The answer to whether bats prey on or eat cats is no. This idea is a common misconception, fueled by folklore and a misunderstanding of the physical capabilities and dietary habits of bats. Bats are mammals that occupy a unique ecological niche. Their small size and specific diets make it biologically impossible for them to consume a feline.
Dispelling the Cat Predation Myth
The physical disparity between even the largest bat and a domestic cat renders the notion of predation unfounded. The vast majority of the world’s 1,500-plus bat species are tiny, with the smallest, Kitti’s hog-nosed bat, weighing only two grams. Even the largest bats, such as the giant golden-crowned flying fox, reach a maximum weight of about 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds), significantly less than the smallest house cat.
Cats possess the necessary musculature, claws, and sharp teeth to subdue prey. In contrast, bats lack the jaw strength, dentition, and mass required to overpower or consume a cat. Bat behavior is inherently evasive, focused on catching flying insects or harvesting plant material. Any interaction between the two species would see the bat acting defensively or attempting to escape a perceived threat.
The True Bat Diet
Bat diets are diverse, yet they focus almost entirely on resources that exclude large mammals. The majority of bat species globally are insectivores, feeding exclusively on insects such as beetles, moths, and mosquitoes. These bats consume vast quantities nightly, acting as natural pest control in many ecosystems.
Frugivores, or fruit-eaters, sustain themselves on fruit, nectar, and pollen. These bats play an important role in seed dispersal and the pollination of various plants, including agave and cacti. Other specialized diets include nectarivores, which drink nectar and pollen, and piscivores, which catch fish from the water’s surface.
A small number of bats are carnivorous, preying on small vertebrates like frogs or rodents, but these are not domestic pets. The sanguivores, commonly known as vampire bats, include only three species, all residing in Central and South America. These bats feed exclusively on small amounts of blood, usually from sleeping livestock or wild birds, needing about two teaspoons daily. They do not attack or consume domestic cats.
Cat and Bat Interactions: Assessing Health Risks
While bats do not pose a predatory threat, their interactions with cats can carry a public health risk due to the potential transmission of rabies. Bats are one of the most common carriers of the rabies virus in the wild. Any bat found easily caught by a cat is often sick, injured, or otherwise compromised, and the virus can be transmitted through a bite or scratch if the cat handles the bat.
It is important for all domestic cats to have up-to-date rabies vaccinations, even if they are kept indoors. If a cat brings a bat into the home, owners should take precautions to isolate the bat safely without touching it, preferably wearing thick gloves, so it can be tested. The cat must be contained, and the local health department or veterinarian should be contacted immediately for guidance on potential exposure, even if the cat is vaccinated. Swift action ensures the safety of both the pet and the human occupants of the home.