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Owls - serious question2007-11-25 12:25:00

I know owls may prey on small mammals, like kittens, but are they capable of grabbing older cats? What weight of animals can they pick up and carry?

I live in a heavily wooded area and cats are disappearing. My roommate swears he heard an owl the other night.

Answers:

The best way to find out if owls had been hunting your neighborhood for cats is go into the woods and look for owl pellets (i think that is what they are called). Owls regurgitate their meals and leave it on the forest floor. If you see pellets of cats (youd likely find bones and fur rolled together) then an owl had been hunting your neighborhood. In the meantime, lock up your cat. You guys might also want to check if a bald eagle is around. Bald eagles can grab a whole monkey or a baby seal.

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ORLY?

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I have heard that they can. One of my friends lives in a wooded area and they have two full grown white deaf cats. They have to keep them inside because the owls will take off with them.

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Not sure about that, but do you have coyotes or bob cats there? That would be my guess. Or some jerky neighbors that don't like cats.

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Because older cats have slower reflexes.

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I would think a cat would be too heavy for an owl to pick up, perhaps you have foxes in the woods as well? These might be more likely to prey on bigger animals.

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It is possible. But I think they are probably getting eatten (sorry, to say) by coyotes or bobcats. They prey on smaller mammals. Somtimes the food chain, is so sad when it affects our loved pets.

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Great horned owls could probably take down a small cat-but more likely coyotes

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Yes, owls can take some very large pets, cats included. I have a chihuahua, I do not like to leave him out long alone without our larger dog too. I can not give you an exact weight, as owls do not have to pick up their food to kill it. I know of a large lop- eared rabbit that an owl got.

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I don't know exactly how heavy an animal an owl can pick up and carry off. I have seen a raptor bird carry off a squirrel in the woods. I think that owls get some cats and kittens and that a coyote or cougar would probably get more of the older cats.