Can Cats and Rats Be Friends?
WouterRats and cats are often viewed as enemies, but this doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, they can be great friends. There are several videos on the internet of cats and rats playing together. One video, posted a few days ago, has received more than 86,000 upvotes. It has also generated numerous comments.
Rats and cats can be friendly with each other if they’re introduced in the right way. The first step in introducing them is to make sure the cat does not touch the rats. It should also be kept close to the cage to avoid causing stress to the pet rats. A few days after introduction, this behavior should subside, though you may still hear a meow now and then.
Cats have been known to keep rodent populations in check for centuries, and in some parts of the world, cats are used as a pest-control tool. Some organizations release homeless cats into rat-ridden areas. However, this approach has its problems. For one, it spreads toxoplasmosis, which can cause severe brain damage in pregnant women. Another unintended consequence of introducing cats into urban environments is that they kill birds. According to a 2013 study, cats kill as many as 2.4 billion birds per year.
Cats and rats can be friends if they are raised together from a young age. A cat may attack a rat if it sees one, but cats may also be intimidated by a larger animal. However, feral cats, unlike domestic cats, may have had a number of threatening encounters in the street. In such cases, they avoid chasing smaller animals in order to avoid getting hurt. Cats can also become scared and frightened when a rat approaches them, and this can lead to conflict.
