Interspecies Interactions: Can My Pets Be Friends?
Interspecies interactions are everywhere in social media. Cats in bird cages, a rat sitting on a dog’s head, and many, many others depicted in a cutesy way. I don’t have to scroll for very long to find something worrisome on cute animal subreddits… And when I realized how common it was there; I avoided it.
Depending on the species, it may be okay. Some dogs and cats can get along. But no dog or cat can safely interact with our small and exotic pets. To the unknowing, it’s adorable. To the knowing, it’s like seeing a toddler fall into a polar bear enclosure at a zoo. Nobody is hoping for that kind of jump scare when looking for eye bleach.
But what’s so wrong with it? How can you tell if it’s okay or not? They don’t seem to be hurting each other in the photo or video, and they look adorable! From unnecessary risk, unseen stress, and accidental harm, to predator instinct and communication barriers, I’ll explain why, most of the time, it’s not okay. And I’ll show you how to tell when it is.
Predator-Prey Interspecies Interactions
You might think it’s obvious to keep predator animals away from prey animals. But, when the predator is your cat of 6 years, who has never seen a mouse in its life, and the prey is your new pet mice… It seems assuming, “my cat doesn’t have a hunting instinct because…” becomes a common, and deadly, misconception. Even though you’ve never seen your predator pet kill prey, they are fully capable.
Maybe it’s some anthropomorphism. Maybe they think their dog is different. Maybe it’s seeing their cat sitting and staring at a prey with no barrier in-between and being lulled into thinking it doesn’t know how. Regardless, hunting is in their genetics, and it will never go away. Predator pets do not understand pet birds are not toys. That they are family, and should not get hurt. It’s too easy for owners to get complacent, thinking their cat or dog would never hurt their prey animal. Or with more exotic pets, not knowing predation or harm is even a risk between them. Complacency and naivety have killed many beloved pets.
Hunting Instinct
Cats
Here, let me prove it. When you go into a pet store, to the cat aisle, and then the toy section, what do you see? Teaser toys on a string on a stick; a fast moving thing that’s fun to chase. Little toys and balls for batting around. Kicker toys for the cat to kick with their back legs. Little round towers with balls in them that roll around. Electronic toys where a feather or similar pokes out of a hole before darting back in.
What’s the common denominator here? All of them play on a cat’s hunting instinct. To chase, kick, bite, and shake. Shaking is for snapping necks. Bunny kicks are for disemboweling. The ekekek / chirping noise is for luring prey close enough to catch. These are adorable behaviors to watch with toys, but they’re also proof the cat knows how to hunt.
Cats have bacteria in their claws and mouths which can kill small animals. They’re infected as soon as the skin is broken, and it is not always obvious when this happens. It may take a while for the animal to show sickness, but it is deadly. Wildlife like birds, baby squirrels, and lizards survived the initial attack of a cat, only to succumb to infection later. Wildlife rehabbers administer antibiotics to give them a fighting chance, but it doesn’t work every time.
In Australia, the cat population kills and eats over 1.5 million reptiles per day, with certain individuals gorging on up to 40 critters at a time. Researchers discovered various species of snakes, geckos, sliders, and more in cat bellies. Stray and outdoor cats drove over 63 species of mammals, reptiles, and birds to extinction, and continue to threaten other endangered species. In some cities, keeping cats outdoors is illegal (and free roaming dogs) to protect local wildlife populations. Your indoor cat will still go for your prey pet if given enough opportunities.
Dogs
While dogs have more human intervention in their genetic makeup and, in some breeds, instinct, they still have hunting drives. In some breeds, we honed it for thousands of years. Smaller dogs trained to drive small animals from their burrows. Larger dogs to retrieve game from bodies of water and other tasks. Some medium and large dogs drive game up trees. Even lap dog breeds may have had a history of hunting. Larger dogs, like Irish Wolfhounds, were bred to kill wolves in Ireland, and can hunt bears, deer, and large game.
Dogs love to run, chase, fetch, bite, chew, and shake their toys. Running? Chasing behavior. Fetch is just chasing and catching behavior with “bring it back” trained in. Toy-shaking is neck snapping behavior, just like cats. Tug of war… I don’t think I have to explain that one. The only reason dogs don’t attack wildlife and prey pets is human intervention.
Other Predator Pets
We live in nature. We are part of nature. Even in our homes, it’s there. When we bring predator pets into a home with prey pets, we bring the food web with it. Reptile owners know putting crickets in with their bearded dragon will get them a full and happy beardie and no more crickets. But did you know rats will eat birds, beardies will eat mice, ferrets will eat rabbits, and cats will eat reptiles? Rats killing and eating mice is a known phenomenon termed as muricide. No matter how much we love our animals, keeping predator pets away from prey pets is best.
But what about that cute photo of the rat on the dog’s head, or the cat and the mouse being friends? They’re still taking risks with a negative risk to benefit ratio. I also figure the “do it for the likes and views” comes into play. Just because someone else does it, doesn’t make it a good idea. Predator pets can attack faster than you can stop them. Cats can move faster than a striking snake, and anything in a dog’s bite reach could get hurt before you can move.
The way cats and prey animals play is different. Cats play by acting out hunting behavior. Batting, stalking, swiping with claws, chasing — this is their form of fun. A bird’s form of fun is cuddling with another bird, doing flips and flops, chewing on enrichment items. Being chased, being around a predator is not fun. Prey animals get stressed when they detect a predator, even if they don’t show it. Complacency can be a freeze response, where an animal appears to be okay with a situation but has entered a state of shut down, or dissociation.
Herbivores as Opportunistic Predators
Sometimes even herbivores might take the chance to eat meat. There are various (death and being eaten trigger warning for the video) videos of horses eating birds. Researchers also have evidence of deer eating birds. Cattle do the same. There are also images of squirrels, giraffes, pandas, kangaroos, and chickens eating smaller mammals and carrion. (Chickens are omnivores instead of herbivores, by the way!)
There are various accounts of fancy rats and mice eating already dead cage mates, despite not having aggression. A motivation to prevent drawing predators causes this instinct, and does not mean they will kill living cage mates.
Hamsters are omnivores, not herbivores. In the wild, they often eat various insects and benefit from captive-bred bugs in their diet in home environments. Rats, mice, and gerbils are similar.
Prey Protect Themselves
Animals you might think of as mostly harmless often have various defence mechanisms against predators. A rabbit kick can do serious harm to a cat. Rats can chew through concrete. Bearded dragons are somewhat venomous, and salmonella is a concern when they bite. The prey animal isn’t the only one at risk; the predator is, too.
Interspecies Interaction Risk
Every time an unsafe interspecies interaction happens, there is a risk of harm. Even if nothing happens, it’s re-rolling the dice until, after enough time, you get snake eyes. Maybe they were too tired, stuffed, and didn’t feel like playing. Maybe the prey entranced the predator, causing them to stare instead of chase. Regardless of the reason it was “okay” that time, it may not be the same next time.
Risk-Benefit Ratio
A risk-benefit ratio is a comparison between the risk and the benefit of doing something, and people often use it to make decisions, even if they don’t realize. An unwanted outcome can happen when someone fails to factor in the benefit of doing something, or when they underestimate the risk.
In interspecies interaction, the risk almost always outweighs the benefit. If it’s a predator, of course the predator will get enrichment from acting out hunting behaviors, even if that doesn’t lead to harm. However, prey are also important when they’re our pets. In this situation, the prey animal gets no benefit from interacting with the predator pet. Prey are by nature afraid of predator scents, even if it is not obvious in their behavior. They could get hurt at any moment, even if you hover over them. They get no good enrichment from the interaction. It doesn’t make them happy. They don’t bond; they freeze and shut down. The risk to benefit ratio is imbalanced, and that alone should be reason enough to do active prevention against those interactions.
Interspecies Interaction Stress
I’ve touched on this a few times already. The presence and scent of predators stress out prey animals. Various studies show prey in early pregnancy exposed to predator smells can prevent pregnancy, reduce litter sizes or cause a complete loss of pregnancy. Prenatal predator-induced stress in prey can also affect offspring. This is relevant in breeder homes and pet homes, because pregnancy is a delicate balance easily affected by fear and stress, even if the animal shows no outward signs of it.
For example, say researchers introduce a group of female mice to a predator scent. Two of those female mice are pregnant, and the rest are not. They are all stressed. However, as time went on and the stress continued, only two of the female mice lost their litters to the constant stress. The rest of the mice had no pregnancy to make that stress sign possible. This does not mean they are unbothered by it.
No Stress
On the other end of things, lack of predator fear is also a reason to separate prey from predators. This false sense of security could also get them hurt or killed. The risk-benefit ratio still applies.
Occasionally I see a mouse approaching a cat, climbing on it, and other strange behavior. The mouse may be or was recently infected with a parasite, Toxoplasma Gondii. This alters the mouse’s behavior, trying to get it eaten so the parasite can get into the cat to finish its lifecycle.
Other health issues can also alter predator or prey behavior. This does not make it safer or a better idea for them to interact.
My Predator Pet Literally Has No Prey Drive!!
I’m not going to say this will never happen, because then it will. I will say it’s never a good idea to test it. But, if somehow you found a unicorn of a predator pet with no prey drive… It’s still not a good idea to allow interactions because of potential for accidental injuries from either party, and no good benefit to either, especially the prey.
Regardless, if you decide to anyway, do not normalize it on social media. Don’t share posts of predator-prey interactions. If you get lucky and it’s okay for you… Convincing others it’s okay for them could get their pets injured or killed. Please don’t. Don’t say, “It’s fine for mine, but don’t do it with yours.” because people will read that as, “They did it, why can’t I?” Share photos of your dogs, and share photos of your chinchillas. But don’t share photos of your chinchillas hanging out with your dogs. You might save a life.
Accidents
Even if a predator pet has no intention of harming a prey pet, accidents can still happen. Saliva and claws in dogs and cats contain pasteurella bacteria, which causes pasteurellosis about 12 hours after infection. This causes pain and suffering at best, and often death when left untreated. There is also Capnocytophaga bacteria in canines, a gram-negative bacteria which is harder to treat. It has special characteristics in its cell membrane, which make it resistant to some antibiotics, like penicillin and lysozyme.
The smaller the infected animal is, the larger the relative “dose” of bacteria compared to their body weight, and the more difficult it is for them to survive unaided. So humans can get dozens of scratches and still be okay, while smaller animals, which include most small and exotic pets, struggle to survive a lesser encounter. Humans are not immune either, however. About 12,000 people are diagnosed with cat scratch fever per year from infected cats.
Preventing Interspecies Interactions
It is estimated 66% of people in the US have a pet as of 2025. About 90% of those are dogs and cats, with the final 10% making up all the other animals. Many people have a dog or a cat and a small or exotic animal(s). They have to be kept separate, but how?
The best thing to do is keep them in separate spaces 24/7. Maybe have a room just for your small pets and your dog or cat gets the rest of the house. If your house has two levels, separate one for the dog/cat and the other for the other pet. This works best, especially when both species need extensive free roam time. For example, when rabbits, ferrets, and birds share a household with dogs or cats. This is the safest and best option, and should always be chosen when possible.
If you have a space for your small pets in the kitchen, but no door between it and the living room, you can use a baby gate to separate the spaces. During free roam time for the prey animal, take extra precautions to make sure the predator pet can’t get to them. This can include using a second baby gate to create an empty air space in between, putting the predator pet in another room in the mean time, or, if multiple people in the house care for the animals, doing free roam time during your dog walks. Some animals need more time to free-roam than a dog needs to walk, and other solutions are better in those situations.
But, sometimes it isn’t possible to have different spaces separated by a door. When this happens, there are usually still ways to make it work. I’ll go into those below.
Aquariums and Tanks
Tanks on stands are pretty good about keeping dogs out if the stand is sturdy and tall enough. But with a cat around, you’ll want something more. There are cat proof lids for aquariums. You can use scat mats, which are a deterrent cats dislike stepping on. Hardware cloth and DIY, and steel mesh lids designed for your tank size.
Even better, create a safe space around the tank or aquarium using baby gates or similar separation methods. C&C grids can be stacked 2 or 3 tall to make a sort of fence around the area.
Barred Cages
Cages for chinchillas, rats, and degus offer less protection from predators. If the prey sticks their nose out at the wrong time, they could lose it. A tail drooping out of the cage is free game, and ect… For these, a physical fence-type barrier around the cage is a must. If you have cats, it needs to be cat proof. With big dogs, it needs to be more sturdy. If you’re using the space around the cage for free roam, the barrier also needs to be escape proof for your small pet, and not have any mesh or barred fencing.
You can also do two layers of fencing if necessary. One to keep your small pet in, and the other to keep your predator pet out. Ensure there is an air space no less than 6 inches wide, and wider if needed, between the two. This prevents paws, noses, and tails from getting through either side.
Full/Majority Time Free Roam Pets
Do not keep birds and cats or dogs in shared air spaces. You’ll need to block an area off with a barrier. Two taut layers of well secured netting with an air space in between could separate two spaces. Pseudo walls with doors would also work if possible. If it sounds too inconvenient or not possible and no other solutions work, you’ll need to choose one pet or the other.
For non-flight worthy small pets, baby fences and gates with small enough spaces, or solid paneling, can keep them separate from your predator pets as long as it’s pet proofed to both species. If you have a cat and the cat can get over it, it’s not pet proof.
If you have a door sized opening with no door, you may also make 2 baby gates work. Stack install them in the door to double the height, then zip-tie the doors together. If well installed and not climbable, this should keep cats out.
Get Inventive but Don't Cheap Out
There are many ways to keep different species pets separated, and a good brainstorm could find a sturdy solution in your situation, even if none of the above options are viable. But don’t take unnecessary risks with cardboard or other flimsy materials.
Test it out. Bump the edges, try to pry cracks further apart. Plan to make it more sturdy than you think is necessary, not less. Put your prey pet somewhere safe and see if your pet can get through it with enough incentive, like their favorite food. Give it a few hours with you on one side and your predator pet on the other. And don’t leave your prey pet unsupervised during free roam, especially if your barrier is makeshift.
Other Interspecies Interactions
Communication Barriers
Explaining Differences
Okay, what about keeping a cockatoo and an African grey parrot together 24/7? They’re both parrots. They wouldn’t prey on each other. They have similar behaviors, and they play in the same way, so each other’s play behaviors wouldn’t stress them. It’s still a bad idea to keep them together because, despite their similarities, they communicate differently.
Imagine being in the same room as an ape. Scary, isn’t it? Or maybe you think it’s pretty cool, or cute. Regardless, you can’t talk to each other. When you smile, they see an angry, aggressive expression. Your expression means happiness and joy, but they may attack you for it. You’re similar enough for your expressions to be recognized at all, but it’s misinterpreted all the way down to body language. Their sounds and calls aren’t even words you don’t understand in your mind, but ape sounds. Zookeepers know what not to do to keep the ape from getting angry when taking care of them, but your birds don’t.
Explaining Similarities
When you see another human, even one who speaks an unfamiliar language, that smile is universal. It’s instinct. All humans can see a person smiling and know it means joy. See tears and know it means sadness or fear. Nods are something different, I can’t say anything for those, but anyone can understand the vast majority of human body language.
It is similar for parrots. When they’re the same species, that body language is universal. Even the sounds and calls are universal or quick to learn from parrot to parrot. But when they’re different species, that body language is close enough to mean something, but it means different things. They misunderstand each other’s calls and aren’t able to figure out what it means. It causes fights, squabbles, and disagreements, even if they’re trying to communicate the same thing. Imagine having to share your house with that ape! Don’t do it to your birds.
Exceptions
Of course, there are always exceptions to everything. But in the vast majority of cases, this will be the case. Don’t assume you’re the exception. Play it safe because you love your pets. And because I care about your pets, and I don’t want them to get hurt, either.
Service Dogs
Service dogs are a special exception. They can be with other species when necessary to perform tasks for their handler or help with general pet maintenance as needed. They will need to be well trained and either not have a prey drive, or have the self control and training to ignore it.
Safe Cohabitations
There are species that can be cohabbed. Low prey drive, “good with cats” dogs and cats are a well-known one. It’s still a good idea in homes with dogs and cats to ensure they both have a way to have alone-time from each other when they want to.
Another safe cohab is mice and ASF rats, or African Soft Fur rats. ASF rats aren’t rats, they’re multimammate mice. And, “mice,” doesn’t explain them, either. Being in their own genus, mastomys, they have 24 teats, compared to 12 in rats and 10 in mice! They’re closer in relation to mice than to rats, and they’re less domesticated than both species. This means while they may not be as cuddly, you can keep them with mice, but not with rats. Rats may eat ASFs. Make sure they are legal to own in your area. They’re a good way to give a male mouse friends without worrying about territorial aggression or pregnancy.
Many farm animals tend to get along, but this varies by individual. It is often important to keep their feed separate regardless of species for farm animals. Horses can usually be kept with cattle as long as they’re fed separately. Cattle feed can cause colic in a horse. Horses can also generally be kept with other livestock. Sheep and chickens, goats and cows. If in doubt, do your research first. Look into multiple links and don’t trust AI with your animal’s life. They hallucinate at least 27% of the time and get the facts wrong in 46% of generated texts. I don’t use AI to write any of this information, it’s all human.
Can These Two Species Cohab?
Answer: No
To be on the safe side, the default answer is no. Most of the time, the answer will be no. Sometimes the reason will be unexpected. Like different species of parrot should not be co-habbed. Budgies need budgies, and a lovebird is not a suitable replacement. Because they can’t communicate, and fights may break out because of misinterpretations in body language and calls.
Answer: Maybe
Occasionally the answer will be yes, but there are risks. And then the question should be, is it even worth it? Is it good for both species to cohab? Will either be stressed at all by sharing a space? Are they showing fear or stress signs, whether that be acting out or shutting down? It’s also possible you do all the research, dig in and determine it is okay. And then you test the theory and it isn’t okay with your animals. And that’s okay! You need to be prepared for it to not work, and keep them separate in that situation.
If your answer is, I saw those species cohabbed at a zoo. Pause and ask yourself if you have the same knowledge zoos have about those species’ body language and behavior. Then do your research. A lot of research. Can’t have too much, but you can do too little. Maybe even go to that zoo and ask about cohabbing those species yourself at home. Chances are you’ll get a lot of valuable information.
Historical Evidence
Why are mice and ASFs different from African greys and cockatoos? Because both were tested and consistently proven not to work out for one, and to work for the other. The difference between species’ behavior, communication, instinct, diet, and needs are different and nuanced. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. But that ‘sometimes’ can be very consistent when you’re trying to put certain different species together. It’s so important to dig into the research instead of throwing two different animals together and hoping they’ll get along.
Questions and Research
First ask, does one eat meat, and the other does not eat any meat? A rat can not be kept with a gerbil because the rat would eat the gerbil. Are their temperature needs the same? A chinchilla would not co-exist with a desert lizard because of temperature. Are their space needs the same? A hamster would not get along with a mouse because hamsters need a lot of space, and a mouse needs a small area crowded with hiding places. Are their diets the same? Cattle and horses can not get the same bag of food because the horse will colic. If kept in the same pasture, keep the horse away from the cattle’s feed. In small pet situations, feeding separately is not always reasonable or possible. There is no need to dig further because they’re already incompatible; often there are many reasons two species won’t get along.
These questions are the first of dozens and dozens you will need to ask yourself. Everything has to be factored in. Chances are, it’s been tried before. Or if it hasn’t, the reasons become apparent fast. It is easier and safer to keep them separate. Many times, they don’t benefit from co-existing regardless if there’s no harm. “You can, but you don’t have to.” may come up, as with ASFs and mice. If you don’t know, it’s better not to.
Beware of Bad Examples
It’s going to happen a lot. You’ll see two species together while scrolling social media and pause. You might think, “I didn’t know those species could be together!” They might look adorable together. It might cross your mind to get a mouse for your cat, since those two are being so nice to each other.
Unfortunately, many people risk their animal’s health and safety for views online. Many people risk their own lives for it. Not everyone capable of taking a video or snapping a photo is going to do all their research, prioritize their pet’s safety, or be educated on the warning signs and stress behaviors their animals are expressing.
If they claim to be the exception, as many do, they’re spreading the rhetoric of, “It’s okay for me.” And sure, it is, until it isn’t. Maybe it’s not and they’re ignoring the signs or not recognizing them for what they are. Until someone else sees it and decides to try it without further research/because they thought that video was evidence enough.
When disaster strikes, they rarely share it. Maybe that photo or video was captured in the moments between conflict. Maybe one or both of the animals is shut down and complacent from fear. Just because someone else does it, does not make it a good idea. Be cautious and put the wellbeing of your animals above likes, views or they-did-it’s. Give yourself a pat on the back for putting your animals first, because you deserve it!
Beware of Bad Examples
Sometimes, the stars align. All the boxes are checked, there’s evidence these species have gotten along well before… And you do the intros only to discover problems which don’t go away regardless of your efforts. Why? Why isn’t it working with these two? The answer is often in the individuals’ personalities.
Just like you have that person at work you can’t stand to be around, animal personalities can clash, too. Always have a backup plan ready to go, especially during intros and the first few months after. Also, ensure there are ways to separate them if one gets injured or sick.
Symbiotic Relationships
I can’t create a pet species interactions article without covering symbiotic relationships. The vast majority of them do not exist in pet situations because we don’t keep those animals as pets. They’re wildlife. Those benefits are best saved for when they’re both found in zoos.
There are 3 types of symbiotic relationships. Mutualism, where they both benefit. Commensalism, where one benefits and the other couldn’t care less. And parasitism, where one benefits at the detriment to the other, up to and including death. When considering if we’re to keep them together, we’re most likely thinking about the first two, not the latter.
I’m not talking about the pet leeches (which are parasites) people get from medical places to make sure they’re not carrying disease so the owner can give their blood as food. The human makes that decision about doing that to themselves, and shouldn’t do it to their pets. I’m talking about anemones and clownfish.
Clownfish and anemones should be kept together in saltwater aquariums. The anemone gets food from the clownfish without harming it. In the wild, they also protect each other from other fish and parasites. In the pet environment, the clownfish still benefits from the anemone by being able to perform natural behaviors. The anemone is good enrichment!
You’ll know if your pet species is part of a symbiotic relationship by looking into if they have one in the wild. Symbiotic relationships vary from being required for both species to survive or thrive, to both benefiting, but being able to exist apart.
Bioactive terrariums are another example of a symbiotic relationship. The isopods, springtails, and other insects eat the waste from the larger pet (reptile, mammal, ect…). And the pet benefits from the springtails keeping the enclosure cleaner.
Yes, No, and Maybe.
We see interspecies interactions all over the internet. But is it a good idea? Most of the time, the answer is no. If you don’t know, it’s a no. If you research, you may find some maybes. And, if it is a species with a necessary mutual symbiotic relationship, the answer can be, “Absolutely.”
Do your research before trying it yourself. Learn each species’ needs, behavior and stress signals, and natural instincts. Have a back-up plan, a separate enclosure ready to go, and an emergency vet willing to treat both species if things go sideways despite safety cautions. And most of all, put every one of your pet’s needs and safety first.
References and Further Reading
Abcbirds, “Cats and Birds” https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/cats-and-birds/
BBC, “Dogs ‘becoming major threat’ to wildlife”https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47062959
Forbes Advisor, “Pet Ownership Statistics 2025” https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics/#:~:text=Pet%20ownership%20in%20the%20U.S.,1988%2C%20pet%20ownership%20statistics%20show.
Nespthreatenedspecies, “The unnoticed toll of cats on reptiles” https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news-and-media/latest-news/the-unnoticed-toll-of-cats-on-reptiles#:~:text=Australian%20cats%20are%20killing%20about,by%20researchers%20from%20across%20Australia.
Science Daily, “ Birds Can Detect Predators Using Smell” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080427233813.htm#:~:text=Luisa%20Amo%20de%20Paz%2C%20the,to%20their%20sense%20of%20smell.
Southern Illinois University, “The Perils Of Outdoor Cats” https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/2022/11/12/the-perils-of-outdoor-cats/
Squirrel Refuge, “Infections in Squirrels” https://www.squirrelrefuge.org/infections-in-squirrels
Wikipedia, “Cat Predation On Wildlife” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_predation_on_wildlife
TW for a predator prey/interspecies interaction video between a cat and a snake. No apparent harm to either party. Youtube. “Cats have a faster reaction time than snakes” https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yNPeST4RxI8
de Catanzaro D. (1988). Effect of predator exposure upon early pregnancy in mice. Physiology & behavior, 43(6), 691–696. https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(88)90365-4
De Paz., E Visser. (2011). Smelling Out Predators is Innate in Birds. http://dx.doi.org/10.5253/078.099.0207
Kliuchnikova, M.A., Struchkov, P.V., & Kvasha, I.G. (2020). The effects of predator odors on stress response and reproduction in Norway rats: A review. Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 10, 48-55. https://doi.org/10.15421/2020_166
TW Graphic Header Photo, Gore and Dead Animals
Kobilinsky.(2016) Domestic cat attacks cause variety of wildlife deaths. https://wildlife.org/jwm-study-domestic-cat-attacks-cause-variety-of-wildlife-deaths/#:~:text=However%2C%20if%20the%20researchers%20saw,our%20native%20wildlife%20and%20cats.%E2%80%9D
Nelson, C. A., Saha, S., & Mead, P. S. (2016). Cat-Scratch Disease in the United States, 2005-2013. Emerging infectious diseases, 22(10), 1741–1746. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2210.160115
St-Cyr, S., Abuaish, S., Sivanathan, S., & McGowan, P. O. (2017). Maternal programming of sex-specific responses to predator odor stress in adult rats. Hormones and behavior, 94, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.06.005
Webster J. P. (2007). The effect of Toxoplasma gondii on animal behavior: playing cat and mouse. Schizophrenia bulletin, 33(3), 752–756. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbl073
Wright, L. D., Muir, K. E., & Perrot, T. S. (2013). Stress responses of adolescent male and female rats exposed repeatedly to cat odor stimuli, and long-term enhancement of adult defensive behaviors. Developmental psychobiology, 55(5), 551–567. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.21060
Zhang, S., Mesalam, A., Lee, K. L., Song, S. H., Khan, I., Yuan, Y., Wenfa, L. V., & Kong, I. K. (2019). Effect of Predator Stress on the Reproductive Performance of Female Mice After Nonsurgical Embryo Transfer. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS, 58(3), 304–310. https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-18-000085 Free PDF: https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC6526485&blobtype=pdf
