OT - Cat Killer!

[thill]

I've got a question for you pet owners.....

It appears that a dog in the neighborhood is killing all the cats one by one. No one has seen it in action, but it's up to about a dozen cats this month. Generally, they have been found dead outside their respective fences in the mornings looking all scruffed up, like a dog shook them to death.

The dog idea is the current theory. Were it a coyote, I think they would simply disappear. If it were a fox, some would come back injured.

In our case, our cat has a G. Shepherd and a Rottweiler guarding it, so he's probably safe, but what would you do?

-TH

[rsd612]

Not sure where u live but the foxes (No Pun Intended) around here can get rather aggressive. Just A thought.

[Pat Kelly]

I've got a question for you pet owners.....
what would you do?

Not let the cats roam the neighborhood.

We have 4 cats, all adopted as strays or from the Shelter and they (with the exception of 1) go outside into a screened-in cat-house I built. The fourth is an old cat that roams the yard but stays there...it's wandering days are long over, and she spends more time indoors (she lets us know when she wants outside) now due to arthritis etc.

Compassionate cat owners don't let the animals roam for just the reason you describe.

[cmason164]

I'd find that dog and buy him a beer and steak dinner!!!

[rgminer]

I hook that dog up with a bottle of Tinks #9 Kitty in heat and offer him a bounty for each one it brings in...

Seriously, many years ago we had a problem with foxes killing cats on our farm. They are ruthless killers, no cats are going to get away from them.have any of the dead cats been fed upon or are they just being killed?

[h2oboss]

Could be any of the options you mentioned. Sounds like a coyote to me, that's usually the first thing you hear about is missing pets when a 'yote moves into an area. I'd also think you would hear quite a bit of commotion if it was a domestic dog or fox. Bird of prey maybe?.....but again think you would see signs of it being eaten. Last option could be some sort of wild cat, like a bobcat? Sounds far fetched but maybe you have a 'cat that has moved into the area and it's defending/clearing out it's territory. Not sure were you live but they are quite rare in the B/W area. I'm not sure why whatever it is is not eating them. Or maybe it's a Chupa Cabra?

Might want to try a game camera on your property line.....

To be perfectly honest (I'm in no way trying to dismiss or trivialize your neighbor's loss of a pet) cat's should not be allowed to roam free......they kill everything, many times just for the fun of it or to impress there owners (they have a tendancy to leave their kill on your sidewalk, front stoop or rear porch, etc)....Song birds, game birds, rabbits, squirrels, and anything else they can stalk/pounce are fair game to a cat. They are the perfect predator.

Furthermore, I wouldn't assume your cat is safe b/c you have dogs. As you proabably know, cats are solitary type animals that definately are much more night oriented than dogs. Your cat could slip in and out of your yard w/o your dogs even knowing. Especially at night when dogs are usually sleeping and cats are usaully out and about.

Chupa Cabra!!!

Good Luck!

Anthony

[swampfox]

Cats are way up on coyotes' prey list, it's probably best to keep your cat close to home.

[cmason164]

Chupa Cabra!!!

LOl... The dreaded Chupa Cabra

[RiverCat09]

I second the coyote. They have been moving back in the area in the last 10 years. Several have been spotted in Rock Creek Park of all places. I would keep kitty inside if possible until you sort it out.

[THOMAS70]

Can I borrow him for a few weeks, I'm tired of having cat tracks on my clean truck..