I just saw a MASSIVE groundhog dash under the bushes where Skittish keeps the kittens

[Siwsan]

Groundhogs are vicious creatures. I'm sure Skittish could put up a good fight but we had a neighbor whose dog was absolutely savaged by a woodchuck.

So, now I'm in major worry mode. I saw Spooky Jr for a few minutes and Spooky Sr stopped by. I keep going out to look for Scooter and Mittens, and I'm making the kissing noises I use to let them know there's food. My heart is in my throat.

[Walleye]

1. The kitties are better at climbing. And usually can get away. Let us know what happens

[2naSalit]

2. Is there some way...

you can fashion an elevated shelter for them that the woodchuck can't access? Maybe they have been skittish today due the presence of this animal..?

[Siwsan]

6. They don't stay in my yard.

I've tried things to entice them to move over here, but so far they just prefer those bushes.

I'm tossing lavender scented epsom salts around my garden because both lavender and epsom salts are said to be good groundhog deterrents. There's plenty of windfall pears and apples for them to eat.

I haven't seen that groundhog since very early Spring and was hoping it was gone, by any means. Fortunately, I'm on the ball when it comes to making sure the garden fence is as secure as it can be, and I've had zero intrusions, so far.

[XanaDUer2]

3. I hope everything's okay!

keep us posted

[chia]

4. Groundhogs also carry rabies. I sure hope your kitties are okay

[I_UndergroundPanther]

5. Omg

Not mittens,not skittish. Sekhmet destroy that asshole groundhog before he dare go after the precious kittens kill that vicious woodchuck may it get hit by a car!

Bast,protect these precious kittens from all harm. Surround the cats with your powers.

Me I would kill that woodchuck. Somehow I would kill it to protect the cats.

[Siwsan]

7. I detest those creatures

One did get into my garden, one year, and wrecked havoc. Another year some ate my herb garden right to the ground. I've started planting garlic EVERYWHERE because they don't like it. And lavender scented epsom salts are being spread because those are also said to be good deterrents.

Thank you for the plea to Bast. I'm making my own, too.

[luckone]

12. Maybe ammonia rags but that may keep kitties away too . They can be a destructive bully

Ammonia soaked rags are another good groundhog deterrent. Groundhogs will mistake the ammonia for a predator's urine, and will steer clear of your property. Place the rags close enough to your garden that the groundhog can smell them, but not so close that the ammonia will leach into the soil around your crops...
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/garden-pests-groundhogs
I have had success with ammonia rags for other vermin

[EYESORE 9001]

13. If you can find an entrance to the groundhog's den

pour used cat litter into it. Don’t be stingy. There’s usually more than one entrance, so it’d be good to get that one too.

[doc03]

8. I don't think groundhogs are aggressive but they

could put up a fight if threatened. I used to hunt them years ago but feel bad about it now. We would just shoot them for fun.

[multigraincracker]

9. You are right. They are defensive if attacked.

My Ex has lots of photos of her feral cats she feeds eating with a ground hog. They are sharing the bowl like a family.

[doc03]

11. Yes I have seen that on a bike trail I ride some

lady feeds the feral cats and I have seen the groundhogs with them also. The groundhogs pups are cute they are getting pretty big now.

[Siwsan]

10. That was my worry - that Skittish would turn aggressive if she thought the groundhog a threat

It's just a relief to see them. And, Mittens and Scooter spent a really long time with me just a few feet away.

[EYESORE 9001]

14. A neighbor had an indoor/outdoor cat whose hunting skills were renowned

Coming across a squirrel or rabbit carcass in my yard was commonplace. One day, the cat was sitting on the top rail of my backyard fence, surveying his domain. A groundhog came walking along the fence line and I thought to myself that fur may fly. The cat merely watched and made no effort to engage whatsoever. I don’t know if he’d encountered groundhogs before, but he obviously thought better of tangling with that one.

[NQAS]

15. I know this probably won't help

But…

Our menagerie has 9 creatures, including three indoor/outdoor cats. Roaming around our woods is at least one bobcat and one fox. When we see either we do what we can to get the cats in, but they are cats of little brain and they don’t always cooperate. They think it’s a trick. But they seem to sort themselves out. They find hiding places, though we don’t know where all of them are. And they’ve survived. It’s anxiety inducing but they figure it out. Kittens are another story, of course. I do hope yours figure it out and/or that the predators choose to hunt elsewhere.