My cat caught a bat!

QuarterCowGirl · 12-20-2005, 03:31 PM

Well I was at the barn the other day cleaning out some boxpens and I saw Little Ray has a rodent of some sort...was it a rat? Nope. Mouse? Nope. Mole? Not! She caught a bat!!!! How weird is that? So I ran to the house and got my camera because nobody would've believed me. Here's Little Ray and her prized bat!

snickers · 12-20-2005, 03:38 PM

Oh wow. She is doing what she is suppose to do, but maybe a
little confused, rat, not bat, rat, not bat.

She had to save it and show Mommy.
My cats do that, bring up to the door and sit their and cry until I
go and see whats wrong. Everything they can catch.

What a beauty of a kitty.

JoAnn1978 · 12-20-2005, 03:41 PM

aww.... poor little guy! I love bats- they're so cute and they get rid of so many bugs!

I know that a cat's just doing it's job and being true to it's nature- but I still can't help but feel bad for their little victims!

Still- your cat must be QUITE the stalker/hunter to get a BAT!

DixieHorseChick18 · 12-20-2005, 03:49 PM

Aww that is so cool. I have seen everything from Huge rats to snakes but never a bat. You have a skilled cat. Bad thing is it my cat always trys t get inthe house with her new catch and if we are not paying attention, she will succeed. Not cool.

Cats get into everything dont they? I was outside at night and I seen Piper swapping at something then it would jump and she would jump in the air. I thought she was playing with a frog because it was really dark and all I could see was something that seemed to be hopping. I went to go see that it was and it was a big butt copperhead and the hopping was it striking at her. She is a lucky girl she didnt get bit. Well I was too because I didnt know it was a coppehead and I have a big love for snakes so I was trying to catch it, then after a while I stopped trying ( because I still was not sure what snake itwas, I though it might be a copperhead but I wasnt for sure) so I was a little to nervouse to catch it and i gave up. Then I looked it up online and sure enough, it was one.

beth55051 · 12-20-2005, 04:12 PM

WOW Good kitty, no wait bad kitty. Maybe I can borrow her to catch some of my flying squirrels that are stealing all of the birdseed?

appygurl · 12-20-2005, 04:18 PM

Wow, good kitty! I don't blame her for
not wanting a bat flying around the
barn! Did the bat live or did it end
up dying? I don't like bats or slimy things lol
Slimy things by snakes, lizards and mice even
though there not slimy! I can deal w/ inscects ok though.
I think your kitty would like comming to my barn we
have birds flying around in the run in stall area!

Touche · 12-20-2005, 04:28 PM

Hey, I believe you. My lazy cat caught 2 bats and 1 frog in one week. I was scared he was participating in wizardy.

My good mouser caught a flying squirrel, kinda felt bad for that one.

QuarterCowGirl · 12-20-2005, 05:35 PM

The bat ended up dying of shock, she never did eat it either. I'm still not sure where she caught it from. I knew we had bats around, but in my barn? I must admit, I've been kinda paranoid of going in to the high part of the mow since she caught the poor little guy.

Does anybody know what kind of bat this is? I'm just curious!

thumpersgirl · 12-20-2005, 05:49 PM

Well, it's a dead bat. Sorry-had to do that. I know nothing about bats. You have a skilled kitty there. Mine has caught 2 bats, but they were in the house. They came down the chimney and he got them at night. I woke up to a screeching bat-then I started screeching!

QuartersAllTheWay · 12-20-2005, 06:35 PM

Wow your cat is quite the hunter.

A J · 12-20-2005, 06:47 PM

I have to agree with JoAnn at least a little - I like bats, too, but that is what kitties do...

I'm not sure what kind of bat that is, I don't know too much about them other than the fact that they are very useful creatures and generally harmless. They really like bugs - and I don't, so I like bats.

Rebecca · 12-20-2005, 07:26 PM

I know you are going to hate me for this, but I tend to be pessimistic. Because of this the first things that popped into my head when I read this post was â€œRabiesâ€ and â€œWest Nileâ€.

I mean, how else could a cat capture a bat? I have been told by my Vet to always be careful around birds that were unable to fly, or animals that turned up sick or dead. We have been having some problems here in Texas with West Nile. Is there any chance this bat can be taken to a Vet, or somewhere for testing?

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabie...bies/bats&.htm

http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/...00/wnvbats.htm

Sorry to be such a drag.

Rebecca

joustinggirl · 12-20-2005, 08:11 PM

Get your kitties Rabies vaccine updated. Rabies is endemic in the bat population.

QuarterCowGirl · 12-20-2005, 10:20 PM

Well the bat is long gone, so there's no chance of getting it looked at. As for Ray she's a barn cat and we tend not to spend much on them as we have 'bigger fish to fry.' Don't get me wrong, we do spend money if they get hurt or something of that sort. Thanks for the concernn though, I'll keep that in mind!

A J · 12-20-2005, 10:53 PM

We always made sure our barn cats at least got rabies - not so much for their protection (although that was a concern), but our barn cats were handled not only by us but others as well - and if your cat gets rabies, they may very well pass it on to a human - and that is no fun whatsoever. We just had the vet do the cats when he came out to do the horses and cows vaccinations, and then there was very little extra cost involved, and we were all safer, too. The little bit spent on that protection is not nearly as important as not getting something as dreadful as rabies.

thumpersgirl · 12-20-2005, 11:04 PM

I agree with Rebecca and AJ-if your kitty doesn't have a rabies shot, you should get her one. It only cost me $20.00 to get both of my cats done. It's not expensive and it's definately better safe than sorry with rabies. Although, at this point, you don't know if she already has rabies or not...

joustinggirl · 12-21-2005, 04:02 AM

Its like I tell folks at work, the rabies vaccine is not for your animals protection, its for yours. There is really no treating it, you get it you die. There was 1 case recently of a girl that got it and lived, but I think she is not quite all there. she may have gotten 1 post exposure shot.

lonearrow · 12-21-2005, 05:17 AM

My cats have caught bats before and you can bet they get their rabies vaccinations if nothing else!

UnderSun&Moon · 12-21-2005, 06:28 AM

I love bats!! I used to have some here at the farm but some reason I stopped seeing them. Probably still here some where. They are the coolest little creatures. i even bought a bat house for them trying to encourage them to stay around. They eat more mosquito's than birds!

Your cat must be a very skilled hunter! I love cats to but sometimes i wish they would stick to mice and moles! I hate when they catch a bird by my feeder! its just so wrong. I feel like i am feeding them to their death sometimes! But we have at least 10 cats around the farm so what am I to do. They have to stalk its what they do!

poor little bat. I hope he was not sick like the others have suggested. But It may very well have been. That does seem like a rare catch!

Sheila

JoAnn1978 · 12-21-2005, 07:33 AM

You're in Ontario, right? You've most likely got a "Canadian Little Brown Bat" on your hands. They have mouse like ears- which seems to fit the picture of the bat that you took. They're very common in your area.

Some species of Canadian bats are unique in that their tails are actually encased in their wing membranes. Pretty cool!

It is strange that your cat caught one- but it's possible that it was nesting or napping in your rafters and your cat climbed up and caught him while he was fast asleep!

I would check with your vet to be sure. A Rabies shot when a human is exposed is pretty painful- not to mention that it comes along with a lot of nasty digestive and other side-effects!

12-20-2005, 03:31 PM
QuarterCowGirl Bombproof Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, CANADA Posts: 7,576	My cat caught a bat! Well I was at the barn the other day cleaning out some boxpens and I saw Little Ray has a rodent of some sort...was it a rat? Nope. Mouse? Nope. Mole? Not! She caught a bat!!!! How weird is that? So I ran to the house and got my camera because nobody would've believed me. Here's Little Ray and her prized bat! __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.

12-20-2005, 03:38 PM
snickers Bombproof Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Twilight Zone Posts: 9,930	Oh wow. She is doing what she is suppose to do, but maybe a little confused, rat, not bat, rat, not bat. She had to save it and show Mommy. My cats do that, bring up to the door and sit their and cry until I go and see whats wrong. Everything they can catch. What a beauty of a kitty. __________________ Actually going on 6 years

12-20-2005, 03:41 PM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	aww.... poor little guy! I love bats- they're so cute and they get rid of so many bugs! I know that a cat's just doing it's job and being true to it's nature- but I still can't help but feel bad for their little victims! Still- your cat must be QUITE the stalker/hunter to get a BAT!

12-20-2005, 03:49 PM
DixieHorseChick18 Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,206	Aww that is so cool. I have seen everything from Huge rats to snakes but never a bat. You have a skilled cat. Bad thing is it my cat always trys t get inthe house with her new catch and if we are not paying attention, she will succeed. Not cool. Cats get into everything dont they? I was outside at night and I seen Piper swapping at something then it would jump and she would jump in the air. I thought she was playing with a frog because it was really dark and all I could see was something that seemed to be hopping. I went to go see that it was and it was a big butt copperhead and the hopping was it striking at her. She is a lucky girl she didnt get bit. Well I was too because I didnt know it was a coppehead and I have a big love for snakes so I was trying to catch it, then after a while I stopped trying ( because I still was not sure what snake itwas, I though it might be a copperhead but I wasnt for sure) so I was a little to nervouse to catch it and i gave up. Then I looked it up online and sure enough, it was one. __________________ I love horses that are not broke under saddle, it gives me a reason to jump on BAREBACK!!!YeeHaaww Lifes to short to pretend like you know what smart people are talking about.

12-20-2005, 04:12 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 8,410	WOW Good kitty, no wait bad kitty. Maybe I can borrow her to catch some of my flying squirrels that are stealing all of the birdseed? __________________ Make that 6 years! *If at the end of the day, all you have left is your integrity and honor. Then hold your head up, because that's more than most have.*

12-20-2005, 04:18 PM
appygurl Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,820	Wow, good kitty! I don't blame her for not wanting a bat flying around the barn! Did the bat live or did it end up dying? I don't like bats or slimy things lol Slimy things by snakes, lizards and mice even though there not slimy! I can deal w/ inscects ok though. I think your kitty would like comming to my barn we have birds flying around in the run in stall area! __________________ Appaloosa--brains, looks, and temperment all in one

12-20-2005, 04:28 PM
Touche Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2,074	Hey, I believe you. My lazy cat caught 2 bats and 1 frog in one week. I was scared he was participating in wizardy. My good mouser caught a flying squirrel, kinda felt bad for that one. __________________ Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. W.C.Fields

12-20-2005, 05:35 PM
QuarterCowGirl Bombproof Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, CANADA Posts: 7,576	The bat ended up dying of shock, she never did eat it either. I'm still not sure where she caught it from. I knew we had bats around, but in my barn? I must admit, I've been kinda paranoid of going in to the high part of the mow since she caught the poor little guy. Does anybody know what kind of bat this is? I'm just curious! __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.

12-20-2005, 05:49 PM
thumpersgirl Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,127	Well, it's a dead bat. Sorry-had to do that. I know nothing about bats. You have a skilled kitty there. Mine has caught 2 bats, but they were in the house. They came down the chimney and he got them at night. I woke up to a screeching bat-then I started screeching!

12-20-2005, 06:35 PM
QuartersAllTheWay Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 854	Wow your cat is quite the hunter.

12-20-2005, 06:47 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,856	I have to agree with JoAnn at least a little - I like bats, too, but that is what kitties do... I'm not sure what kind of bat that is, I don't know too much about them other than the fact that they are very useful creatures and generally harmless. They really like bugs - and I don't, so I like bats. __________________ Try not, do or do not. There is no try.

12-20-2005, 07:26 PM
Rebecca Seasoned Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,104	I know you are going to hate me for this, but I tend to be pessimistic. Because of this the first things that popped into my head when I read this post was â€œRabiesâ€ and â€œWest Nileâ€. I mean, how else could a cat capture a bat? I have been told by my Vet to always be careful around birds that were unable to fly, or animals that turned up sick or dead. We have been having some problems here in Texas with West Nile. Is there any chance this bat can be taken to a Vet, or somewhere for testing? http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabie...bies/bats&.htm http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/...00/wnvbats.htm Sorry to be such a drag. Rebecca

12-20-2005, 08:11 PM
joustinggirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boones Mill, Virgina Posts: 3,816	Get your kitties Rabies vaccine updated. Rabies is endemic in the bat population. __________________ Pink Tiger says 'Grrrrrr'

12-20-2005, 10:20 PM
QuarterCowGirl Bombproof Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, CANADA Posts: 7,576	Well the bat is long gone, so there's no chance of getting it looked at. As for Ray she's a barn cat and we tend not to spend much on them as we have 'bigger fish to fry.' Don't get me wrong, we do spend money if they get hurt or something of that sort. Thanks for the concernn though, I'll keep that in mind! __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.

12-20-2005, 10:53 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,856	We always made sure our barn cats at least got rabies - not so much for their protection (although that was a concern), but our barn cats were handled not only by us but others as well - and if your cat gets rabies, they may very well pass it on to a human - and that is no fun whatsoever. We just had the vet do the cats when he came out to do the horses and cows vaccinations, and then there was very little extra cost involved, and we were all safer, too. The little bit spent on that protection is not nearly as important as not getting something as dreadful as rabies. __________________ Try not, do or do not. There is no try.

12-20-2005, 11:04 PM
thumpersgirl Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,127	I agree with Rebecca and AJ-if your kitty doesn't have a rabies shot, you should get her one. It only cost me $20.00 to get both of my cats done. It's not expensive and it's definately better safe than sorry with rabies. Although, at this point, you don't know if she already has rabies or not...

12-21-2005, 04:02 AM
joustinggirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boones Mill, Virgina Posts: 3,816	Its like I tell folks at work, the rabies vaccine is not for your animals protection, its for yours. There is really no treating it, you get it you die. There was 1 case recently of a girl that got it and lived, but I think she is not quite all there. she may have gotten 1 post exposure shot. __________________ Pink Tiger says 'Grrrrrr'

12-21-2005, 05:17 AM
lonearrow Long Yearling Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,293	My cats have caught bats before and you can bet they get their rabies vaccinations if nothing else!

12-21-2005, 06:28 AM
UnderSun&Moon Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Springfield TN Posts: 332	I love bats!! I used to have some here at the farm but some reason I stopped seeing them. Probably still here some where. They are the coolest little creatures. i even bought a bat house for them trying to encourage them to stay around. They eat more mosquito's than birds! Your cat must be a very skilled hunter! I love cats to but sometimes i wish they would stick to mice and moles! I hate when they catch a bird by my feeder! its just so wrong. I feel like i am feeding them to their death sometimes! But we have at least 10 cats around the farm so what am I to do. They have to stalk its what they do! poor little bat. I hope he was not sick like the others have suggested. But It may very well have been. That does seem like a rare catch! Sheila __________________ Be good to one another

12-21-2005, 07:33 AM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	You're in Ontario, right? You've most likely got a "Canadian Little Brown Bat" on your hands. They have mouse like ears- which seems to fit the picture of the bat that you took. They're very common in your area. Some species of Canadian bats are unique in that their tails are actually encased in their wing membranes. Pretty cool! It is strange that your cat caught one- but it's possible that it was nesting or napping in your rafters and your cat climbed up and caught him while he was fast asleep! I would check with your vet to be sure. A Rabies shot when a human is exposed is pretty painful- not to mention that it comes along with a lot of nasty digestive and other side-effects!