Stand off - Owl vs. Cat

[packman]

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. "I'm bigger than you!"

"No, you're not, I'm bigger!"
"You're nothing but fur!"
"You're nothing but feathers!"
"Bring it on!"
"You first!"
"No, you first!"

Owl is scarier-looking than Cat. Cat is heavier but I wouldn't want to mess with Owl.

[Laffy Kat]

3. Owl has major talons.

My money would be on the owl.

[getagrip_already]

2. an owl on the ground is not going to attack a cat....

If it can get the cat to run, it will try to grab it and carry it off. But it is vulnerable on the ground and it knows it.

Predators in general are cowards to a point. They won't unnecessarily risk injury for food. Owls are ambush hunters, not fighters.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. A large owl typically weighs about 3-4 lbs. A cat weighs 8-10 lbs.

The owl won't be able to get airborne carrying the cat. If the cat runs away the owl will breathe a sigh of relief and take off in the other direction.

[getagrip_already]

7. owls will hit large rabbits- but they don't have claws and teeth....

They can and do carry game heavier than they are. I'm not sure of the limits, but they will certainly carry rabbits.

I'm not sure the cat was stalking the owl though. Cats are street fighters, but they usually won't attack another large animal. The biggest thing I've seen them attack is a squirrel or small rabbit. More likely the owl came down after the cat or some other game and was surprised when it fought back.

I freely admit I'm not an owlologist however.

[Duppers]

5. Size matters, kitty.

Get out of there.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. The cat is actually bigger than the owl, probably weighs 2-3X more.

But the owl is much better at looking bigger.