Do Cats Attract Rats?
WouterIf you have a pet cat, you may have wondered whether cats attract rats. After all, the smell of cat urine is incredibly appealing to rodents. It might sound strange, but rats are highly sensitive to smell and can identify the scent of any animal. However, cats have a superior sense of smell than humans do, so they’re likely to notice the smell of any rodents in your home, and they’ll move away from the area.
Research has shown that rats with the parasite toxoplasma gondii are particularly attracted to cats’ scent. This is because the parasite alters the rat’s brain chemistry, and the rat’s perception of cats is altered. This leads to an increased attraction to cats, and the rat is more likely to approach the cat.
Researchers who study this issue have observed cats interacting with rats in an industrial waste recycling facility in Brooklyn. They monitored 150 feral rats that frequented the facility and observed their behavior. They found that three cats tried to kill rats, but only two of them were successful. Overall, cats were not effective at controlling the rat population, and were often indifferent to the rats.
Researchers have also noted that rats that have been infected with the parasite Toxoplasma lose their fear of cats. This is a surprising result, considering that rats normally avoid cats. Once infected with the parasite, they become less hesitant to visit a cat’s home and explore its urine.
