The mountain lion, also known as the cougar or puma, is the largest wild cat in North America and an apex predator across a vast territory spanning from Canada to South America. Highly adaptable, Puma concolor occupies diverse environments, from rugged mountains and forests to semi-arid areas. This wide-ranging nature, combined with increasing human development, has led to a greater frequency of encounters as the species moves closer to suburban and exurban communities.
Yes, Domestic Cats Are Prey
The direct answer to whether mountain lions eat cats is yes; domestic cats and small dogs are considered opportunistic prey for these large predators. Mountain lions are obligate carnivores and generalist hunters that consume any readily available animal. This predatory instinct is pronounced near human habitation, where a free-roaming domestic cat represents a low-effort meal.
A study analyzing the stomach contents of mountain lions removed from areas of high human conflict showed that over half had recently consumed domestic animals, including cats and dogs. This suggests that pets become a significant, accessible food source when lions venture near homes, contrasting with the small percentage that had consumed their preferred natural prey. The small size and defenseless nature of a domestic cat make it an easy target, requiring less energy to hunt than a large wild animal. Furthermore, unsupervised pets are often active during dusk and dawn, which coincides with the mountain lion’s peak hunting time.
Understanding Typical Mountain Lion Diet and Habitat
Diet
The primary components of a mountain lion’s natural diet are larger ungulates, such as deer and elk. An adult lion requires a deer-sized kill approximately once per week to meet its caloric needs. These hunters rely on stealth and ambush.
Habitat
Mountain lions are territorial animals that require extensive home ranges, which can span from 10 to nearly 400 square miles, depending on the availability of food and mates. They thrive in “edge habitat,” featuring dense cover for stalking alongside open areas where prey animals graze. The increasing construction of homes and communities into these wildland-urban interfaces moves human property and domestic animals directly into the mountain lion’s established territory. This habitat encroachment means the predators’ familiar hunting grounds now overlap with human backyards, leading to the opportunistic consumption of pets and small livestock.
Practical Steps to Protect Pets
The most effective way to protect domestic animals is to eliminate the opportunity for predation, especially during the mountain lion’s most active hours. Cats and small dogs should be kept strictly indoors, particularly between dusk and dawn, as this is when lions are most likely to be hunting in residential areas. If pets must be outside during the day, they should be closely supervised and kept within a secure, enclosed kennel or run.
Preventing a mountain lion from being drawn to your property involves removing potential attractants for both the predator and its natural prey. Never leave pet food or water dishes outside, as the scent can attract small mammals like raccoons or rodents, which are secondary prey that a mountain lion will follow. Homeowners should install motion-activated lighting around the perimeter of the home to deter an ambush predator that relies on darkness for cover. Finally, remove dense vegetation and trim shrubs near the house, eliminating the hiding spots a lion would use to stalk a pet.