Beech martens, also known as house martens, like to stay close to people and cause damage to roofs, cars and false ceilings. Cat hair is said to keep martens away. But what about the balance of strength and power between martens and cats?
Do cats and martens get along?
Cats and stone martens are similar in size, but cats are heavier. A fight between the two can be harmful to both cats and martens. Nevertheless, cats are natural enemies of martens and can be used as a preventative measure. However, it is not recommended to target cats specifically for martens.
Cat and marten in comparison
Adult male stone martens grow up to 54 cm tall with an additional tail length of up to 40 cm. Cats are on average 50cm tall with a tail length of up to 30cm. So martens and cats are pretty much the same size. However, domestic cats, with an average body weight of 4kg, are significantly heavier than stone martens, which only weigh around 2kg.
Cat or marten – who is stronger?
However, body weight does not necessarily have to say anything about the balance of power - quite the opposite. Domestic cats are often heavier because they are overfed and/or have little exercise. Martens, on the other hand, are used to defending themselves, climbing trees or gutters and jumping long distances.
Martens and cats – encounters in real life
Practice has shown that if there is a fight between a marten and a cat, both the cat and the marten can emerge as the winner. In any case, it is likely that the cat will be harmed, so such fights should be avoided.
In extreme cases, a cat, especially if it is a young animal, can die in a fight with a marten
Cat as a home remedy against martens
So why is cat hair and cats recommended as a home remedy for martens? However, cats are naturally enemies of martens and a marten usually thinks three times before taking on a cat. This is especially true if a cat is already present in an area and the marten is a new addition. In this case, the marten will give the already “occupied” territory a wide berth and will not get in the cat’s way.
Cats are therefore a useful preventive measure against martens
Putting a cat in marten territory
It looks different when a cat comes into an area where a marten already lives. Martens are territorial animals and are reluctant to be chased away. This behavior increases significantly when it is mating season or when a marten has young. A mother would do anything to defend her young - including killing cats.
