Europe has raptors too. Europe has species that fill the same niches… and absolutely will take a domestic cat if the opportunity present.
This is why, for example cats like to hide in things like boxes and cat caves. it’s because they are not apex predators- they’re very skilled, don’t get me wrong. but they’re not apex.
Because the only places that don’t have owls are Antarctica and very-far-north in the artic circle (ie on the polar ice,)
Most places in the world have something that fill the niche of hawks and eagles and owls.
The only cats that are apex predators are the big cats(lions, tigers leapords, panthers jaguars… etc). Domestic cats are prey animals as well as predators.
Even if in the places domestic cats are let out, humans have killed off most their predators.
And I’d wager across other places eagles or owls aren’t snacking on cats outside of chances of opportunity.
that’s… still… prey.
Like. Seriously. you don’t have to take my word for it. watch your cat. They have a lot of behaviors that trigger because they’re prey animals. Like, you know, wanting to be up on a ledge (where they can watch everything safely, and be away from ground predators- like dogs, being in the cover of cat caves or boxes or under beds, where birds of prey can’t get to them.)
I get it. You want to think of cats as fierce hunters. And they are that. none of what that is invalidated by them occasionally being hunted. The reality is that kind of thinking- that the cat will be okay, because they’re fierce apex predators is wrong… and besides man made hazards… there are other animals that will absolutely attack a cat. especially one with a dinner bell on it’s collar.
Never said birds were. But I wouldn’t argue it based on what happens in cities… That would be like arguing tetras are apex predators because they’re the only thing in the fish tank.
TBF most cats do just fine in the wild
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Accurate. They can catch, kill, and subsist on more creatures than any other land animal. They are peerless predators on land.
Outside humans, wolves are the most successful land predators. They have spread the farthest, into the most diverse ecosystems etc.
No. They’re not.
Apex predators are those that aren’t also prey.
House cats are predators, but they’re also prey to hawks, eagles and owls. Dogs, coyotes, etc.
I’m not convinced by maybe 50% of this. Especially if you remember Europe exists.
Europe has raptors too. Europe has species that fill the same niches… and absolutely will take a domestic cat if the opportunity present.
This is why, for example cats like to hide in things like boxes and cat caves. it’s because they are not apex predators- they’re very skilled, don’t get me wrong. but they’re not apex.
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Domestic cats?
Because the only places that don’t have owls are Antarctica and very-far-north in the artic circle (ie on the polar ice,)
Most places in the world have something that fill the niche of hawks and eagles and owls.
The only cats that are apex predators are the big cats(lions, tigers leapords, panthers jaguars… etc). Domestic cats are prey animals as well as predators.
Even if in the places domestic cats are let out, humans have killed off most their predators.
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I get it. You want to think of cats as fierce hunters. And they are that. none of what that is invalidated by them occasionally being hunted. The reality is that kind of thinking- that the cat will be okay, because they’re fierce apex predators is wrong… and besides man made hazards… there are other animals that will absolutely attack a cat. especially one with a dinner bell on it’s collar.
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Never said birds were. But I wouldn’t argue it based on what happens in cities… That would be like arguing tetras are apex predators because they’re the only thing in the fish tank.