Coyotes prey on cats, I've heard.

[raccoon]

But it seems to me a cat could get up a tree and away from a coyote. Unless coyotes can climb too. I've heard some kinds of foxes climb.

And in some areas, I know, there aren't many trees.

Any experience?

[distantearlywarning]

1. We had a cat killed by a coyote when I lived in Colorado

It was in a dense wooded area too. I think the coyote snuck up on her and she didn't have time to get away.

[Shell Beau]

2. My dog could prey on cats. So I am pretty sure that a coyote

would have no problem. But cats have their own defenses.

[ashling]

3. Coyotes hunt in packs

can be pretty aggressive.

Q: why did the coyote cross the road?







































A: To eat your cat. :)

[lukasahero]

11. Coyotes do not routinely hunt (or even live) in packs

They primarily eat rodents (it would be pretty interesting to watch a pack hunt a vole) and only team up when, on the rare occassion, they have the opportunity to hunt a large deer, or more commonly sheep/cattle etc.

They are not generally aggressive to humans (although they are becoming slightly more so now that they're adapting to our habitat and some people are actually feeding them...) and are, in fact, extremely secretive.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Canis_latrans.html

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. Up in Lake Tahoe. CA....

they run and kill in packs all the time. I have seen the rare lone coyote primarily during the day, out in meadows hunting voles, but at night they run in groups. I often see them scurrying in a group along the edge of the light shining from the motion control lamp, and they stand in the nearby intersection almost every night as a pack and howl. It is chilling to hear.

[nytemare]

37. I was just up in Tahoe!

What a wonderful place. The air was so clean. It was a wonderful visit!

I missed seeing coyotes, though.

:hi:

[LostinVA]

17. They usually run in packs around here

But I've heard the Eastern coyotes have bred with wolves along the way, which is why they're also bigger.

[harmonicon]

19. not where I've lived

In north LA county we heard coyote packs every night. They have a very distinctive yelp/howl. They weren't aggressive towards people, but we also saw them every day, and they weren't afraid of us either.

[lukasahero]

36. You know, I'm not going to argue

Scientific research vs. personal anecdotes - you guys decide. I'm not going to argue it.

[harmonicon]

43. well...

... what may be normal or natural for animals under certain conditions can change when their environment changes. There are coyotes that live in Chicago, but books won't tell you that coyotes are city dwelling creatures that live off of food scraps behind restaurants and hunt rats.

[suninvited]

4. The problem is

coyotes can run 43 miles per hour and cats can only run 30. If they can make it to a tree they will probably be okay, but they have to make it there first.

I live in the county, and cats disappear out here all the time. My folks have had a country cat out here for 10 years who sleeps inside most nights, but not all. He hasnt been gotten yet.

[Shell Beau]

5. Its the circle of life.

[montanto]

6. True, and

I live five minutes from downtown Los Angeles and don't let my cat out at night. I've seen coyotes in my yard and in the street many times.

[Shell Beau]

8. Gotta keep those babies safe.

And then you have the cats that eat the birds and rodents,etc.

[EstimatedProphet]

7. Why do you care about religious practices of coyotes?

[liberalitch]

9. Do they HAVE religious practices?

[EstimatedProphet]

10. Apparently they prey...

:)

[redqueen]

12. Oh my...

:P

[liberalitch]

32. To..... a.....?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. My Mom's cat was killed...

by a pack of coyotes, right in her backyard. Plenty of trees, fences, sheds to climb to get away -- but five on one in a corner was too much for Punkin. I heard the whole mess and came out to fight the coyotes off him, but he was to badly wounded and died in my arms. :( It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed.

If you have cats that go outdoors, keep your kitties in from dusk to dawn -- that is the prime coyote hunting time.

[Shell Beau]

16. Bless that poor little kittie's heart!

That sounds terrible to witness. Unfortunately it is survival of the fittest. x(

[GreenPartyVoter]

45. Poor, poor Punkin! *crying*

[redqueen]

14. Out where I used to live...

if you leave a cat outdoors overnight, you're lucky to see it again the next day.

[Mugu]

18. Coyotes love kitties.

It gets really bad for the cats after a snowstorm with their little short legs and all. About once a year I have to kill a coyote or two. Otherwise they will hang around and eat my barn cats. Shoot one or two and the rest get the idea and stay away.





Edited to add photos.

[Shell Beau]

35. That sounds kind of harsh.

They are just trying to survive. Just like your kitties do.

[Mugu]

49. I'm not sure of your point.

The coyotes are Gods creatures like any other. However, my cats are off limits as far as I'm concerned and I'm the one with the shotgun. When it snows I put a litter box, heated water bowl, and heated boxes in the barn for the cats to limit their need to go out. Regardless, I will not tolerate coyotes hunting around my barn. It's my property and I will decide who eats who. If they don't like it they can shoot back. Until that time, in their own best interest, I recommend that they hunt elsewhere.

Regards, Mugu

[mike_c]

20. coyotes are true generalist predators-- they prey on just about anything...

...including pets if they're catchable. They're pretty remarkable animals.

[Lorien]

21. Depends on the coyote

But yes, some coyotes do kill cats for food. It happens a lot in S. California (friend lost her cat to coyotes in Glendale).

There is coyote repellent. Just do a google search.

[harmonicon]

22. no direct experience

When I lived in California, where coyotes were live in populations larger than is probably natural, most people kept their cats in at night. I had neighbours who lost cats, presumably to coyotes, but also saw some cats that were regularly outside at night.

In Michigan, we always let our cats out at night, and it was a very rural location, but a place where coyotes are quite rare - I saw one or two in the area over 15 - 20 years. None of our cats were ever killed that I know of, but my favourite cat got in a nasty fight once that broke his shoulder. He was bitten by something big and strong, but we don't know what, and the vet didn't either: dog, bobcat, fox, coyote, badger, raccoon, (other?) He healed up, but a broken bone is a serious problem for a cat, and he wasn't the same afterwards. It probably took a few years off his life, but he loved being outside, talking, and hunting. I think he had a great life, and wouldn't have kept him inside - he hated when he had to stay inside.

I'd talk to neighbours and see what their experiences are, since different areas will be different, even if both have coyotes.

[roseBudd]

41. I heard what sounded like a cat fight but there was no 2nd cat & my cat was scared & staring at the

ivy. Three days later I realized he had an absess from an infected bite. I think it was a black rat snake he thought he could treat like a garter snake & pick up & play with it. I live on the edge of an urban park and 5 minutes after I took a mouse with a puncture wound away from my cat I saw a rat snake eating it.

[harmonicon]

42. eek!

I'm scared to death of snakes. I guess it could have been a snake that big my cat, but it would have had to be damn strong to break bone. There had been snakes around the house when we first moved their, but after a few years, I didn't see any - I think, thanks to the cats. That cat would mess with anything that he shouldn't have though. He had some scuffed up ears, and would come back ruffled up some times. The broken shoulder sure was scary though. Like a cat, he didn't even let anyone know. He came inside like normal, but then hid out for several days until it was decided that something was definitely wrong, and he got a trip to the vet.

[oedura]

23. Easy way to a coyote-proof cat...

Don't let them outside. They don't fucking need it.

We've had a lot of cats, and they've all been indoor cats. They lived long lives and died of natural causes. No casualities due to cars, kids with BB guns, coyotes, or angry neighbors tired of finding shit in their flower beds.

It's that easy.

[Mugu]

25. Keeping them inside doesn't work well with barn cats.

They can't do their job if they're inside. I have no problem with wild creatures until they don't bother to run when they see me. For years we had very few coyotes due to heartworms, but today we're up to our pits with them. As long as they stay away from my cats we'll get along fine. But, come to my home to eat my cats and something bad is going to happen. I'll do my best to minimize suffering, but that's the best that I can offer.



Regards, Mugu

[Mugu]

26. Just wanted to add that #4 buckshot is swift and sure.

I have never seen a coyote (any of dozens) take a single step after a well-centered blast of #4 buckshot at any reasonable range.

Regards, Mugu

[oedura]

28. I'd be willing to bet...

...that the vast majority of people who let their cats out aren't doing it because they're using them as pest control.

[Mugu]

29. The wax-paper shells were used by my grandfather

over 50 years ago (and by me today in an over/under) to protect his animals. The rolled-crimp plastic shells were used by my dad in a recoil operated gun (that I occasionally use) to protect his animals.

If, in the unlikely event I run out of the antique shells, I will use the 3" shells in a gas-operated or pump-gun to protect my animals.

I don't need a reason to let my animals roam on my property, nor do I need to justify defending them.

Avoiding trouble with me by either man or beast is really quite simple. Don't come to my home looking for it.

Regards, Mugu

[oedura]

30. Big man's got a gun and a cat...

...and he's not afraid to use either one of them!!!

Everybody better watch your asses! :7

[Mugu]

31. What's that old saying?

Something about walk quietly and carry a big cat...

[devilgrrl]

24. My brother lost 2 cats to coyotes down in Laguna Beach

Not a lot of trees around his house :-(

[pokerfan]

27. Back on the farm,

we didn't even bother giving the barn cats names. Some would live, others would just disappear. We always had one or two outside dogs that would keep the coyotes at bay but I suppose sometimes a cat would wander too far.

[One_Life_To_Give]

33. Will take small dogs too

One even took the dog while it's master was still holding the leash. They get hungry enough and they will go after most anything.

[Brigid]

34. Scariest coyote story I've heard . . .

is about a guy in Arizona who went out grocery shopping with his two-year-old son. When he returned, he put the child in the living room while he went into the kitchen to put the groceries away. He heard a scream from the living room, and went running in there to find a coyote trying to drag the child away. The coyote saw him and ran. How the coyote got into the house, I don't know.

My sister has lost one cat to coyotes, and thinks that another that came home wounded one day was attacked by one. My other sister thinks she lost a puppy that way, too.

Coyotes are remarkable creatures, but I would certainly take steps to protect domestic animals from them. My two kitties stay inside. I haven't seen any coyotes around here, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. Plus, there are raccoons, dogs, busy streets, and other hazards.

[Wcross]

38. I am considering killing some coyotes near my home..

They are getting too close to my house. I have my dogs confined with an invisible fence but I have seen the coyotes in the treeline and in the yard (when the dogs were inside). I hear them howling in the woods every night. When I let the dogs out at night it is all six or none. I WILL kill the coyotes if they cause any harm to my dogs. I live in a rural area with plenty of game animals available for the coyotes, there are thousands of acres of farmland available to these animals around here. I wouldn't think of killing one in my pasture or the wooded parts but sniffing around my house is not acceptable.

I have to protect these guys;

[Mugu]

48. I believe that your feelings are similar to mine.

I don't hate coyotes, I actually kind of like and respect them. However, I won't tolerate them eating my pets. I understand that they are only hungry and looking for a meal. But, I demand that they leave my creatures alone. If, for whatever reason my animals are threatened, I will use whatever level of violence is required to enforce my demands.

Regards, Mugu

[sarge43]

39. Neighbor lost two cats to coyotes

He finally figured out it's not a good idea to leave kitty outside at night.

[hedgehog]

40. Slightly off-topic, but we had a cat that treed a fox.

Seriously.


We'd been awakened several times at 2AM by this awful screech and had no idea what we were hearing. Then one winter night, we heard the screech really close by and could finally tell it was a high pitched bark. We looked out the window where my husband had piled up the snow from the driveway to make a 10' hill and there on top was a fox barking at our gray cat Smokey who was circling the mound. The next Spring, Smokey chased the fox out of the yard a few times and the fox chased Smokey out of the field across the road a few times. Eventually, the fox and Smokey developed an accord. The fox stayed on his side of the road and Smokey stayed on our side.

Smokey died a few years back and I had to chase one fox with a broom after it got one of my chickens. It must have been young and inexperienced, because it dropped the hen and ran away. the hen was fine.


Now I have at least 2 foxes living out back behind the barn. I haven't seen the groundhog who lives under the barn lately, but so far the hens are OK.

[triguy46]

44. Tomcats will prey on other cats. It happened here at the farm this AM...

We have four 8 week old kittens and four 6 week old kittens. This morning my son and wife heard all hell break loose out in one of the barns and ran out to find two dead kittens, and a third in the mouth of a huge feral tom cat. He got away.

20 minutes ago (10PM local) I heard the same right outside. Let's just say we won't be having anymore tomcat issues.

[sandsavage]

46. We are over run with coyotes

We have our homestead smack in the forest. State land butts up on 3 sides of us. Lived here for 30 years. Coyotes hunt in packs. They also hunt alone. Our yard is huge and fenced. Before we fenced the coyotes came right in the yard,during the day or night. They are sneaky and smart. Wouldn't even know they were there, until they would dart out and grab a chicken or duck. We fenced pretty darn quick. The big pack would try to crash the fence to get to our dogs.Shooting over their heads would drive them off.They kill more than rodents. We have heard them kill baby deer. Seen what they do to adult deer. Not a pretty sight.

Don't get me wrong, we love the coyotes. They are what they are. We also have much respect for them and what they are capable of. No one that lives where I do, walks the forest without a gun. The coyotes do not fear man anymore.So far no big problems. They were here first and we try to live in peace with them. We have four cats. Actually they are not just cats, they are our kids that are more hairy then the other human kids. They never are allowed to go outside. Lots of fernal cats in the woods. Yes they to get snacked on by the coyotes. It is very important to remember that these are wild animals. They do what wild animals do.The coyotes have attacked horses around here too.

The coyote is truly a beautiful animal. We are thrilled to hear them sing us to sleep every night.He is what he is. Hunger rules his nature. A mother coyote will do almost anything and take great risks to feed her little ones.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

47. My cat

better be careful because the coyotes in the canyon where I live have him on the menu.

No tree can stop a coyote...

They are the genius's of the canine world.

Take a regular dog and put them up against a coyote and the coyote will best him every time in a poker game.:D