The short answer to this is yes, cats do eat moles, although not all the time. Cats are born hunters, and they do well in ambushing their prey. If a cat sees a mole exposing its head out of the ground, the cat will approach and study it. These feline animals are famous for being curious and playful. Thus, with moles, they would attack one upon sight.
But which cat eats moles and which doesn’t? When do cats eat moles, and when won’t they?
Let’s find out more about cats and moles!
Contents
Moles as prey to cats
Moles are small mammals that adapt to subterranean life. Thus, they live their life most of the time underground than on the surface.
Moles become easy prey to cats because of so many things. Below are a few characters of moles contributing to them, becoming a target for cats.
Noticeable
Moles are noticeable, especially in yards. They are prominent because they tend to push up the ground where they dig.
Thus, it is easy to say that there are moles around a particular backyard if there are grounds pushed upward.
For cats, this kind of ground would easily catch their attention. Once they see a movement in the soil, they will approach and investigate.
Slow
Moles aren’t fast creatures. They may be useful when it comes to digging, but they aren’t runners.
Moles have big feet in the front and small feet at the back. The front feet are for digging, and the short legs are just enough to support the movement.
Thus, once they get up into the surface, cats catch them with ease.
Poses no threats
Moles are generally insectivores, meaning they only eat insects.
Thus, moles won’t intend to fight back if a cat or any predator hunts them.
Some preys make it hard for cats to hunt since they fight back. With moles, a cat doesn’t need to be careful since a mole will only try to escape instead of fight back.
Made of meat
Cats are natural carnivores, which means they will snack on most animals they can catch.
Moles are small but fat animals, and once they are in the hand of a cat, they can be a pretty good meal.
Poor sigh
With a glance, we may think that moles have no eyes. The truth is, they have eyes, but it’s useless.
Moles aren’t entirely blind, but they are color blind. Their eyes are only able to capture light and movement.
Thus, up above, they can’t see predators like cats.
Where do moles live?
Mole can thrive almost everywhere. They can live on every continent, except in Antarctica and South America.
Moles live in grasslands, urban areas, gardens, dunes, and woodlands. As long as there is soil to dig, moles can live in there.
Thus, cats have no trouble finding moles, since they usually thrive on the yards of houses.
Related – What about turtles? Check out – Do cats eat turtles?
Cats or Moles: Which is Faster?
Cats and moles differ significantly in speed. With a big gap, cats always have the upper hand once the mole is above the ground.
An average speed of mole range only up to 4 mph, while cats can bolt up to 30 mph.
As soon as the cat can take the mole above ground, it is usually the feline’s victory.
Even so, it doesn’t mean that cats would always have their way when it comes to moles.
How do moles protect themselves?
Like any other prey, moles have defensive measures against predators that harm them.
Moles tend to stay underground
Moles spend most of their time underground, continuously searching for food.
Moles navigate underground with ease, and they don’t have a hard time staying there.
They usually dig deep enough to avoid predators from reaching them.
Moles only go to the surface if they hit a rocky area, wherein they can’t dig through.
Other than this instance, moles stay underground to avoid threats from predators.
Moles have a strong odor
Moles contain a strong odor, which they use to repel some predators.
Further, they use this scent to mark the tunnels they made so they can navigate with ease.
With their bodies in the ground and with the odor they secrete, moles tend to be safe from predators on the surface.
Will cats eat moles?
Some cats will eat moles, while some won’t. Wild and stray cats are the felines that are likely to eat moles when they catch one.
The reason is that wild cats hunt with the intent of seeking food to survive.
House cats, on the other hand, can also eat moles but are not likely. Most of the time, they will only enjoy the hunt and discard the mole once it dies.
Whether the cat eats the mole or not, any cat will still hunt one upon sight.
Cats have that wildness in them, and the sight of a mole entices them to pounce towards it and attack it.
Related – Do cats eat ants?
How do cats hunt moles?
As born hunters, cats have specific skills and techniques that make them able to catch moles.
Moles aren’t that hard to catch once they are near the surface. Even so, living underground is quite a challenge.
Cats have an enhanced set of senses to perceive and locate moles nearby.
Aside from their eyes, they have whiskers, which makes them sense the movement of their prey.
When a mole gets near the surface, a cat can already sense the movement and will immediately go near to study what it is.
Upon seeing a bit of the mole, it will dig fast to get the mole out of the ground.
Once it’s up, the cat will grab it in a bite and eat it.
Is it safe for cats to eat moles?
Moles don’t pose any dangers, even if they become a snack for cats.
Moles eat only insects and worms. Thus, they hardly contain any harmful chemicals in them.
Since they live, most underground moles can carry fleas and ticks. They can also be carriers of tapeworm, which can be harmful to your pet cat.
Even so, a cat doesn’t usually suffer from eating moles. If your pet cat catches a mole and starts acting strange, there may be some problems that you need to consult a vet for medical assistance.
If you want your pet to be safe, prevent it from staying too much outside and catching moles.
Do you want to know if cats eat squirrels or ferrets? Check it out!
What other animals eat moles?
The world is a dangerous place in the eyes of moles, as the world has many animals that wish to snack on them.
Aside from cats, the following animals will hunt moles when they see one:
Mustelidae
This animal family also live underground. Thus, they are one of the biggest threats to moles. They are expert diggers and hunt their food underground as well.
The most popular among them are badgers and weasels.
Mephitidae
This animal family also spend their days digging into grounds to find food.
Among this animal family that eats moles are skunks and stink badgers.
Canidae
Canids have a keen sense of smell, which enables them to sense moles even from afar.
What makes them great mole hunters is that they have a keen sense of smell to detect a mole beneath the ground.
Among famous mole-eating canids are coyotes, foxes, and even domestic dogs. Not all domestic dogs eat moles, though, as some just kill one and leave it as it dies.
Birds of Prey
Although moles spend most of the time underground, they still come to the surface from time to time.
As they do, they become a target for raptor birds. These birds can see potential meal from above and dives towards and grabs, taking the mole up above.
Among the famous mole predators include vultures, hawks, and eagles. The moles that get on the surface at night gets eaten by owls.
Summary
- Cats do eat moles, though not all the time. As hunters, they will attack any mole upon sight.
- Moles are prey to cats because they are noticeable, slow, pose no threats, made of meat, and have poor sight.
- Moles live underground most of the time, but they get hunted by cats when they come to the surface.
- Cats are faster than moles. Once a mole is out in the open, a cat can kill it with ease.
- Moles protect themselves by staying underground and by emitting a strong odor.
- Cats hunt moles by sensing them with their whiskers. Upon locating, they will dig and take the mole out of the ground.
- While moles can be potential disease carriers, cats can tolerate any harm from eating a mole
- Aside from cats, other animals eat moles. Among them are the Mustelidae, Mephitidae, Canidae, and the birds of prey.
