[riversflow]

> I wonder if domestic cats attack bats.

I have no doubt. Cats have an incredible prey drive, and it would be down right batty for them to have some sort of hardwiring to avoid bats when they happily attack moths who have a similar flight pattern. I haven’t personally seen one catch a bat, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all. A cursory search says indicates it happens.

Although for whatever reason I would be more concerned about a dog finding, rubbing in and eating a dead bat. I mean I don’t know what percentage of bats die while out, but it can’t be zero, and dogs—especially spitz-types—are remarkable at finding dead animals. Now that I think of it, I could easily imagine a person getting direct exposure to diseased bat remains through that vector. People typically put their hands on the shoulders of dogs and think little of it.

[JumpCrisscross]

> it would be down right batty for them to have some sort of hardwiring to avoid bats

My cat has a deeply-wired fear of raptors. Bats flutter around closer to the ground. But maybe bats benefit from that conflation?

[whstl]

My cat caught one a few weeks ago when it flew into our winter garden. Luckily I was fast enough to not let him bit the bat.

After seeing a street cat kill a scorpion I don't really think they're afraid of much.

[Traubenfuchs]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X652RJtSWs8