36 Replies to "Reader report: If you think your 'hood is coyote-free ..."

• Paul May 28, 2008 (12:32 pm)

  And if your pet is an outside in the yard pet, its not safe. Plus, if you are leaving food out you are just opening up the invite, not just to the coyotes, but racoons, and any other critter.

• SomeGuy May 28, 2008 (1:32 pm)

  We’ve kept our coyote inside for this very reason. Although that isn’t working out so well for the toddlers.

• Michele May 28, 2008 (2:28 pm)

  And if unfortunately you have no choice to leave a pet outside, DO NOT chain them up, it can be a death sentence if attacked.

• Chuck & Sally\'s Van Man May 28, 2008 (3:20 pm)

  Thanks SomeGuy–funniest response in ages.

• brj May 28, 2008 (3:30 pm)

  It’s probably not a coyote – we live in the 4200 block of 46th Ave – one of our cats was killed 3 weeks ago, and we caught 2 raccoons attacking our other cat. The vet confirmed that the surviving cat had puncture wounds by a racoon.
  .
  The vet also told me someone a block away brought in another cat with the exact same racoon wounds my cat had.
  .

  And please don’t think that every cat owner who lets their cats out are so stupid that we would keep food outside over night. There was no food or water out the night of our incident.
  .
  My cats also sleep in cat houses. They have been sleeping indoors since this happened, and this morning I came out to find the blankets ripped out of the unoccupied cat houses. Pretty sure these racoons were hunting and were looking for my cats last night.
  .
  This is the first time anything like this has ever happened – yes, we’ve had wildlife in our yard, but if there is no food, they will leave. My cats wouldn’t be agressive towards racoons, so I think we have a case of massively agressive males living and hunting in the neighborhood. The same thing happened a few years ago in another part of Seattle.

• d May 28, 2008 (4:20 pm)

  brj
  Sorry to hear about your cats.

  Call Paws Wildlife Center and run your story by them. You are not quite understanding the dynamic you have created between aggressive animals and the food you SOMETIMES put out. It, in all likelihood has nothing to do with the fact that the animal/raccoon is male or whether your cats were aggressive or non-aggressive. It’s got to do with the perception of the raccoon, or a coyote for that matter, of competition for food. They get aggressive when that switch flips.

  But, don’t take my word for it, call Paws Wildlife Center and let them explain it. They are licensed experts.

• macsmom May 28, 2008 (4:29 pm)

  Wow, Racoons huh, our cat had been out in our yard and our next door neighbors (he loved both) for 15 years without incident until that night….So, while I’m pro coyote and was accepting of the “natural process” of the whole thing – am thinking I’ll speed up the next time I see one of those striped bandits on the road!

• brj May 28, 2008 (4:31 pm)

  I don’t keep food out at night when raccoons are around. It’s not something they would be used to seeing. Food goes out in the morning when I leave for work. Food comes in after they’ve had their nightly meal which is never close to dark when they are out. And it doesn’t explain why they would be pulling out bedding from my cat’s houses. Something pulled out the blankets from those beds last night – unless they are magic ghost blankets that can move themselves.
  .
  I’m positive we have a gang of screwed up raccoons. I looked up what I was remembering, and yes, there was a group of raccoons in Olympia a few years back that killed many cats, a dog, and bit a human. You can Google it – it made national news – cause it was out of the ordinary. Raccoons going after cats sleeping in a house with a tiny door they could probably barely even fit through is NOT normal.
  .
  So, we’ve got my cat, the cat the vet told me about, and 2 more cats. 4 dead cats and 1 injured cat in 1 month’s time isn’t normal. I saw 2 raccoons going after my cat, so I doubt there’s also a coincidence of an unseen coyote in this neighborhood with no greenbelts large enough to sustain them.
  .
  Thanks for the recommendation and for the nice words about my cats, but I don’t think them expecting food from us when it’s never been available is what caused this. Again, 4 dead cats, nearly 5, in a month in a small area is not normal urban wildlife behavior.

• brj May 28, 2008 (4:34 pm)

  “I don’t keep food out at night when raccoons are around.”
  .
  Sorry – I’m slumping from my coffee high. I was editing that sentence from another I deleted. I never keep food outside – not just when I think they aren’t around. That makes no sense.
  .
  And yeah, Macsmom, the vet said she knows what raccoon bits look like, and the other cat a block away had them as well. And, again, I don’t think my other cat who died happened to run into any other wildlife that night…

• d May 28, 2008 (4:43 pm)

  brj –

  That’s great you’re not putting food out – Unfortunately, OTHER folks probably have been around your hood and that might very well have created/encouraged the aggression toward your beloved pets. I

  again, sorry for your losses –

• GenHillOne May 28, 2008 (5:03 pm)

  Beyond disturbing…printing and taking to some of our neighbors immediately!

• snowlion May 28, 2008 (5:47 pm)

  *can’t believe that people still let housecats outside*

  *sigh*

• Xena May 28, 2008 (6:03 pm)

  My mom’s cat was mauled by a raccoon years ago and nearly died from the wounds. Cats and raccoons are not friends.

• Mikal May 28, 2008 (6:32 pm)

  Anyone that lets a cat hunt outside is out of their minds. Cats do great damage to bird populations. Sorry for your loss, but your cat was left out as food.

• GenHillOne May 28, 2008 (7:23 pm)

  Agreed, snowlion. I’m hoping that since this is happening close-by, it might be what finally convinces my neighbors to make a change. I’m especially fond of one of the cats, ironically because he comes to visit, and I worry about him a lot. Sweet boy…

• brj May 28, 2008 (7:55 pm)

  Well, two of my cats were semi-feral when I got them and don’t really do indoors. Therefore, I got cat houses for them. I was going to inform WSB about this when it happened, but 1) figured it was an isolated happening until the vet and this post, and (2 knew I would get harassed for leaving my cats out as “food” as was so nicely put.

• d May 28, 2008 (8:57 pm)

  It might be a mother raccoon teaching her hungry young all about how to survive in your ‘hood. I mean, she is teaching them all about where to eat, what to eat and when to eat.

  You’ve got two posts up there with what appears to be contradictory information. One, you did not put food out, the other you put it out in the morning when you left for work.

  But, even if you did not put food out EVER, and time of day is irrelevant I will add, someone else probably has and is putting food out in the neighborhood.

  A mother raccoon hunting and killing cats is not “crazy”…she’s hunter and a defender of her young and she’s teaching her young how to be hunters and future breeding adults. The young ones are small and can and do fit into smaller spaces…they will explore and push the boundaries of what they are learning till they get it right. just like kids.

  Who ever is reading this…if you put food outside for your cats or WHATEVER animal you might have, or think you are helping nature – you are not helping. You are bringing grief to someone. Eventually. You can count on it. It might not be YOUR animals that are killed, but it might be your neighbors.

  Nuff said.

• flyintheointment May 28, 2008 (9:03 pm)

  Mikal,

  More birds are killed flying into windows than by blood-thirsty housecats. Which makes sense, considering the greatest threat to the population of any species on the planet earth is human development. Once again, perspective is in short-supply in the comments section, as the dead horse gets beat again.

• brj May 28, 2008 (9:23 pm)

  You missed the next sentence after that I put food out when I leave for work. That I bring it back in before twilight when raccoons come out.
  .
  I don’t put food out for nature.
  .
  As far as I’ve ever read, mother raccoons with their young, or almost any other kind of raccoon for that matter, do not hunt pets to eat. Most raccoons eat insects, veggies, fruits, rodents, and garbage of humans. They don’t go after animals as large of them, that are alive, with nails, teeth and claws.
  .
  So, if I get this right… by putting food out for my cats, during the day when raccoons are sleeping, and the food isn’t there when the raccoons are out at night, that’s luring them here? And that it was simply a mother raccoon killing – mind you, not eating – my cat showing her kids how to hunt food not indigenous to her?
  .
  I agree that food shouldn’t be out at night. Only one of my neighbor’s has animals that can go outside at night, and it’s a huge dog. Which I think eats inside.
  .
  All I’m saying is that if you are a responsible outdoor-pet-keeper, you shouldn’t have a problem with most urban wildlife. These raccoons are obviously not the norm. 4 almost 5 dead cats (and who knows if there’s more by people who aren’t on here) in a month. This isn’t a mom showing her kids how to fend for themselves.

• d May 28, 2008 (9:42 pm)

  Maybe just go read the links of the wildlife experts if you have not already. As for me, I will help the cause of saving a lot of wasted bandwidth by not continuing this conversation. Really.

  If you don’t call PAWS Wildlife Center or you don’t read the links….well, I’ve said as much as I’m willing to say because you don’t seem to be hearing me. So, I’m done. But, the professional, licensed and degreed wildlife experts at Paws are the ones to argue with anyway. Not me. But, you probably don’t care to have a discussion with them, I guess. That’s the way it goes.

  And, again, I’m sorry you lost your semi-feral cats.

• brj May 28, 2008 (10:08 pm)

  If I call PAWS, I will make sure to ask them if mother raccoons go out and actively kill (again, not eat) cats sleeping in shelters to show their offspring how to fend for themselves.
  .
  Sorry, but I hate being treated like I’m some yahoo who left out a bucket of Friskies with my semi-feral (uh, noticed that – passive-agressive much?) cats, all day and all night, for days at a time.
  .
  Sure, some people do this. I don’t. There are people who are responsible, who let their cats be outdoor cats. Not all, yes, but when you are, and this happens, and people tell you your cat, who you loved was left as food by your actions, well, you get a little bitchy.
  .

• Alia May 28, 2008 (11:16 pm)

  I’m really sorry about the loss of your cat. I live near you.

  I raised my cats on Vashon Island (no coyotes there). One of them has always insisted on being a “wild and free” kitty. We can’t even keep a collar on him (I worry he’ll choke; I have bought the safety release ones many times and he always loses them). We know there are risks involved with allowing him to go outside: getting hit by a car, getting beaten up by other cats, raccoons, and yes, coyotes. We always hope our dear cat will stick close to our house and steer clear of those situations, but I do wish he was like my other cat that is indoor by choice. The outside world scares her.

  Anyone have any tips on how to train a cat that has lived indoors/outdoors oh…10+ yrs how to live solely inside? He scratches windows, doors, digs up carpet, pees and poops in the tub (haha), and meowwwwws if we don’t let him out.

• Alia May 28, 2008 (11:25 pm)

  Why did my message not post? Ugh.

• JanS May 29, 2008 (12:23 am)

  and…for what it’s worth…the raccoons round here are not always just out at night, although they’re supposed to be nocturnal animals. I used to live on Genessee Hill, and they would come from Schmitz Park at all hours of the day, including high noon – lol…and now that I live around Fairmount Park/Gully Road, I’ve seen the same here…

• artsea May 29, 2008 (8:17 am)

  Sorry to disappoint those who are used to raccoons only being nocturnal creatures. We are finding them out in our neighborhood down the hill from the Junction as late as 10 and 11 AM. And roaming around already an hour or so before darkness starts. Yes, they come checking on porches for bowls of catfood. I have neighbors who put out bowls of food for hungry animals and these animals are now losing all fear of human contact…even to the point of coming in open doors. Regarding raccoons fitting into and through tiny openings, I read something on the internet about the flexibility of their spines, etc. Not a problem for them. I frequently see them go under my neighbor’s front gate which is only about 4″ from the sidewalk. Stop feeding them!

• katydid May 29, 2008 (9:20 am)

  Cat lovers beware. My sis who lives in Edmonds had a cat door installed and a raccoon has chased her big male cat into the house more than once, Those doors aren’t so tiny as one would think. She lost her female cat to a raccoon who maimed it viciously early one morning. The cat died in her arms.

• Cowpie May 29, 2008 (10:05 am)

  My sister lives near 41st and Juneau and had a racoon enter her home through the cat door and did great harm to cat. Her cat had to go to the vet and receive stitches all over his hind area.

  I live 7 houses from the north end of Lincoln park. We’ve seen two adults and one cub Coyote walking down our street. One adult Coyote is missing a leg!

• Neighbor May 29, 2008 (11:55 am)

  Mac’s Mom: I’m very sorry for your loss. Raccoon or coyote — doesn’t make it any easier for you to bear.

  But hopefully your info and what’s offered by these posts will help all of us to co-exist.

• Traci May 29, 2008 (1:13 pm)

  About 10 years ago my mom lost the best cat she’s ever owned and we assumed she’d lost a fight with something bigger than her. The next day we rounded up all the cats inside and to this day (8 cats between the cat-crazy women in our family), they’re indoor.

  I’ve always struggled with this decision. I know my cat is happy, healthy, and safe in his lazy life. Leaving him outside in SEATTLE is like begging to lose him to a car or predator. However, when I was in college in a small town, I’d watch outdoor cats catch bugs and lay in the grass and think about how much “cat stuff” our cats miss out on.

  I really think some of you are being too hard on people that leave their cats outdoors. It’s definately a risk and the cat will likely lead a shorter life, but we all want our animals to be happy. My Bailey’s happy staying indoors, chattering at birds he will never kill–but probably couldn’t anyway given the chance, lazy jerk!

• flipjack May 29, 2008 (2:02 pm)

  Sorry about your loss but,
  that’s Mother Nature at work. We humans haven’t quite found a way to keep her at bay and prove ourselves or our pets invincible yet.

• onceachef May 29, 2008 (5:11 pm)

  Get a big dog…better yet, get 2!

• Quiz May 29, 2008 (6:14 pm)

  I feel sad for your loss (unless it’s your cat that’s been pooping in my yard)

• call me crazy May 29, 2008 (10:19 pm)

  my cats are indoor, semi-outdoor cats (they go out for about an hour in the morning before breakfast and stay in all day while I’m at work). Now that it’s light much later, they can go out for an hour before dinner while I’m home. I will say that although they go outside, given what I’ve seen they are completely clueless about birds as food– trust me. The birds are NOT afraid of them in the least; it seems they know it too.

  That said, we did use to have a raccoon here on 49th between Oregon and Genessee…it looked a lot like one of my cats, and started to come when I called it (thinking it was my cat) one morning. Needless to say I almost freaked when I finally saw it’s face about 3 feet from me in the doorway!

  Like the previous poster I have cats who, if not let out even for the minimal amount they are, will DESTROY the furniture, each other (one gave the other a puncture wound to the head) and anything else in the house (both were rescued feral cats I got at 8 weeks old). They are NOT mentally healthy if they do not get out. Many, many cats who are kept full time indoors get a real “cabin fever” (think about it, wouldn’t you?). While I’m aware of the risks of letting them out, and stress while they are out, I know those brief periods of ‘freedom’ do a lot for their (and my) mental health. I also feel better knowing that they know their way around the immediate area and where the hiding spots are and should they inadvertently escape they won’t freak out and panic.

• grr May 29, 2008 (11:45 pm)

  The raccoons here are BIG, and they are FEARLESS. Just the other night, two of them were rummaging near our pond (We USED to have fish…not any more)…the big one (damn thing looked like a freakin’ toddler crawling around), came RIGHT up to the bedroom door, put it’s paws up on it, and started looking in!!! (We have a motion sensor light on the back porch..It went on, we got up, and there was Rocky Racoon staring at us!!)

  NO WAY I’d let the big dogs out there to deal with them. It would NOT be a good site. We ended getting a trap that they use for Feral Cats…We’ll see if that works or not…

  ugh..

• Scott May 31, 2008 (8:15 am)

  Sorry about your pet, that is sad… I have seen several large dogs unleashed in this area during my bike rides and while I walk my dogs. That said I had a Raccoon problem in my own backyard a couple of years ago when I just owned a cat. I even had a half dozen go through my pet door and trash my kitchen, when I was gone. Yes my cat is afraid of raccoons, and they saw her feeding bowl in the garden window. Once I moved it the problem went away. The raccoons were never after my cat but they were after her food, and she was competition for them. Something to keep in mind about the lil’ bandit looking creatures. Personally I like raccoons, they still come around but now only raid the crows nest everyonce in a while.

• Another Cat Fatality! August 8, 2008 (10:25 pm)

  I live in DesMoines. Our cat was killed July 24th by FOUR raccoons. (I believe it was a mother & two or three babies.) We caught them in the act! She was so severely mauled the vet said “if it were my cat I’d put her to sleep”. She was 15 too, & very healthy. The vet & both assistants said that they’d seen a huge increase in raccoon attacks & that they are viscious & mean. Our cat chased dogs from our yard & detested raccoons in our yard too. (We called her our “Guard Cat”!!!) Yes, it was at night & yes we occasionally left food out for our cats. (And yes we have the guilt for our actions too.) The point of the whole post is to notify our neighbors & communities about the coon problems & how they can help prevent this type of incident. (period). Yes we know cats kill mice, birds & rats (anyone complaining about the rats?!) We know it’s nature–so save it! READ THE POINT.
  By the way… coons kill dogs & coyotes too. So do not get two dogs to protect your cats from the coons!!! Just keep your animals indoors at night. That is your safest option.
  Our next door neighbor had just told me about a coon coming in to their house thru their doggy door to eat dog food. You can also “search” raccoons at KIROTV.com to see their story about how brazen coons have become this year.
  “Macs Mom” I am so sorry for your loss. I don’t know if I’d read your warning before if it would have woken me from my safe-haven-zone-oblivion. I FEEL YOUR PAIN. IT’S NOT JUST HAPPENING IN WEST SEATTLE.

Sorry, comment time is over.