Can Cats Kill Weasels? Our Vet Explains

The domestic cat is the most popular pet animal in the world today. Domesticated thousands of years ago, cats have followed humans all over the world throughout history. As a result, they’re considered invasive in many parts of the world, and, unfortunately, as prolific hunters, have contributed and continue to contribute to the loss of native species globally. Cats have also been implicated as contributors to the extinction of many non-domesticated species.

If your pet cat has outdoor access to an area where weasels are found, you might be wondering if your feline could kill a weasel on one of their outdoor excursions. The answer is yes, cats can potentially kill weasels, however, hunting a weasel is not entirely risk-free for a cat. Weasels have an exceptionally strong bite force, are prolific hunters in their own right, and can definitely cause serious injuries to a cat – they may also be able to kill a cat, as they can take down prey larger and heavier than they are.

What Are Weasels?

The term weasel is somewhat ambiguous, as it doesn’t refer to any specific animal species. Instead, it refers to the animals found within the taxonomic genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae. One member of this genus is a domesticated pet (the ferret). When people use the word weasel to describe an animal, they’re often referring to the least weasel (Mustela nivalis).

The least weasel has several subspecies and is naturally distributed on several continents. They are typically small, flexible animals with a long body, short legs, and an exceptionally strong bite. Relative to their body size, their bite force exceeds that of many large animals including lions, tigers, hyenas, and even bears.

Weasels are carnivores whose diet primarily consists of smaller mammals, birds, fish, frogs, and other small mammals. They are perhaps best known for being able to take down prey much larger than themselves, and weasels have been documented hunting and killing hares in the UK. Literature has suggested that a weasel can take down prey up to 10 times their size and weight ¹.

Can Cats Kill Weasels?

Theoretically, it’s possible for a cat to kill weasels. Despite being prolific hunters in their own right, weasels are known to be targeted by larger predators. Examples of wild predators that may hunt weasels include stoats, foxes, buzzards, and owls. Weasels often avoid predation by hiding in smaller holes that larger predators cannot access.

Predators that share common prey often dispose of their competitors if the opportunity arises. This means that a cat may be able to kill a weasel.

Can Weasels Kill Cats?

Just because a cat can kill a weasel doesn’t offer them impunity from them. As previously mentioned, a weasel is deceptively strong for their size. A cornered animal will try to fight back; weasels are known for clamping down on their prey and not letting go of their bite. Therefore, a weasel can inflict serious harm or possibly even kill a cat.

Weasels do, however, prefer to avoid confrontation with other predators. That being said, a female who feels as though her young are threatened by a cat will try to put up a fight. Likewise, as mentioned above, a cornered weasel with nothing to lose will fight back.

Perhaps interestingly, they are one of the few animals that can give cats a serious run for their money when it comes to flexibility. In addition, they have exceptionally thick skin on the back of their necks. If that is where a cat bites them, they’ll likely not be incapacitated and will definitely be able to bite back.

Additional Risks of the Hunt

A confrontation between a cat and a weasel isn’t just about the prospect of your pet cat potentially meeting their demise. Weasels carry many parasites and diseases, including mites, fleas, and parasitic worms. All of these can be passed to your cat if the two animals ever come in close proximity to each other.

In addition, a seemingly “harmless” bite from a weasel can also become infected and lead to other complications for your cat.

Rabies is an inherent risk whenever your cat encounters a wild mammal. The rabies virus can infect just about any land mammal, including weasels.

Are Weasels Kept As Pets?

No. The only animal within the Mustela genus kept as a pet is the ferret. A weasel is considered a wild animal and isn’t a pet. Therefore, if you’re looking for a “weasel” as a pet, you’ll want to adopt a ferret instead. However, legal restrictions might prevent you from adopting a ferret in your area.

Can Cats Get Along With Ferrets?

Pet cats have been successfully housed with ferrets. However, this sort of cohabitation is not guaranteed to be successful since it depends on the specific situation, the circumstances of the introduction, and the personalities of the pets involved.

Notably, ferrets are considered to be dangerous for kittens. Ferrets instinctively bite each other on their scruffs when they play. The skin on their scruffs is exceptionally thick, and a bite from one ferret to another in this region doesn’t hurt them. The same isn’t true when a ferret bites a kitten (or even a cat) on their scruff. It can definitely injure a cat and lead to the development of a complex bite wound.

Seek veterinary advice if you’re concerned about your pet’s well-being.

Conclusion

A pet cat with outdoor access can kill a weasel. However, the weasel is an accomplished hunter with a powerful bite and can definitely retaliate if confronted with a cat. This means that the encounter is considered unsafe for your cat. In addition, allowing your pet to hunt wildlife in areas where cats are considered invasive is also considered unethical and a form of poor pet ownership practice.

Weasels are wild animals and not pets. Ferrets are kept as pets and may get along with cats in some circumstances. If a weasel-like pet tickles your fancy, adopting a ferret is an excellent option.

Featured Image Credit: feathercollector, Shutterstock