Stone martens, also known as house martens, like to be close to people and cause damage to roofs, cars and false ceilings. Cat hair is supposed to keep martens away. But what about the balance of power and power between martens and cats?
Cats defend their territory against martens
Cat and marten in comparison
Adult male beech martens grow up to 54 cm in length with an additional tail length of up to 40 cm. On average, cats are 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 the stone marten, which weighs only around 2kg.
Cat or marten - who is stronger?
Nevertheless, 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 up trees or gutters and jumping far.
Martens and cats - encounters in real life
Practice has shown that if a marten and cat fight, both the cat and the marten can emerge victorious. In either case, the cat is likely to 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 for martens
So why are cat dander and cats recommended as a home remedy for martens? However, cats are naturally enemies of martens and a marten usually thinks twice before messing with a cat. This is especially true when a cat is already in a territory and the marten is new. In this case, the marten will give the already "occupied" territory a wide berth and not get in the way of the cat.
Cats are therefore a sensible, preventive measure against martens.
Put the cat in the marten territory
The situation is 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 is amplified many times over when it is mating season or when a marten female has young. A mother would do anything to defend her young - even kill cats.
It is therefore absolutely necessary to refrain from targeting a cat at a marten!