How to Tell What Kind of Animal Killed Your Cat: 10 Vet-Reviewed Signs to Look For

We all know that cats are natural hunters, but they can also become prey to other animals at times. The thought of such an incident is difficult to bear, but understanding the risks and knowing how to recognize the signs can help you protect your feline companion.

While it depends on your location, it’s good to know which animals are apt to attack and what the signs are if something happens to your feline friend. If you’re faced with the unfortunate task of dealing with the loss of your cat due to an animal attack, it’s natural to want answers. There are a few ways that you can tell which animal was responsible. In this guide, we list animals that commonly attack cats and the signs that point to specific species.

What to Do When Your Cat Is Killed by a Wild Animal

Losing your cat in such a way can be a deeply heartbreaking and traumatic experience. If you’ve discovered your cat under these circumstances, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. While nothing can ease the pain of the loss, understanding what happened may provide some closure. Here’s a compassionate step-by-step guide to help you determine what kind of animal might have been involved.

• Look for physical evidence: This can include bite marks, claw marks, or tufts of fur. If you find any, take a close look at them, and try to identify the type of animal they belong to.
• Examine the body carefully: Take note of any unusual wounds or injuries. This can help rule out certain animals.
• Check for environmental evidence: This can include footprints or scat (droppings). You can try to identify the type of animal based on this evidence.
• Talk to witnesses: If anyone saw the incident, they may be able to provide valuable information about what happened and who (or what) was responsible.
• Call in a professional: If you're still unsure what killed your cat, you can always call a professional (such as a veterinarian or wildlife biologist) to help you investigate. A necropsy can be performed to determine the cause of death. This should be requested as soon as possible before the body starts to decompose.

What Animals Attack Cats?

Several predators may attack and even kill cats, including coyotes, snakes, foxes, and raccoons. To determine which animal killed your cat, it is essential to look at the evidence and think of the most common predators in your location. The type of wounds inflicted, the body's location, and the remains' condition can all give clues as to which predator is responsible.

To help determine the culprit, first take a close look at the wounds. If they are puncture wounds, they were likely caused by teeth. If the wounds are lacerations, they may have been caused by claws. Next, look at where the body was found. Coyotes rarely eat where they kill, so if the remains were found away from where your cat was attacked, or not found at all, a coyote may be responsible.

If the body was left largely intact, with bite wounds but little or nothing eaten, a dog may be responsible, as dogs rarely eat their prey.

The 10 Animals That Most Commonly Attack & Kill Cats

1. Coyotes

Coyotes are part of the Canidae family, and you can find them all over the United States. They live in packs and alone, and they have been known to prey on cats, especially during the season when they are trying to feed their young.

You must watch out for lone coyotes and those that run in packs during this time. Coyotes can run at speeds of 40 miles per hour (or 64 kilometers per hour), so a cat would have difficulty outrunning one.

If your cat has been attacked and killed by a coyote, it’ll be pretty easy to tell. However, if you’re unsure, you can talk to the local animal control officers to find out. If you suspect there are coyotes in your area, it’s best to keep your cat inside or only let them out in a fully enclosed area that coyotes can’t get into.

Coyotes typically leave puncture wounds on a cat’s head or neck. Cats that coyotes have attacked are often left with their abdominal cavity open and the organs cleared out.

2. Snakes

Snakes are more of a threat in warm weather than cold weather but can be dangerous in either climate. Rural areas are more likely to have more snakes than suburban neighborhoods, but they can be found in many habitats. Cats are curious animals, and your cat will quickly approach a snake to see what it is. Unfortunately, the snake could strike before your pet realizes it’s a threat.

Although some snakes aren’t venomous, it's best to take them to a vet immediately anytime you suspect your cat of being bitten by a snake. If a snake bites your pet, you may see one or two puncture marks, though fur can hide them, and in most cases, the area will be swollen and bleeding. Take your cat to the vet right away for treatment.

If the snake is venomous, it is a medical emergency, and the cat might display vomiting, neurological signs, respiratory distress, bleeding, weakness, tachycardia, salivation, seizures, limb paralysis, respiratory paralysis, sloughing of skin/tissue, and sudden death.

3. Skunks

Often, a run-in with a skunk will only leave your cat incredibly stinky. However, their spray can damage their eyes, and their claws can cause lacerations.

4. Raccoons

Raccoons will leave bite and claw marks behind. Usually, they are located over the entire body.

5. Wolves

Wolves are also a part of the Canidae family and kill cats because they are opportunistic hunters. Wolves may attack cats if they are unable to find other food sources.

As with coyotes, you can tell if a wolf kills your cat just by the damage left behind. The best way to protect your cat from wolves is to not let them out as much during the winter season and keep a close eye on them.

6. Foxes

Like coyotes, foxes leave puncture and bite wounds around the face and head.

7. Scorpions

While all scorpions are venomous, they are not usually deadly. Scorpions tend to avoid using the sting because it takes a lot of body energy to produce venom. Most of the time they only use their venom for two reasons: to defend themselves or to kill large prey. While scorpions don’t prey on cats, cats are curious and may play with them. If the scorpion feels threatened, it will strike with its tail, which has venom in it.

Even inside your home, your cat can run across a scorpion if you live in an area where they are commonly found. Scorpions are more likely to be found inside your home during the rainy season.

Stung cats may drool, have abnormal heart rate or dilated pupils, or even present tremors.  Most cats will hide after they are stung. The area will be painful, raised, and swollen. If you get your cat to the vet right away, it is unlikely that they will die, but if you are not around to assist them in time, the wound site will be the only sign that a scorpion killed your cat.

8. Porcupines

Porcupines are herbivores, so they are not predators. However, they have quills all over their body, which they raise when feel threatened and could harm your cat if they get too close to one. The quills can be very painful, and while the porcupine won’t go out of its way to attack your cat, it will defend itself if it feels your cat is threatening it.

The sign that a porcupine killed your cat is pretty apparent. You’ll find quills sticking in the cat’s body. However, this is an unlikely scenario, as it will require a great many quills and for the wound to get infected or otherwise prevent your cat from feeding. If you find that your (alive) cat got stabbed by a porcupine, please take them to the vet as soon as possible.

9. Birds of Prey

There are also a few birds of prey that could kill a cat. Hawks, eagles, and owls have razor-sharp talons. However, birds of prey attacks on cats don’t happen often. Rodents are more likely to be carried away by large birds, so you probably don’t have anything to worry about. That said, while they don’t often attack adult cats, birds of prey like owls, hawks, and eagles could go after tiny kittens.

Hawks and eagles will leave talon marks behind. Owls, like hawks, kill with their talons and leave puncture wounds, often to the head and back. Birds of prey usually fly away with their food. If a kitten was taken, it is more likely that you won’t find a body.

10. Dogs

You probably already know that some dogs can kill cats. Large dogs with fierce prey drives are the ones that most often attack cats, but almost any medium-sized dog can hurt or kill a cat. While a dog is less likely to eat a cat than a coyote, some dogs have aggression problems, and others simply have a strong prey drive. Therefore, if you find your cat’s body with some bite marks, but otherwise mostly intact, it is possible your cat was attacked by a dog.

Final Thoughts

Losing your cat to a wild predator is devastating, but identifying the predator can prevent other animals from seeing the same fate. Hopefully, this article can help you determine what animal killed your cat and what to do next. Cats that roam outside are unfortunately at high risk of predator attacks.

The only way to keep your cat safe from outdoor predators is to keep them indoors or within cat-proof enclosures. If you feel that any of these animals are in your area and a danger to your cat, it’s best to keep your pet indoors. Never try to control or capture a wild animal on your own, since you could be injured in the process.

• Related Read: Can Cats Kill Weasels? Our Vet Answers

Featured Image Credit: Joshua Wilking, Unsplash