do hawks eat cats?

Question

i been seing a hawk around my house for a very long time and it killed one of my birds even inside the cage he manage to kill her and the other day my neighbor saw that hawk around her yard in a tree the next day her cat was missing so was mine and we know they weren't run over. so what happend? we are not sure

Answer 1

Hawks will kill and eat just about anything they can catch, including small cats. Hawks can carry off 3-times their weight! I live on a golf course with giant trees out back that are home to a pair of red tailed hawks. Over the years they have raised dozens of baby hawks. In that time I have seen them eat rabbits, squirels, pigeons, snakes, rats, mice, and yes.....I saw them carrying off what looked like a kitten! I even found what was left of a duck on my chimney a few months ago where the hawk had it's lunch!

The only animal that seems to have no fear of red tailed hawks are crows. They will dive bomb them every chance they get to chase them off! Most of the time it works because it's usually 2-3 crows -vs- 1 hawk. But they too have fallen victim to red tailed hawks! A year or so ago I saw a crow go to dive bomb a red tailed hawk that was circling high above. At the last second the hawk turned upside down and turned it's tallons on the crow! The two grappled as they plummeted about 200 feet. The hawk broke off and flew away as the crow fell to it's death!

Answer 2

Do Hawks Eat Cats

Answer 3

Yes there are some hawk species which are fully capable of killing,carrying off and consuming a full grown regular house cat.For a hawk this would be a sizable meal.So 2 cats in one day is highly unlikely but not impossible.House cats are not a hawks first choice of food,so there are most likely many other factors which would lead a hawk to be that opportunistic.
Being the time of year it is,it's not uncommon for a cat to disappear for a day or two.So perhaps before jumping to the idea that something must have happened to it you might wish to wait a day or so.

Answer 4

Your average domestic cat has a big size advantage against even the red tailed hawk. Even the largest hawk's (Ferruginous Hawk) typical largest weight is only 2 kg. Most of the smallest cats are around 1 kg, only 1 kg smaller than the maximum weight of a hawk. Cats average at about 5 kg, hawks usually average about 950 g. It would be even worse if we used the weights for many Maine Coons that weigh up to 11 kg (average max weight) or even 21 kg. Unless a cat was a kitten, a hawk isn't having a cat for dinner. Would be the other way round actually.

Answer 5

It's possible that a hawk might kill a very small cat or a kitten but it's unlikely to take on a full-grown cat. It's extremely unlikely that two cats would disappear in one day due to a hawk. Hawks primarily eat rodents as prey - rats, mice, ground squirrels - all things smaller than full-grown cats.

A roaming dog or a coyote is much more likely.

Answer 6

If they hawk is bigger then the cat then yes. I've heard of hawk attacking a cat. I would keep your cat inside when you see a hawk. Hawk do have territories so do be surprised if it came back around. It's not likely it will attack your cat, but it is a possibility. Good Luck! and make sure your kitty stays safe.

Answer 7

Hawks will usually go after rodents, snakes, etc.....but I would think they may be able to carry off a smallish cat or kitten but would have a hard time lifting a full grown cat. I would suggest keeping your cat indoors where it will be safe from hawks, cars, poisons, dogs, coyotes, raccoons, animal torturers, etc.
If you are going to let your pets outside you have to accept that something might happen to it while out there.

Answer 8

There are several Hawks and Turkey Buzzards in my area. A couple years ago a hawk swooped down and got my neighbors Chihuahua. It started flying off with it, but the dog was able to break loose. So yes, they can get small dogs and cats.

Answer 9

it's very possible. size difference is the only reason a hawk wouldn't eat a cat, but it would have to be a really small hawk or a really really big cat. sorry about your cat

Answer 10

It is entirly possible, but the hawk would have to be quite desprate to try it on with a cat because a cat will fight back just as hard. however i doubt it would have killed two cats in one day. hawks kill once, then eat their fill and sit around for a couple of days untill the food has digested and then atempt to kill again.