If you look at a cat with their furry bodies and 4 legs, then look at snakes with their scaly bodies and lack of legs, at first glance they seem very different. But, look a little closer, and you'll see similarities - like they both have slitted pupils in their eyes and both make hissing noises! So, what's the deal with cats and snakes?
Why do cats have reptile eyes?
Starting with those cat snake eyes, this is an example of convergent evolution. Convergent evolution is when 2 animals that aren't closely related have similar characteristics. Cats and snakes both hunt similar prey, like small mammals and birds, and both use similar hunting techniques. According to Petshun.com, both snakes and cats are ambush predators that lie in wait to kill their prey. Slit shaped pupils are advantageous for this type of hunting because it provides greather depth perception that allows both snakes and cats to gauge when it is time to strike! Snake eyes and cat eyes slitted pupils also allow both to adapt to a wide range of lighting, so that they can hunt even at night. So, cat eyes and snake eyes have similar characteristics because in the evolution of both animals, slitted pupils proved to be an advantage in hunting, not because snakes and cats are related!
Why do cats hiss like snakes?
According to litter-robot.com, cats may actually be imitating snakes when they hiss! Snakes hiss as a defense mechanism, to scare off potential threats by warning them that they are about to strike. This can be especially useful for smaller, non-venomous snakes. A hissing snake can appear more dangerous and might cause a potential predator to think twice about snacking on that particular snake! In the same way, a cat might hiss in order to scare away a threat!
Do cats kill snakes?
When it comes to cats vs snakes, a lot depends on the individual cat and the snake. Enviroliteracy.org, says cats do not have a natural fear of snakes. A cats hunting instincts might cause them to attack or investigate a snake, but a well fed house cat who is not looking for their next meal cat might also simply ignore a snake. However, larger snakes could pose a threat to a cat, so if you think your cat may have been bitten by a snake, it is important to have a vet check it out. If the snake was killed, bring it too so that the vet can try to identify the snake to help see what treatment might be needed. Even a bite by a non venomous snake can cause infection and pain, so it's best to check it out! Some cats will also eat snakes, but snakes could have parasites that could then transfer to your cat, so if your cat has eaten a snake, that could also be a good time to visit the vet.
We've talked a lot about how cats and snakes have similar hunting techniques and similar physical adaptations that help them with their hunting. One place where cats have an advantage is in reflexes! To you and eye, a snake can strike in the blink of an eye, but a cat's reflexes are even faster! Check out this video of cats versus snakes to see just how fast a cat can be compared to a snake!
So, what does all this tell us? Snakes and cats are not related, but share some similar characteristics because those characteristics prooved to be useful in the development of both!
Snake photo by Ron Hewson on Unsplash
Cat photo by Antonio Lapa on Unsplash
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