food sources
- Abundance of hawks in the area
- Defense abilities of the cat – Adult cats are often avoided
- If the cat is supervised vs. roaming unsupervised
In areas with healthy rodent populations providing adequate food, hawks tend to focus their hunting efforts there. And hawks must compete with other predators like foxes, coyotes, owls and other birds of prey that may also be hunting the available small mammals in their shared territory.
Furthermore, the age, size and defensiveness of a cat plays a role too. Grown cats are less vulnerable than tiny kittens. Their sharp teeth and claws can fight back against a hawk attack. And cats that are supervised outside or kept indoors are obviously far less exposed than unsupervised free-roaming cats.
Documented cases of hawks preying on cats
While hawk attacks on cats do sometimes occur, reported cases are fairly rare:
- A 2013 study in England reviewed known cases of hawk predation on pets and found only 2 attacks on cats over a 10 year period.
- A Scottish study found reports of 78 pet attacks by hawks from 2006 to 2011. Only 10 involved cats.
- A survey of Utah bird banders found they had witnessed 51 attacks by hawks and falcons on cats over decades of field work.
So predation does happen, but not commonly when compared to attacks on more typical hawk prey species. Wildlife biologists have documented far more cases of hawks attacking rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, rodents and small birds than cats.
Risk Level for Free-Roaming Cats
While healthy adult cats supervised outdoors are unlikely hawk prey, kittens and unsupervised free-roaming cats that are allowed to wander from home face significantly more danger. Feral cats with no owner that live outdoors are at even greater risk.
Some factors that make free-roaming cats especially vulnerable:
- No supervision or indoor refuge
- Foraging for food in open areas like backyards
- Hunting small prey items that attract hawk attention
- No defensive abilities against predators
- Poor health decreasing awareness and reflexes
Free-roaming unneutered cats also often venture farther distances increasing their risk exposure. Overall, cats allowed to roam unsupervised outside are in far more peril than supervised, indoor cats.
Precautions for Cat Owners
While the statistical risks of hawk attacks on properly cared for pet cats are low, owners can still take precautions to minimize any danger:
- Keep cats indoors or provide screened outdoor enclosures
- Always supervise cats when outside
- Use deterrents like bells on collars to alert birds
- Carry cats firmly when outside; don’t allow roaming
- Never leave cats unattended outside
- Keep cats up-to-date on vet care and vaccines
- Use caution with very small kittens outside
Following these tips will help protect pet cats from all predators including hawks. Free-roaming increases cats’ exposure to many different risks from cars to infectious disease, so keeping cats indoors or supervised when outside is always recommended.
Are certain cat breeds at more risk?
Very small cat breeds under 8 lbs like Singapuras and Cornish Rex may be most vulnerable to hawk predation. But any unrestrained small kitten could be at some risk outdoors. Larger cat breeds over 12 lbs like Maine Coons are likely too formidable for a hawk to seriously threaten.
Hawk Deterrents
For cat owners very concerned about hawk interactions, there are some specialized deterrent products:
- Bells – Collars with bells alert birds
- Ultrasonic devices – Emit high-frequency sounds unpleasant to hawks
- Motion-activated sprinklers – Startle hawks approaching the yard
- Scarecrow decoys – Fake hawks placed around the property
None of these are guaranteed to repel wild hawks. But they may discourage hawks from hunting cat-sized prey in the immediate area. Properly supervising cats and limiting free-roaming are still an owner’s best practices.
In Closing
Do hawks eat cats? While it is biologically possible for some hawk species to prey on small cats and kittens, reported incidents are relatively low compared to attacks on more typical hawk prey. Well-cared for indoor or supervised cats are very unlikely to be threatened. Free-roaming unsupervised cats face increased risk, so responsible cat ownership is key to protecting their safety. Though hawk attacks are improbable for an owned cat, owners can take steps like deterrents and supervision to minimize any potential danger. With proper care, hawk predation should not be an significant concern for cat owners.
References
- Loss, S. R., Will, T., & Marra, P. P. (2013). The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife of the United States. Nature communications, 4(1), 1-8.
- McDonald, J. L., Maclean, M., Evans, M. R., & Hodgson, D. J. (2015). Reconciling actual and perceived rates of predation by domestic cats. Ecology and Evolution, 5(14), 2745-2753.
- Loyd, K. A., Hernandez, S. M., Carroll, J. P., Abernathy, K. J., & Marshall, G. J. (2013). Quantifying free-roaming domestic cat predation using animal-borne video cameras. Biological Conservation, 160, 183-189.
- Lepczyk, C. A., Dauphiné, N., Bird, D. M., Conant, S., Cooper, R. J., Duffy, D. C., … & Ritchie, E. G. (2010). What conservation biologists can do to counter trap-neuter-return: response to Longcore et al. Conservation Biology, 24(2), 627-629.
