Could a buzzard take a cat?
Discussion
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-an...
"Buzzards principally eat small rodents, but also take birds, reptiles, amphibians, larger insects and earthworms. Prey up to 500g is taken by active predation; anything heavier is usually carrion or seriously enfeebled individuals."
"Gamebirds are sometimes taken, though these make up only a tiny proportion of the diet. Buzzards are more likely to feed on carrion."
A cat weighs, what, 3-7kg?
"Buzzards principally eat small rodents, but also take birds, reptiles, amphibians, larger insects and earthworms. Prey up to 500g is taken by active predation; anything heavier is usually carrion or seriously enfeebled individuals."
"Gamebirds are sometimes taken, though these make up only a tiny proportion of the diet. Buzzards are more likely to feed on carrion."
A cat weighs, what, 3-7kg?
Nearly had a head on with one on the way back from Wales along the A5 as it was trying to get fully airborne with a dead rabbit. Given how much it was struggling with that I doubt it would have much chance with a live cat. Red Kites are bigger and there's quite a few around now, wonder if one of them could take one? In the interests of science would a Golden Eagle be able to take one?
C0ffin D0dger said:
Nearly had a head on with one on the way back from Wales along the A5 as it was trying to get fully airborne with a dead rabbit. Given how much it was struggling with that I doubt it would have much chance with a live cat. Red Kites are bigger and there's quite a few around now, wonder if one of them could take one? In the interests of science would a Golden Eagle be able to take one?
Kites are only carrion.TooMany2cvs said:
C0ffin D0dger said:
Nearly had a head on with one on the way back from Wales along the A5 as it was trying to get fully airborne with a dead rabbit. Given how much it was struggling with that I doubt it would have much chance with a live cat. Red Kites are bigger and there's quite a few around now, wonder if one of them could take one? In the interests of science would a Golden Eagle be able to take one?
Kites are only carrion.I'm a big guy. My neighbour has been working with farm animals for the past 5 decades. A few months ago we both tried, between us, to get my little tabby Dora to swallow some antibiotics via a syringe
It was like walking into a set of rotating knives. She weighs about 4kg but fought like a bloody lion. The end result was that I got fed the antibiotics in the struggle (no joke, my neighbour injected it into my mouth during the fight)
If a buzzard tried to snatch her it would end up 45p a slice in Tesco's the next day.
It was like walking into a set of rotating knives. She weighs about 4kg but fought like a bloody lion. The end result was that I got fed the antibiotics in the struggle (no joke, my neighbour injected it into my mouth during the fight)
If a buzzard tried to snatch her it would end up 45p a slice in Tesco's the next day.
Edited by Joey Ramone on Thursday 30th March 12:22
As others have said. Theres too much risk involved for a predator to take on another predator, unless the food source is scarce.
Could it happen? Of course, if the circumstances are right. If the cat is on deaths door and the bird cant find/hasnt found another food source, it might be worth the risk.
But the chances of any bird taking a full grown healthy cat are practically zero.
Could it happen? Of course, if the circumstances are right. If the cat is on deaths door and the bird cant find/hasnt found another food source, it might be worth the risk.
But the chances of any bird taking a full grown healthy cat are practically zero.
Joey Ramone said:
I'm a big guy. My neighbour has been working with farm animals for the past 5 decades. A few months ago we both tried, between us, to get my little tabby Dora to swallow some antibiotics via a syringe
It was like walking into a set of rotating knives. She weighs about 4kg but fought like a bloody lion. The end result was that i got fed the antibiotics in the struggle (no joke, my neighbour squirted in into my mouth during the fight)
If a buzzard tried to snatch her it would end up 45p a slice in Tesco's the next day.
Genuine lol. Thank you It was like walking into a set of rotating knives. She weighs about 4kg but fought like a bloody lion. The end result was that i got fed the antibiotics in the struggle (no joke, my neighbour squirted in into my mouth during the fight)
If a buzzard tried to snatch her it would end up 45p a slice in Tesco's the next day.
julian64 said:
Quickmoose said:
If the Buzzard was accurate and grabbed the cat by the scruff of it's neck, it'd think it was their mum grabbing them and go limp....
I'm gonna take a punt here and say you've never had a fight with a cat.It is claimed that the Sea Eagles in the north west of Scotland take more lamb than fish, So they are more than capable of carrying a cat. Might have to disarm the cat first though.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/113...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/113...
Buzzards wouldn't take on a cat no chance, Red kites the same.
A Golden eagle would take a cat with ease not a problem. It wouldn't be a fight as such the eagle would just dive down with one foot on the head and one on the body the cat wouldn't be able to move. The power of a Goldie is phenomenal they take 10-14lb brown hares on a regular basis.
A Golden eagle would take a cat with ease not a problem. It wouldn't be a fight as such the eagle would just dive down with one foot on the head and one on the body the cat wouldn't be able to move. The power of a Goldie is phenomenal they take 10-14lb brown hares on a regular basis.
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