As a reptile enthusiast who wants to add a ball python to your collection of exotic pets, you can’t help but wonder if it’ll kill a cat. Usually, this is a perplexing question for those who already own a cat.
Interestingly, ball pythons aren’t strong and quick enough to strangle an adult cat. The biggest a ball python can get is 6-feet and that is very rare.
So, do you think that the cat will kill your ball python instead? Don’t assume. Let’s find out together.
This article promises to answer your questions about housing a ball python and a cat together. Also in this article, you’ll get the best tips to apply if you intend to own a ball python and cat as pets.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Gospel. Read more about our knowledge control process here.
Contents
Are Ball Pythons Dangerous To House Pets?
Yes, depending on the type and size of house pets that you have. If you’re keeping his food as a pet then be prepared to get surprised.
If you’re also intending to keep your ball python together in the same cage with other house pets, then yes, your ball python can endanger other house pets. Either your ball python will kill the other small animals or the other animals kill your snake.
Can You Buy A Ball Python If You Already Have A Cat?
Yes, you can buy a ball python even when you already own a cat. However, this implies that you have more pets with different requirements to care for. For this reason, you should ensure that your new snake has its home with all accessories needed for survival.
But do not make the mistake of housing your cat and ball python together in the same cage. Read on to find out why.
Will A Ball Python Kill My Cat?
In theory? Probably.
In practice? No.
The likelihood that a ball python can kill a cat is as good as zero. Ball pythons don’t kill prey they can’t eat. Whatever size a ball python is, they can only swallow a prey the size of the mid-section of their body.
As noted earlier, ball pythons aren’t strong and fast constrictors. Besides they aren’t very big snakes. The biggest a ball python can get which is rare is 6 feet. This only applies to the females because they are larger and longer than the males.
Thus, when it comes to food, ball pythons will not eat something larger than the widest part of their body. In many cases where a domestic cat and ball python are left out of their cages, they usually ignore and avoid each other.
Besides, both in the wild and in captivity, ball pythons aren’t known for defending themselves aggressively. Their only self-defense technique is to curl into a tight ball when threatened. They hardly strike in self-defense. They only do that in extreme cases.
Instead, if you leave your cat and snake out of their cages and there is a confrontation, the cat is likely to kill the snake.
Cats on the other end are violent and aggressive hunters. They are very strong and can kill animals as big as or bigger than they are. With the strength and speed that cats have, the cat can kill your snake.
But is your kitten or other small pets in danger with your snake? Absolutely. A hungry adult ball python can kill and eat a kitten. However, the chances are slim. This is because the kitten wouldn’t just lie still and allow itself to be killed.
The kitten will struggle in self-defense and since they are naturally strong and fast, it may kill the snake.
Ball pythons don’t have powerful jaws and sharp piercing teeth, thus, a bite is likely to slide over the kitten’s fur giving the kitten the advantage to either attack or run.
The rule of the game is if you have a ball python and other small pets, do not house them together in an enclosure. By all means, disallow contact between your snake and the small animals. Get them separate cages.
Whenever they’re let out of their cages, give them full supervision to avoid unnecessary confrontation and fight.
The Top 3 Safety Tips To Keep A Ball Python While Having Other Pets At Home
Even though a ball python and cats or other house-pets can be kept together in the same home by the same owner, full precaution should be taken to avoid injury or even death of the pets.
Having said that, if you intend to keep a ball python and cat together, you must adhere to these safety tips.
- Ensure your snakes and cats or other house pets are kept in separate tanks. Even if you decided to keep them in the same room, they should never be in the same enclosure.
Ball pythons require a certain temperature and humidity levels to thrive. Hence, this may differ from what the other pets need.
Especially if the other house pets are too small to be killed by the snake or big enough to kill the snake.
- On occasions, you let all your pets out of their cages at the same time, ensure they are fully supervised.
Therefore, you should limit close contact between your snake and cats or other house pets. Since this will eliminate confrontation.
- If you must handle your snake after handling or bonding with other pets, ensure you wash your hands thoroughly. This is to avoid the spread of bacteria and diseases.
Wrapping Up
Owning a ball python together with other pets is doable if you can care for all of them equally.
However, it’ll be irresponsible to endanger the lives of any of your pets because you failed to take precautions.
Ball pythons are the most docile of all snake species. That’s why they are kept in homes as pets. On the contrary, cats are voracious predators (and very good ones at that).
Naturally, they’ll attack other animals even when they’re not eating them. For the sake of your snake, always ensure that you keep an eye on your pets if they’re out of their enclosures at the same time.