Is it true that only cats catch mice? - briefly
Cats are not the sole predators of mice; birds of prey, snakes, other small mammals, and humans also catch them.
Is it true that only cats catch mice? - in detail
The assertion that only felines capture rodents is inaccurate. Numerous species, both wild and domestic, have demonstrated the ability to hunt mice.
Mammalian predators include:
- Small mustelids such as weasels, stoats and ferrets, whose diet frequently contains rodents.
- Certain canids, for example foxes and some domestic dogs trained for pest control, regularly kill mice.
- Avian hunters like owls, hawks and barn swallows capture mice as part of their regular prey spectrum.
- Reptilian predators, notably some snakes (e.g., corn snakes) and lizards (e.g., monitor lizards), consume mice when available.
Non‑mammalian examples extend to arthropods; spiders, centipedes and certain insects (e.g., mantises) are capable of subduing small rodents under favorable conditions.
Ecological observations confirm that mice fall prey to a diverse guild of predators. The prevalence of feline hunting does not exclude other taxa from participating in mouse control.
Consequently, the statement that mice are caught exclusively by cats contradicts documented predator‑prey relationships across multiple animal classes. The broader reality encompasses a range of natural and domesticated hunters that contribute to mouse mortality.