Owls Eating Pets
Do owls eat cats and small dogs?
The answer is yes, sometimes Great Horned Owls do catch cats and very small dogs, but not on a regular basis or on a preferential basis.
What does this mean for pet owners?
It means you shouldn't leave small dogs outside unattended and that cats are better off indoors. Pets are not exempt from the food chain and owls are not the only animals that will eat small pets if given the chance. On the flip side, most cats and some dogs also kill wild animals (small mammals like mice and shrews, reptiles like lizards and snakes, birds including small owls, etc.). So it's better for all involved to keep cats inside and dogs on leashes and attended at all times. The American Bird Conservancy has more specific information about keeping cats indoors.
The answer is yes, sometimes Great Horned Owls do catch cats and very small dogs, but not on a regular basis or on a preferential basis.
What does this mean for pet owners?
It means you shouldn't leave small dogs outside unattended and that cats are better off indoors. Pets are not exempt from the food chain and owls are not the only animals that will eat small pets if given the chance. On the flip side, most cats and some dogs also kill wild animals (small mammals like mice and shrews, reptiles like lizards and snakes, birds including small owls, etc.). So it's better for all involved to keep cats inside and dogs on leashes and attended at all times. The American Bird Conservancy has more specific information about keeping cats indoors.
