Do Cats Consider Rats Prey?

September 8, 2026

The Answer May Surprise You

Nancy Kerr

We all know that cats go after small prey such as mice, birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. But what about rats? Do cats view rats the same way that they do other prey? The answer may not be what you expect. “While cats may be the undisputed kings and queens of the internet, they weren’t always this popular — and in many parts of the world, they still aren’t. Historically, the reason why cats and humans go so well together was a very practical one: cats keep mice (and other related species) away. But in the case of rats, things might not be as clear.”¹

While mice and rats are both rodents, rats are typically larger in size and prefer to burrow. You will generally not see mice and rats in the same location. “Mice are afraid of rats, because rats will kill and eat mice. Rat odor can be a strong deterrent to mice and affect their behavior.”² Mice generally have gotten better PR than rats. “Rats are often vilified for their uncanny presence in our settlements. These rodents are intelligent, sociable, and adaptable — and this makes them a fearsome pest. Rats also have few natural predators in city ecosystems. So unsurprisingly, many people thought cats can keep rats away.”¹

Cats are considered the classic enemy of rodents. Examples of this in cartoons are Tom and Jerry, Mickey Mouse and Peg Leg Pete, and Mighty Mouse and Oil Can Harry. When people think of cats keeping away rats, they are generally referring to wild/feral rats as opposed to the domesticated rats that have been bred to be pets.

While mice are intuitively afraid of cats, and since both mice and rats are rodents, one would also think that cats would also keep rats away. “This idea is also backed by earlier research. A study from 1953 found that in the English countryside, farms that have cats substantially reduced rat infestation.”¹ However the study also noted “that cats are better at keeping a clean house rat-free rather than cleaning an infested area.”¹

While cats are natural hunters and have a deeply built-in instinct, it should be noted not all cats have the same skill set or desire when hunting rats, particularly the larger ones. This can be affected by a number of factors.

“A cat’s size, age, health, and previous experience with rodents play a role in how it approaches a rat encounter. Younger, inexperienced cats might be more hesitant, while older, more seasoned hunters may still pursue prey. A determined rat can injure a cat. Bites from rats can lead to infections, making an encounter potentially hazardous for the cat.”³

The result of a confrontation between the two can be affected by a number of factors. “Environmental conditions, such as confined spaces, can significantly impact the interaction. A rat in an enclosed area with no escape routes is more likely to fight defensively. Conversely, if a rat has access to burrows or other hiding spots, it will typically prioritize flight over confrontation. The presence of other animals or humans can also alter behavior, as both species may react differently in perceived safety or danger.”³

The situation can also be affected by their individual characteristics. “A cat’s personality, whether it’s timid or bold, and its prior success or failure in hunting larger prey, can shape its approach. Similarly, a rat’s temperament, health, and whether it’s protecting offspring will affect its aggression levels. While cats can influence rat sightings and movements, they are not always effective in controlling large rat populations, as rats may simply shift their activity patterns to avoid predators.”³

In a one-on-one scenario, a cat generally has the upper hand on the rat and will almost always win. “Rats are woefully unprepared for the fight, while cats are supreme killing machines. They say that a desperate rat is capable of anything, and that may be true — but even when the two are comparable in size, if the cat wants to kill the rat, it can almost always do so.”¹

In fact, cats may keep the rats away due more to avoidance than actual fighting. Generally, “rats are afraid of cats and will avoid them.”¹ But when challenged, rats can exhibit surprising self-protective behavior.

“Rats typically attempt to flee or hide from predators. However, when escape is not an option, a cornered rat can become highly aggressive and fight to protect itself. These defensive actions are driven by self-preservation. A desperate rat may lunge, bite, and scratch with surprising force. A rat’s sharp incisors can inflict painful bites, which can transmit diseases such as rat bite fever, leptospirosis, or hantavirus to a cat. Rats also exhibit defensive threat displays, which can include freezing, risk assessment, and direct attack behaviors when faced with a predator. The intensity of these responses increases as the perceived threat draws closer. Some studies suggest that a rat’s fear of cats can be diminished by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, which can alter the rat’s brain chemistry, making it less cautious and even attracted to cat scents. This manipulation by the parasite can lead to seemingly suicidal behavior, increasing the likelihood of the rat being eaten and thus completing the parasite’s life cycle.”³

An article in the Smithsonian Magazine discusses the effectiveness of cats killing rats in New York City. “Like any prey, rats overestimate the risks of predation. In the presence of cats, they adjust their behavior to make themselves less apparent and spend more time in burrows,”⁴ says the study’s lead researcher Dr. Michael H. Parsons, a visiting scholar at Fordham University. Rats are intelligent enough to adapt their environment to avoid the cats. Also, cats are less likely to go after a group of rats preferring one-on-one or smaller prey such as birds. A fellow Cat Talk writer remembers her barn cats killing rats. When I was a teenager, one of my household pet cats stalked and killed a rat that was hiding in the dead Christmas tree in front of the house. However, neither of my house cats showed any interest in the rat colony that was living in the garage wall that bordered the house.

“Ultimately, researchers say, it’s not that cats can’t kill rats, and even that they won’t — they absolutely can, and sometimes, will. It’s just that the conditions need to be right, and the right conditions don’t seem to happen that often.”¹ So, given the right conditions, a cat may still generally choose to hunt less challenging prey. And for the most part, rats generally stay out of the cat’s way. For cats, catching and killing rats is probably similar the lyrics in the Kenny Rogers song The Gambler – “You got to know when to hold’em, know when to fold’em. Know when to walk away and know when to run.”⁵

 

Sources

1. Mihai Andrei, Do cats keep rats away? Not really — but it’s complicated, 07/19/2023, Accessed 07/10/2026, https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/natural-sciences/biology-reference/ecology-articles/cats-vs-rats-nope-03102018/
2. Lisa Jo Lupo, The Difference Between Rats and Mice and Why It Matters, 04/17/2026, Accessed 07/10/2026, https://www.thespruce.com/the-difference-between-rats-and-mice-2656563
3. Do Rats Attack Cats? When and Why They Fight Back, 08/10/2025, Accessed 07/10/2026, https://biologyinsights.com/do-rats-attack-cats-when-and-why-they-fight-back/
4. Meilan Solly, Cats Are Surprisingly Bad at Killing Rats, 09/28/2028, Accessed 07/10/2026, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cats-are-surprisingly-ineffective-keeping-urban-rat-populations-check-180970428/
5. Kenny Rogers, The Gambler, 11/15/1978, Accessed 07/10/2026, https://genius.com/Kenny-rogers-the-gambler-lyrics