Bald - Will a bald eagle attack a common housecat?

Will a bald eagle attack a common housecat?

It's the most amazing thing. We have a new friend in the bald eagle that visits every single day. He's an adolescent but still very majestic. I often go out with the camera and tripod when he shows up. I can get within about 30 feet of him sometimes and shoot some incredible video of him perching and flying. Some days he'll sit on the fence outside the window and just watch us. I've seen him hunt rodents but haven't been able to video that yet as he's too quick. I'm wondering if anyone out there has any experience with a bald eagle attacking or killing a housecat. We have a housecat but keep her in now because our new 'friend.' The eagle is probably still too small to carry off the cat but I think he's sizing her up. Any thoughts?

Public Comments

make your cat an indoor cat
Had a couple up here the other week that were trying for small dogs so I guess your answer is yes, they will go for a cat.
He might, an adult bald eagle can handle a prey that size and they don't really care whether it's a rodent or a cat or a small dog or whatever... if it's small, it's dinner, I'm afraid!
any bird of prey that can get a good hook in, will do it. A cat isn't any different than a rabbit, other than that if the eagle gets them the wrong way, they might get bitten or scratched.... however eagles have been known to hunt and kill rattle snakes, so I doubt if a little cat bite would stop them.
They will carry off anything they can catch.
id keep your cat in.. once he becomes adult size, he will have no problem with your kitty. the only thing that could keep him from attacking your cat is if you kept him well-fed so that he wasnt hungry.. but not only is that going to require a lot of pre-killed rats, it probably is not in his best interest *although, if your cat likes being outside, one thing you can think of getting is a large cat kennel. some stand up to about 6 feet tall and have multiple platforms that they can jump and lay on. we used to keep on of our cats in one since we lived on a busy street
lol i can see it flying off with your cat lol...........seriously.... just keep the cat inside or let see what will happen if you let it outside for a bit.................
Bald Eagles are beautiful, magnificent creatures, but like all other animals, they are often unpredictable, instinctual, and dangerous. Eagles if they can catch a cat will eat it, as a live meal is a live meal to a Bald Eagle no matter the species. If you have any concern for your cat, your best bet would be to keep her inside when the eagle comes by. I wouldn't worry to much, but be careful, they are beautiful creatures, but they are still creatures, and that can make them very dangerous. Other than that have fun with your new friend you lucky person!
Bald eagles are primarily fish eaters, either live or as carrion. They're not so big on going after mammals. Not that it can't happen - it's wild, and there are no promises. An adult bald eagle has a lift capacity of about 4 pounds. There's a live bald eagle-cam from Maine at this link, and some other links to bald eagle info...pretty good: http://www.briloon.org/ed/eagle/index.htm The eagles are currently sitting a couple of eggs.
I'd keep the cat indoors ... because the 'eagle' is your friend, but he's still a 'wild bird' and I've seen red tailed hawks take kittens and cats, and a bald eagle is much much larger ... and I am SOOO jealous of you and your new friend.
yes, it will kill it and eat it. eagles hit very hard and would prob never have to even fight with the cat. if it helps, you can think of it as turn -about. how many birds do you think your cat has eaten?
Here in California, the Channel Island Fox was almost exterminated by predation from the golden eagle. But - before the golden eagle came to the channel islands, the channel islands had bald eagles. The bald eagles did not eat the channel island foxes. Your cat is probably safe if the bald eagle has plenty of fish and other food available, because cats are not a bald eagle's usual prey. If the bird gets hungry, though, ...
If you love your cat, you will keep it inside from now on. The eagle would definitely take on a common housecat. They will normally feed on fish or small rodents, but a cat would be too tempting and one day, Fluffy would not return!
Not likely. Bald eagles main food is fish, whether alive or dead. Second food choice are waterfowls, such as ducks. A full grown bald eagle is capable of killing a house cat. As long as they are plenty of fish and waterfowl for them to eat, then the eagle will not attack your housecat.