Can cats catch hedgehogs?

[moliver]

This evening we heard some scrabbling underneath the bookcase in the living room, which is on the first floor of our house. It turned out to be an adult hedgehog, apparently unhurt, quite lively and bright-eyed, but it must've been there all day. Could it have found its own way in, through the cat flap and up a flight of stairs - doubtful, I think! Or could our fairly small cat have brought it in? I hope not, but I can't think of any other solution to this puzzle. We've given the hedgehog some cat food and released it in the garden, which luckily is full of wood piles and leaves - and locked the cat in, at least for a while. Has anyone else known of cats catching hedgehogs? And did we do the right thing by giving it some food & taking it back into the garden?

[2dogs2000]

Welcome to WAB.
I am sure you have done the right thing by feeding it and sending it on its way.
How on earth it got in I don't know. I can't imagine that the cat could have brought it in, so it must have made its own way.
It must have been hungry after climbing those stairs.

[paulchandler6]

I have cats and the interaction with Hedgehogs always seems to be rather indifferent. They curiously check them out but have never seen any agression. I think Cats would have a problem picking them up with all those spines.
Hedgehogs can be rather athletic and I remember reading somewhere that they can climb brick walls (not sure how true that is). I dont think stairs would be a problem or cat flaps. Maybe it just made its way in during its normal nightly foray.
I feel you did the right thing in releasing it back out there, but just keep an eye out for it to check its still feeding OK.
I'm sure an expert will advise what to do if theres a problem.

Paul

[moliver]

Thank you for your replies. We just checked - the hedgehog is nowhere to be seen, the cat food has been eaten, & kit is still fast asleep in the kitchen, so all seems well

[Za]

I agree, it most likely just wandered in through the cat flap,they can climb quite well and I can vouch for them climbing walls (not smooth brick walls, but stone walls about 2 ft high I had in my garden last house I lived in)
Feeding it cat food and releasing it sounds like the best thing.It might have been looking for somewhere to hibernate and thought the cat flap looked like a good option.
Za

[coasty]

A cat that has sadly passed away now, Over her 17 years caught animals of all the followingtypes: List for interest only.

Two hedgehogs,,,, ( both young and were released unharmed )
Young Rabbits
Birds just about every native species fromm wood pigeon down
Bats,,, Twice: she used to sit on garage roof and hook them out of the sky...( both times bats were released unharmed)
Frogs (my pond)
Goldfish (my pond)
Voles and Mice of nearly every species.
However her most notable capture was a complete and Raw pork chop. ( never did find out where from)

She never managed to catch a rat . or a grey squirrel. ( mores the pity)

My family have owned 5 cats over the past 50+ years. Three of which were completely unable to catch anything. Two had strong hunting instincts.

I was always sad at her captures.

[hedgehog whisperer]

I have read about Hedgehogs coming in through cat flaps and climbing the stairs attracted by the cat food. I think it would be unlikely that a cat would take on a adult Hedgehog. Getting / making a hedgehog home might make hoggie stay in your garden where he belongs. Welcome to the site thanks for sharing this great tale.

[naturelover]

hi and welcome,i dont think your cat could have brought it in,i had a dog a big dog she would chase down the garden like a bat out of hell because she could hear a hedgie and run straight at it,of course it would roll up like hedgies do and she would hurt her nose,many a night i have herd her yelp and come in with her nose bleeding,it never stoped her and she never got a hedgie in her 13 years.

[Cazzie]

I feel certain the hedgehog made it's own way into your home as they are (as stated before) pretty good climbers!

Glad it's on it's way now and had a good feed before it went too

[Paul mabbott]

I don't know about catching and bringing home hedgehogs but cats can certainly kill them - get their paws onto their abdomen an rip it open. Especially youngsters which haven't properly learned to roll up completely (or can't?).