Do raccoons eat kittens?
In this article we are going to answer: do raccoons eat kittens, what are raccoons, what are kittens, what raccoons eat, can raccoons be kept as pets, and how to keep raccoons away from kittens.
Do raccoons eat kittens?
Yes, raccoons can eat kittens and other small animals that are kept as pets such as small dogs. If you have a kitten or any small animal at your house and there are signs of raccoons near your place, the creature will definitely try to attack, kill and eat your pet.
Cats are very territorial and raccoons are overprotective with their own. If a raccoon and a cat are in contact there will definitely fight.
What are raccoons?
Raccoons are mammals that live in North America. They are part of the procyonidae family and consist mainly of a dense underfur to protect them from very cold weather. Raccoons are very intelligent animals, nocturnal, and eat both plants and animals as food.
They normally live in the forests but they have adapted to live in other areas such as cities or small towns. They have been considered pests for some homeowners because they live in large groups that can attack together.
Raccoons are omnivorous so their diet can consist of a lot of food depending on where they live. They can eat plants, birds, insects, bird eggs, reptiles, nuts, and even chickens. Whatever is in their way, they can eat it.
What are kittens?
A kitten is considered a juvenile cat. They are considered kittens from when they are born until gestation which lasts about up to 64 to 67 days with an average of 66 days.
When cats are still kittens they have to be taken care of by their mothers because they can not regulate their temperatures for the first weeks. Kittens drink milk from their mother and can’t see well up to 10 weeks after birth.
Kittens are very vulnerable because they hide in dark places. This makes them more in danger if a raccoon is near where they live.
What do raccoons eat?
Raccoons are omnivores that eat a huge variety of food including nuts, seeds, fruits, eggs, insects, frogs, and crayfish. This is just a short list of what they eat because raccoons can eat whatever they can have. If they live in a more urban place with chickens or other animals on farms they can eat them too.
When they live near lakes or pods they can eat crayfish, frogs, fish, snails, and clams. When raccoons live in a more forest place they can eat eggs, fruits, insects, vegetables, and dead animals.
Raccoons have very dexterous paws which can help them eat a lot of food more easily than other animals.
Can raccoons be kept as pets?
No, raccoons are not good animals to have as pets. The first thing to consider is that according to laws in each state, raccoons might be illegal as pets. Raccoons can be expensive and need a lot of time because they need constant supervision or they can destroy things or hurt other people or animals.
Even if born in captivity, raccoons contain their wild traits and can be very dangerous when kept in a place that is not their surrounding wildlife. It is very common for raccoons to carry various types of parasites, viruses, and bacteria that can be harmful to humans such as
- Rabies
- Toxoplasmosis
- Intestinal roundworms
- Leptospirosis
How do you keep raccoons away from kittens?
If you just can’t keep raccoons away from your house here are some ideas that might help to keep raccoons away
- Install a motion-activated sprinkler
- Animal repplers
- Use ammonia but be careful with your cats and kittens
- Use a high fence
- Call a professional to use special traps for raccoons
To keep them from eating your kittens try to keep your cats and kittens inside because raccoons are very active at night and when you are not around is when they are more in danger. Aso, keep away any animal food from raccoons.
Follow this link on how to repel raccoons without repelling cats.
Conclusion
This article answered: Do raccoons eat kittens? What are raccoons? What are kittens? What do raccoons eat? Can raccoons be kept as pets, and how to keep raccoons away from kittens.
