Five Cats Have Gone Missing in Our Neighbourhood

Any Chinese in the neighbourhood?

It's just a fact, outdoor cats do not live nearly as long as indoor cats. Attacks and/or disease usually kills them early on in their lives. My 3 cats (a mother and 2 of her kittens) came to me after the mother was dropped off near my house last summer apparently because she was pregnant. She eventually ended up at my house with 2 of her kittens, all starving. I started feeding them even though I was not intending on acquiring more pets at my advanced age. But over the next couple of months they were all almost killed by dogs several times (thank God for trees), most likely hungry dogs that had also been put out on the road by careless owners. No way was I taking them to the pound, so I finally made the decision they had to come inside. The kittens acclimated very well. The boy was terrified of everything and it took an act of Congress for me to get my hands on him. But within 6 weeks I had him completely domesticated. It took another few months to get the mother cat acclimated to being inside all the time. She would position herself at the door trying to escape every time I came in or went out. But now she'll lay a the glass door onto the patio looking out and I can open it and she won't make a move to get out. She's learned living inside can be pretty cushy.

So yes, please keep your kitties inside. Even if they're not used to it. A few weeks of inside living and they'll forget about the outside.

I’m just gonna leave this here...

[R3]. That. Is. Foul.

We serve no CAT. NO CAT!!!

On the street I live on, we had a three strays. Lovable little guy/girls. We all fed them. Made sure they were safe. But they were feral. They all died this year.

Do not get a cat unless you allow it to live indoors at all times.

Otherwise, take if to a humane society where they will find it a home with responsible owners.

I read an article explaining why some canyons in southern California were full of native birdlife like quails and thrashers, and canyons in the same area had only crows and pigeons. The main difference was the presence of coyotes that preyed on cats that in turn preyed on the vulnerable native birds.

Cats kill millions of songbirds a year. They should not be outside. I hate when they come in my yard.

I hate "song" birds. Get 'em, kitty!

Coyotes will prey on cats. Coyotes are more common than you think, even in highly populated areas.

Yes, r11. We live in a city of around 1 million, about six blocks from a ravine.

Does Mrs. Mooney have a pie shop nearby?

Why is it ok for coyotes to eat bunnies but not kitties?

My cat goes outside but she stays in the backyard thankfully and rather oddly too, but most would want to jump the fence, she is either too smart to jump over or too lazy.

Millions of birds and small animals have gone missing because of outdoor cats.

So you live in San Diego OP?

R3 Holy Shit, please let that be a hoax video.

No, I live in Canada r17. Coyotes are very common in my city, as are rabbits, deer, skunks, porcupines, owls, falcons, eagles, the occasional cougar, and the occasional moose.

Those poor fur babies!

"What I calls Enterprise, Poppin` pussies into Pies."

Stop look me. I already say you, I no see cat.

My cats stay indoors and have never lived outside so they don’t know what they are missing. In my experience cats that started out feral seem to long to be outside again periodically. My friend gave in to this and let her cat out and it was killed by a bobcat.

It’s not just coyotes getting outdoor cats. There’s a flyer up in our Manhattan neighborhood. A beautiful 10-year old bodega cat was stolen from a deli. No, a coyote didn’t get her; a woman was caught on surveillance camera, stealing her.

This happens periodically.

[quote]Five Cats Have Gone Missing in Our Neighbourhood

Look for your credit cards.

This is precisely why cats should be kept indoors at all times. People don't have "indoor-outdoor" dogs, not unless they have a gate or secure enclosed. Why would anyone allow their cat to wonder free?

Midnight, not a sound from the pavement.

Has the moon lost her memory? She is smiling alone.

In the lamp light the whithered leaves collect at my feet,

And the wind, begins to moan.

House cats are not native to North America. They are an invasive species. We know well how to handle invasive species.

If you want a cat, keep it indoors.

I had a cat that was the last of a mother and 3 kittens that ended up in a box in my ditch . I absolutely did not want cats in my house,but I did feed and take care of them and they lived on my front porch . Long story short,the boy kitty was last man standing and he was with me for about 3 years. I had bought him a little cat house that could be heated during winter and he was very content . I had decided to bring him inside,called and made an appt to have him fixed and get his shots and he disappeared . He was here one day and gone the next. How I mourned that cat . he was just like a dog,he listened to commands and would come running when I called him. I couldnt sit on my porch ever without a lap warmer . If I went out there 15 times a day,in my lap he jumped .Now Im sad !

Burrrrrrp!!

R29 I'm so sorry, you're little man sounded wonderful.

R31 he was . He especially loved when it was cooler and Id wear my big velour robe out there. He'd jump up and burrow inside and curl up and purr away ! I kick myself for not bringing him in sooner but I have a lot of antiques and expensive rugs and I was so worried he would mess them up . In hindsight damn the antiques .

LuKa Magnotta has escaped from jail!!

Pets should not always be kept indoors. They should have a natural life, part of it outdoors. A cat will eat a pigeon, a coyote will eat the cat. It's nature, it's life. Cats were not created to solely for our enjoyment.

R32 did you ever search for him?

Coyotes make beautiful coats.

Remember Claude Montana?

R35 for weeks ! I live in a semi rural area though so I was pretty sure he got eaten. I was lulled into a false sense of security though because he was here 3 years and never ventured very far from the porch . That boy didnt miss a meal ever! Rain snow or shine he had to be fed 3 times a day ,so I knew immediately something was wrong.

The coyotes themselves don’t scare me but it saddens me to think of pets being eaten by them. It’s better than being run over though at least this is natural. I wish everyone kept their pets inside

I agree with those saying keep your cats indoors. If they let your cars roam free don't come crying if a coyote or something kills it, I mean the cat was going to be killing birds, so it is just the circle of life at that point.

R18, unfortunately it is not. She is Vietnamese and eats cats and dogs. Here she is consuming a dog.

My cat only goes out to the yard supervised. I have to watch her so that she doesn't jump the fence, eat the weeds, kill animals, etc. She now understands, "go inside" or "inside."

I forgot to add that one time, she saw a fox in the backyard, chased it, and fell into the pool. But she knew how to dog paddle! I don't know where she learned that.

^^Cats are natural swimmers, but they fear water for obvious reasons.

I live on an island, how do the coyotes get here?

The same way people do r44. There are tons of bridges and railroad tracks.

I can't tell you, OP.

It's an ancient Chinese secret.

Did one of the cats own a Tina Turner clock?

"Now a pussy's good for maybe seven at the most.."

R43, cats don't "fear" water, they just don't like getting wet. They shouldn't be forced to swim by throwing them into water for your amusement. Baths are out too.

'People don't have "indoor-outdoor" dogs'

Oh really? In rural areas I bet they still do. In the 1960s and 70s and earlier, dogs were let out the way children were let out to play in the neighborhood. Our dog was such a wimp she'd only go out with a person, never alone. Not even with our indoor-outdoor cats.

Accommodations must be made for my pussy!

R7 You can build predator-safe outdoor areas for cats. I had 2 cats when I lived in Palm Springs, which is full of coyotes. I had a side patio fully enclosed with coyote-proof materials, and had numerous plants and a cat house there. My cats loved it and were completely safe. I only let them there during day hours.

[quote]I live on an island, how do the coyotes get here?

Subway.

[quote] House cats are not native to North America. They are an invasive species. We know well how to handle invasive species.

Like dogs.

R14 Right? Why is it ok to catch tuna in nets but not dolphins?

R7 Some cats are supposed to be able to go outside and need an outlet for their instinctive behavioir. It is not humane to keep those types ocked up indoors staring out the window at all times. Our outdoor/indoor cat lived over 18 years. She would get inside to get fed or when it was rainy.

R28 I wonder what else is not native to North America and invasive?

Watch out for raccoons too. A friend's cat tangled with one the other day and spent one of his lives, but made it out OK. I don't know why she doesn't keep him inside.

Australia is in the midst of culling a million cats, as they are driving little mammals extinct.

R59, yeeesh. I hope that cat has its rabies vaccination up to date.

[quote] Why is it ok to catch tuna in nets but not dolphins?

Because FLIPPER!

[[quote]Oh really? In rural areas I bet they still do. In the 1960s and 70s and earlier, dogs were let out the way children were let out to play in the neighborhood. Our dog was such a wimp she'd only go out with a person, never alone. Not even with our indoor-outdoor cats.

Whatever, bitch.

You're old and I'm not.

R51, exactly. I always say this. When I was growing up, people had indoor/outdoor dogs. Nobody kept a dog inside all day — that was cruel! They’d usually live in the backyard and had a doghouse to sleep in. Some were tied up on a roaming leash or they would be in a fenced area. If it were terribly cold, there would be a place in the basement or garage where the dog could sleep at night. Most people had larger dogs like retrievers or shepherds that were smart and watchful. They were guardians and respected.

Some people had small dogs like chihuahuas or Scotty dogs and they were seen as silly and frivolous. My aunt had a Scotty, and she would put boots and a raincoat on it. This was viewed as eccentric and the dog was widely pitied. A neighbor fed her German Shepherd from her own plate and fork, as a treat and we thought it was hilarious. Like letting a horse take a shower in your bathtub!

Yuck!

Raccoons are brutal things. They wiped out the neighborhood cat population this past winter. All it takes is one asshole to say a raccoon is cute, and they’ve trained their babies their bad habits. They’ve ripped the eyes out of a few cats. Then drowned the rest. They only eat washed food, so they shove the cats and small dogs heads under water. Fuck people that think raccoons are cute.

Hmmmm... I never really liked raccoons, but I did not know they killed stray cats.

From now on... bring 'em on!

You know what else is a brutal animal r66? CATS.

You can't hate on raccoons for behaving the same way cats do. They are both predators and will kill other animals. Cats can devastate a local ecosystem doing more damage than raccoons do.

Do you also get upset when people call cats cute?

R64, keeping a dog outdoors is cruel imho. I realize rural people do it, and that dog on a chain thing is beyond cruel. Dogs are needy animals and require a lot of human warmth and attention.

R68, that's one of the things I LIKE about cats. A rodent would not dare come in our house because it knew there were cats there...squirrels stayed clear of our yard because there were cats there. Birds could fly off and were rarely caught. Good going, cats!

With six, you'll get egg roll.

[quote]Five Cats Have Gone Missing in Our Neighbourhood

Mrs. Mooney has a pie shoppe.