Cats and skunks are two common backyard animals that sometimes cross paths. If you’ve seen a skunk wandering around your neighborhood, you may wonder how your cat will react to this unusual visitor. Do skunks and cats get along? Or will they start spraying at the first sign of trouble?
If you don’t have time to read the full article, here’s a quick answer: skunks and cats typically avoid direct confrontation, but they may intimidate each other from a distance through body language and warning behaviors.
While outright attacks are rare, skunks will spray cats that get too close or seem threatening.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about skunk-cat interactions. You’ll learn about skunk and cat behavior, how to keep them away from each other, and what to do if your cat gets sprayed by a skunk.
Typical Behaviors of Skunks and Cats
Skunk Behavior
Skunks are mostly solitary and nocturnal animals. They spend their days sleeping in dens and emerge at dusk to forage. Skunks are omnivores and eat a variety of foods including insects, small rodents, eggs, berries, roots, and grasses. They have poor eyesight but excellent senses of hearing and smell.
Skunks are perhaps best known for the pungent smelling musk they can spray from anal glands when threatened. This musk can spray up to 10 feet and is extremely unpleasant and difficult to remove. Skunks will usually give warnings like stamping their feet or raising their tail before spraying.
Cat Behavior
Cats are solitary hunters and are most active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular). They have excellent senses of hearing, sight, and smell that aid them in hunting small prey like rodents, birds, and insects.
Cats are territorial animals and use scent marking, vocalizing, and body language to define their home ranges.
When threatened, cats may react aggressively by hissing, growling, swatting, scratching, or biting. They may also arch their backs, fluff out their fur, or run away. Cats will usually give warnings before attacking.
How Skunks and Cats Communicate
Skunks and cats generally avoid each other and collisions are rare. However, both animals use similar body language as warnings before attacking or spraying musk. Raising their tails, stamping feet, hissing, and growling are signals to back off.
Cats and skunks can likely understand these signals from each other.
Interestingly, there is some anecdotal evidence that cats may be attracted to the musk odor of skunks. This may lead curious cats to investigate and unfortunately get sprayed. So while direct communication between skunks and cats is limited, cats seem able to comprehend skunk warnings to avoid being sprayed.
Do Skunks Attack Cats?
Skunks and cats tend to avoid direct confrontation whenever possible. Here’s a look at the dynamics between the two animals and when conflicts may occur:
Skunks Usually Avoid Direct Confrontation
Skunks are typically non-aggressive animals that prefer to avoid direct conflicts. They rely on their strong odor as a defense mechanism to deter potential threats. Skunks will usually ignore cats unless they feel threatened or provoked.
Domestic cats, on the other hand, are naturally curious and may be inclined to investigate skunks. However, most cats will avoid skunks once they get a whiff of their pungent odor. The foul smell serves as a warning for cats to keep their distance.
So in most cases, skunks and cats will steer clear of each other. As long as the cat doesn’t pose a perceived threat, the skunk has no reason to attack.
When Skunks May Spray a Cat
Skunks typically only spray as a last resort when they feel cornered or threatened. Some situations where a skunk may spray at a cat include:
- A cat blocks the skunk’s escape route or charges directly at it.
- A mother skunk defending her babies against a curious cat.
- A cat swats at, scratches, or bites the skunk.
- A cat repeatedly chases or provokes the skunk despite warnings.
The skunk’s spray is an act of defense, not offense. The odor can cause extreme discomfort for the cat if sprayed directly in the face. But otherwise, the cat will be fine after the smell subsides.
Cat Behaviors that Provoke Skunks
Certain natural cat behaviors may trigger a skunk to spray as a protective reaction:
- Stalking or chasing – A cat’s hunting instincts may kick in when they see a skunk scurrying by.
- Swatting – Cats use their paws to investigate objects. But a skunk may interpret a swat as an attack.
- Cornering – A curious cat may inadvertently block a skunk’s escape path.
- Surprising – Catching a skunk off guard, even unintentionally, can cause it to spray.
The best way to prevent encounters between cats and skunks is keeping cats indoors or supervising them when outside. Cats should also be kept vaccinated against rabies as skunks can be carriers.
While confrontations are rare, proper precautions can help avoid adverse interactions. With mutual avoidance, skunks and cats can co-exist peacefully in the same environment.
Keeping Skunks and Cats Apart
Block Access to Denning Areas
Skunks like to nest and den in areas like decks, sheds, wood or rock piles. One great way to discourage skunks from visiting your yard is to block their access to these denning spots. You can install lattice panels or hardware cloth around the base of sheds, decks or porches.
This physical barrier will make it much harder for skunks to crawl underneath and set up housekeeping. Just make sure you don’t trap any skunks inside when you seal things up!
Remove Food Sources That Attract Skunks
Like most wild animals, skunks are opportunistic eaters. They’ll happily dine on pet food, unsecured trash or compost piles in your yard. Reduce the appeal of your landscape by removing these food sources.
Keep pet dishes inside, invest in critter-proof trash cans or compost bins, and feed pets only as much as they can eat in one sitting.
Use Repellents and Deterrents
There are various commercial or homemade skunk deterrents you can use to discourage skunks from frequenting your property. Options include:
- Ammonia or vinegar soaked rags placed around den sites
- Mothballs or flakes scattered near skunk activity spots
- Mixes of dried blood meal or pepper spray applied around foundations
- Motion-activated sprinklers
- Outdoor lighting
The key is reapplying these deterrents frequently, especially after it rains. You’ll need to make the area as inhospitable as possible so the skunk seeks shelter elsewhere.
Supervise Outdoor Time
Lastly, be sure to keep a close eye on your cats when they are outside. Skunks are generally not aggressive and will not outright attack a cat without provocation. However, cats are instinctive hunters and may focus their attention on a skunk, sparking a defensive response.
Always supervise outdoor playtime and keep cats indoors at night when skunks are most active. Having a skunk-proof yard goes a long way, but vigilant supervision adds an extra layer of protection.
What to Do if a Cat Gets Sprayed
Act Quickly to Limit Exposure
When a skunk sprays a cat, it’s important to act fast to limit your cat’s exposure to the potent spray. The sulfuric compounds in skunk spray can irritate your cat’s eyes and respiratory system, so you’ll want to get your cat inside and away from the skunk as soon as possible.
Gently wipe your cat’s face with a damp washcloth to flush their eyes and remove spray residue from their fur. Then, confine your kitty to a bathroom or small room where the skunky odor can be contained.
Opening windows, turning on fans, and placing bowls of vinegar around the room can help absorb and neutralize the skunk smell. It’s also a good idea to remove any fabrics like pet beds that may have been sprayed directly.
The sooner you can get the stink under control, the less time your cat will have to breathe it in.
Give the Cat a Tomato Juice Bath
Once your cat is safely away from the skunk, it’s time to give them a good cleaning. Interestingly, tomato juice is said to be one of the best remedies for neutralizing skunk odor on pets. The acids in tomato juice help break down thiols, the sulfuric compounds responsible for that distinctive skunk smell.
Simply dab or gently pour tomato juice over your cat’s fur, taking care to avoid their eyes. Let the tomato juice sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water. You may need to repeat this bathing process a few times to fully remove the stench.
Some other effective skunk odor remedies include apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda baths. Mixing 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap can help lift oil and odor from the fur.
As with any new product, test it on a small area first to be sure your cat won’t have an adverse reaction.
Call the Vet for Additional Remedies
If the skunk spray got in your cat’s eyes or they seem to be having trouble breathing, a trip to the veterinarian is warranted. Cats with respiratory issues may need medication, oxygen therapy, or intravenous fluids.
The vet can also provide professional-grade shampoos, deodorizing sprays, and oral products to neutralize skunk odor internally.
According to the Cat Health website, insecticide and vinegar soaks, baths with aeration enhancers like Stress Support Bathing Solution, and even dental products like toothpaste, wipes and water additives containing chlorhexidine can all help combat lingering skunk smells.
The vet may also prescribe antibiotics as a precaution in case the skunk was carrying any transmissible diseases.
While skunk encounters can be smelly and unpleasant, the good news is that cats rarely suffer long-term effects from being sprayed. With some thorough washing, deodorizing, and maybe even a little airing out time in the yard, your kitty will be stink-free and back to their old self in no time!
Signs of Rabies and Other Diseases
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. It is primarily transmitted through bites and scratches from infected animals. Cats are one of the most common domestic animals to contract and spread rabies.
Some signs that a cat may have rabies include:
- Behavioral changes – The cat may act restless, aggressive, or fearful. They may start attacking people or other animals out of character.
- Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Loss of appetite.
- Fever.
- Seizures.
- Paralysis – Often starting in the hind legs and moving up the body.
If a cat is displaying any of these symptoms, it is critical to avoid contact and notify animal control immediately. Rabies is fatal if untreated and can be transmitted to humans through scratches, bites, or contact with infected saliva.
All cats that possibly have rabies should be handled with extreme caution.
In addition to rabies, cats can also contract and spread other diseases to skunks, including:
- Feline panleukopenia – Also known as feline distemper, this viral disease attacks the gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, and nervous system. It causes fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and sometimes sudden death.
- Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) – A retrovirus that weakens the cat’s immune system and predisposes them to various secondary infections. It can cause cancerous and non-cancerous tumors as well as blood disorders.
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) – Similar to HIV in humans, FIV attacks the immune system leaving cats vulnerable to opportunistic infections. Weight loss, poor coat condition, chronic diarrhea, and respiratory issues often occur.
- Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) – Caused by a mutation of the feline coronavirus, FIP comes in wet and dry forms. It triggers severe systemic inflammatory responses leading to organ failure and death.
- Ringworm – A highly contagious fungal infection that causes circular patches of hair loss and scaly skin. It spreads through direct contact and contaminated surfaces.
- Fleas and ticks – Can transmit a number of bacterial, viral and protozoal diseases to cats and other animals they infest.
To protect community cats and wildlife, it is important to trap, neuter and vaccinate free-roaming felines. Cats should also be treated regularly and properly for parasites. Keeping pet cats indoors prevents them from contracting and spreading disease as well.
Working together, we can promote the health of both cats and local ecosystems.
Conclusion
In most cases, skunks and cats will avoid confrontation when given enough space. But conflicts can occur, especially if cats encroach on a skunk’s territory or seem threatening. By understanding skunk and cat behavior, taking preventative measures, and acting quickly after a spraying incident, you can help keep both species safe and healthy.
The next time you spot a skunk wandering through your neighborhood, there’s no need to panic. Simply keep your distance, secure any pet food that may attract skunks, and supervise your cat during outdoor time. With some common sense precautions, skunks and cats can coexist peacefully!
