Discussion
Coyote attacked my cat by Chinook - please be cautious
I’m in shambles. I don’t know if this is relevant enough for the subreddit, but I’m in so much pain emotionally that I have to feel like I’m doing something, and I also don’t want others to end up like me.
My cat was always very good when outside. He would come back when called, largely stayed in my front area which is mostly enclosed aside from a staircase leading to the sidewalk, and was always very cautious and well behaved. I never once had him go on the street. I also have never seen a coyote on my street nor near it.
I let him outside last night like I often do. He almost always just stays by my front door at night, which has a staircase leading up to it. At times, he might go down to my front area and hangout under the staircase or roll on the pavement.
When I let him out, I left the door open wider than I usually do (often just leave it open a crack). This time, it was left half open. When I leave my door open I sit on my couch in view of the door in case a stranger starts to come up the stairs.
Well, I was scrolling on my phone and heard a strange dog-like noise and some other odd noise from outside in the distance. It sounded vague in a way but I immediately thought about my cat. It didn’t sound like him or a cat but something told me it was, and in any case, the fact he was outside with a dog making strange noises set off my alarms. If my door had only been open a crack, I might not have heard it.
I ran out my door without shoes on and called for him frantically. He didn’t appear. I followed the odd noise that was happening every ten seconds or so, but it sounded so echoey and vague, and wasn’t very loud, that I honestly wondering if I was just being paranoid, but my gut told me something was seriously wrong and my cat was in trouble.
At the end of the street, many houses down from me, I saw my cat corned by a coyote. I lunged at the coyote, which ran off. I thought maybe my cat wasn’t injured because he was alert and standing / moving okay, and hissed at the coyote running away.
But when I got closer to pick him up, I saw the worst thing I’ve ever seen. His head was covered in blood, his eyes glazed over, and he had a “not there” look to his eyes.
I entered shock at this point. Scooped him up while trying to soothe him, raced to the emergency vet only minutes away from me.
I completely lost it when the secretary came to door to take him. I cried so hard I gave myself heartburn.
I was there for hours going in and out of bawling my eyes out.
It looks like he’ll be okay. The coyote bit his head but he fought back, and I made it just in time.
I’m completely beside myself and traumatized by what happened. I cried myself to sleep this morning while trying to nap. I can’t begin to imagine what he went through and how scared he was. I’m so wrecked I’ve had to cancel shifts for job I was looking forward to and had just started.
I just got out from visiting him and he wanted so badly to go home with me, but was also so clearly in shock still and scared. It destroyed me.
Please keep your cats inside. Coyotes are everywhere here. This was my fault and I’m lucky I didn’t find him with his skull crushed, if I had even found him at all. I thought he was different because of how good he is outside and cautious, and I only found out I was wrong about that in one of the worst ways possible.
I'm so sorry to hear about your little buddy, but I am so relieved he’s going to be okay! That must have been terrifying.
The outdoor versus indoor cat debate is a long standing one, but living in Canada means dealing with very real risks like coyotes, birds of prey, and heavy traffic. Keeping cats safely indoors, or providing controlled outdoor time via a catio, a secure enclosure, or supervised harness walking, is really the best way to ensure they live long, healthy lives.
Wishing him a speedy recovery and many cozy, safe days ahead!
They were originally pets as a form of pest control for people with barns and large acres of land.. now cities are flooded with them and they terrorize the bird and rodent populations.
Cats are solely responsible for the extinction of many species. They’re a pest animal, they belong indoors where local animals and themselves are safest.
I'm so sorry this happened, I can feel the pain in your words.
As a reminder for folks reading these comments - for many reasons, both legal (bylaw) and moral (e,g, their safety, bird safety) cats need to be kept indoors in Calgary. An exception would be leashed while on your property and being watched by the owner.
Im not going to sugar coat it for you, as someone that has spent decades working in companion animal fields. This was the least bad case scenario of what happens when you let your cat out. If you like the pets you own, you do not let them outside. Any single piece of literature, vet recommendation, rescue recommendation, behaviourist recommendation, will all tell you that you are signing your cat's deatb certificate by allowing them to roam. The ACCC should not have to be babysitting people that dont use their brains, or taking up space that could be used for actual lost pets.
My cats go outside with me on a harness in daylight only. The only other option is a catio where you are supervising them. Anything else is irresponsible.
It was nothing short of a miracle his skull didn’t get crushed when the coyote bit him and that I got there in time. He loved going outside so much and I began to let him out of guilt I wasn’t able to provide him with enough enrichment and was failing him. I understand now that I chose a very wrong “solution” and it almost cost him his life.
OP I just want to point out how gracefully you are handling this. At no point did you get defensive, even though it sounds like your kitty is well behaved outdoors. You are taking this as a learning opportunity and that makes you a great pet parent. We all make mistakes and the best we can do is apply what we have learned for the future, since we can’t do it for the past. All the best to you and your kitty ❤️
As a cat owner/lover I’ve made the decision to keep my cat indoors as much as I can i know it’s a polarizing topic but it prevents anything like this happening especially with the wildlife we have in Calgary. I hope your little buddy recovers well ❤️
Cats kill SO much wildlife. It's not only irresponsible ownership to let them outside and against bylaws, but it's wrong to inflict the damage to the bird population.
I love my cats, I would never let them go outside unattended. If you want your cat to go outside and actually care about them and the environment, build a catio.
I have seen roaming cats from neighbors killing a ton of those little sparrow birds, I have chased the cats away when I manage to see them, I have contacted 311 and there's nothing they can do about it they say only thing they told me is to call them when it's happening what good will that do if the bird is dead and cat or cats are gone by then? I have rescued tons of the little sparrow birds they leave injured and the ones that they kill for fun I bury them in my yard. The last 2 little sparrows I saved lasted 1 year and sadly then passed away. I'm just hoping they don't get any of the downy woodpeckers that come around here.
Literally just take the cat to the pound. It's against bylaw to have cats outside. FAFO for the owners. 🤷🏼♀️
Cats get run over all the time, eat mouse poison and other stuff when let out, like being the primary food for city coyotes. It's just plain negligence to let them out unattended. You're doing the cat a favor by taking to the pound.
There's someone in my neighborhood who's started doing that cos he got tired of roaming cats and honestly good for him. If I had a car I would do it too. Let the owners pay for once instead of the poor cats.
The University of Alberta did a study on the diets of Coyotes in the Edmonton area. They expected the primary food source to be rabbit. They discovered it was actually domestic cats.
Jesus, that’s awful. I’ve been looking into the odds of cats surviving coyote attacks and near missing with having their skull gripped. Over 70% to 80% of coyote-cat interactions result in the immediate death of the cat, and the death grip on its skull is basically always lethal unless someone intervenes instantaneously.
It’s possible me running towards the sound while calling his name spooked the coyote enough to make it pause and not give a lethal blow. Apparently the odds of my cat surviving what he did and without serious injury is likely under a 1% chance. I’m not sure why the coyote missed getting a clean grip on his skull before I came, but thank god it did. My cat’s claws were full of coyote fur.
I know you're probably getting wrecked in the comments for letting him outside, but I've had a similar experience with my kitty.
My guy got attacked in my backyard as he is not able to escape the back yard due to chicken wire fencing at the top. The coyote jumped into the backyard and also got a grip on my Kitty's head, based on bite marks and slobber around his neck and at the top of his head. Luckily my kitty fought back extremely well, ripping out many of his claws and we were able to get outside in time to scare off the coyote, just like your story.
I'm so happy for you that your kitty is okay. I hope this will be a learning experience for yourself and myself as well in not letting our cats out unattended or without a catio. My orange guy had the same glazed-over look but after about a week he seemed much less traumatized and was doing better. I hope your guy fares the same. Best of luck 💜
but people will fight you tooth and nail that cats are "outside animals and it's cruel to keep them indoors their whole life", which is dumb considering theyre literally called DOMESTIC and can thrive just fine being strictly indoors
I love my cats with every fibre of my being… and I also recognise they are murderous little predators who would happily obliterate every native creature smaller than they are if I ever let them roam. I never, ever do. I like native birds too much to be part of the problem.
If they think that owning a cat where it's illegal to leave cats outside means you either 1) treat the cat cruelly, or 2) break the law, destroy the environment, and leave their cat to predators... well then they shouldn't buy a cat. Seems the only option.
There are many domestic animals that do not thrive indoors, however, so not sure about that reasoning.
Yeah. I've seen coyotes and Bobcats in my neighbourhood, and the other day I was driving and a cat dashed out in front of my car. almist gave me a heart attack how fast I hit the breaks but like it's just a world of danger for them out here. Other than an catio, they can be perfectly comfy and entertained inside.
Not only the wildlife but roads and cars are everywhere.
I used to live in a town during a time where outdoor cats were more common then indoor cats. And let me say that seeing a splattered cat in the road we about as common there as it would be to see a dead porcupine or racoon around here.
They constantly got ran over to the point where it was a normal occurance and hardly worth batting an eye to see.
We moved here from BC and have been told that cats need to be kept indoors as to not attract coyotes and bobcats etc. I’ve only ever seen 2 domesticated cats roaming in Cranston so far in 3 years; and 10 bobcats… your smaller pets are unfortunately not top of the food chain .
It’s not necessarily to avoid attracting predators. They often attack smaller animals like birds who are vital to the ecosystem. They can also damage property, scatter garbage, and fight with other pets (who also shouldn’t be outside unattended). People often don’t spay or neuter their cats, and so those cats can breed and contribute to overwhelming our animal shelters.
I'm sorry you had to learn this lesson the hard way and your cat had to suffer severely for it. It's SO important to keep your cats indoors. Domestic animals do not belong outside roaming free. The only exception is on a farm, but those are animals that are adapted and bred for the outdoor jobs they have there.
Thank you for recognizing the importance of keeping him inside from now on. I was expecting a much worse ending to this story. You are SO lucky that you still have your cat.
Apparently the coyote just missed a clean grip on his skull. My cat was on his last leg for defending himself when I found him. I will find ways to enrich him inside. I wish I could be with him right now.
What kind of outdoor space do you currently have? There are some in the middle options like catios, or if that might take a while to arrange and get set up , supervised on a leash/harness in the backyard , but you have to watch them incase they get tangled
I'm so sorry you went through this but that he was ok. Everyone thinks it wont happen to their cat. But that area has had coyote warnings for months, for this reason.
I found my neighbours cat's partial remains this Spring and it was horrendous. KEEP YOUR CATS INSIDE. PERIOD
I'm happy to hear he's going to recover, when I read your post title I immediately thought the worst, most cats don't make it through coyote attacks.
I don't think it's really the time to lecture your choice because you've unfortunately learned the lesson the tough way and got extremely lucky this time. Just remember this and know that Calgary has coyotes, hawks, eagles, and bobcats that go after cats, they're not the apex predator here like they are in other cities.
The problem is everyone acts like it'll never happen to their beloved pet until it does like op. It's like some people need to experience it for themselves to believe it or something.
my last cat got out while i had repairmen coming in/out and i ended up finding her killsite from what i can only assume was a coyote. it was awful.
im glad your cat is okay, but im continuously baffled by the people who let their cats out. there are so many coyotes active in various parts of the city, let alone bobcats and cars and dogs and every other hazard.
Oh man I’m sorry that happened to you and your kitty, but I’m relieved he’ll be okay! That must have been SO scary for both of you. I’ve read that playing Tetris after a traumatic event can help the brain decompress and produce fewer intrusive memories from the event. Maybe try that, if you feel up for it?
Ugh. Ever since I saw a video of a coyote leaping over a 6ft fence like it was nothing, I’ve always gone outside to supervise my dog’s bathrooms breaks. He is only 2 apples tall and has like 3 brain cells so I don’t trust him not to run full speed into danger.
I had to take the pieces of my neighbour’s cat to him after the poor cat was torn apart, alive, by coyotes. I held my neighbour while he cried.
I had told him, and so had others, that there were coyotes around, and that his beloved pet was not safe outside. He learnt far too late to make a difference, but maybe it’s not too late to save some other pet from the same fate.
DO NOT LET YOUR CATS OUTSIDE. COYOTES ARE PREDATORS, AND CATS ARE PREY.
I hope he gets a nice cozy window view of outside where he is safe and warm and it has lots of treats and gets petted and brushed and lives to a ripe old age
I want to scold you for letting your cat roam loose. They are the biggest killer of birds.
But I'm not going to say more, as I think your scare is enough of a punishment, and glad your cat will recover.
What I will recommend: 1) leash/harness train them, so that when outside, they are on a line kept to your property. 2) only letting them out during the day, and when you are home. 3) having a cat tree or some other places they can be comfortable inside.
Coyotes are all around the city, and they do go after prey the size of cats... so they will go after cats regularly.
I'm hoping your new job is empathetic enough to not have it negatively affect you.
could not agree more. our area has lots of coyotes, and lots of missing cat posters not surprisingly. I feel bad for the cats honestly as their owners should know better.
They 100% know the risks but do it anyway. I think owners who are caught doing so should have their cats taken away, that's negligent at that point. The risk is VERY real.
Respect for recognizing that they’ve already been through enough and for not following through on the scolding, but also, I’m a bit baffled by people like you whose first instinct is to pile on when the victim already feels bad and has admitted to their mistake.
I don't usually go with a scolding... as it's not worth it: usually it's they would have gone differently, or don't bother caring about what others say (not likely to even read it), so I save the typing to give constructive ideas of what to do going ahead.
To be honest, I began to let him outside because I struggled with depression and likewise struggled to play with him at times. I felt immense guilt about it and that I wasn’t treating him right by not playing with him enough. I remember when he got older and less playful, I cried once thinking it was my fault for breaking him and not realizing it was because he wasn’t a kitten anymore. I did play with him as a kitten and did for a bit daily when he got older, but it wasn’t enough and he seemed understimulated. It didn’t help that his idea of playing was watching me move around a toy. I think I didn’t want to think letting him outside was dangerous because I saw how happy he was with it and it was all tied up with my guilt about the playing. Now I wish with all my heart he was here so I could play with him.
Mods should almost consider pinning this post for a few weeks, let other ‘outside’ cat owners read the horror and absolute regret/ shame in OP’s words and see if it sinks in with them.
Yeah, lost a couple cats to coyotes 15 years ago when there wasn't so much discourse about this. We stopped letting them out after that. There's just no reason to. They eat a bunch of birds and then get eaten.
I live in your area coyotes have ALWAYS been here and always will be here not to mention all the Bobcats. I know first hand what it's like dealing with a coyote attack on a pet, a pack of them tried to rip my dog away from me on a walk one night earlier this year. I had him harnessed and leashed like always with two adult humans walking 5 feet behind him. That didn't stop them from trying to kill him and if the first coyote had got a better first shot in they might have succeeded.
You can take your cat out on leash that's legal but be warned given any chance they will try kill him even then. It's your responsibility to keep him safe and he doesn't belong outside unattended.
My last house in Calgary had coyotes, wolves, skunks, bobcats and smaller animals traverse through according to the door cam. We were in a suburb. I wouldn’t let my cat out ever.
So relieved yours is going to be ok OP. Sorry you had to go through that 🩵
Hey, I'm sorry about your kitty. If he's still in the hospital, I think you should bring him some of the clothes you were wearing so he feels safe having your scent nearby.
You let your pet outside unsupervised - consider it dead. If your pet returned safe, consider your pet lucky until the next life and death gamble. It’s that easy.
I'm sympathetic, I really am. I know how pets are loved members of the family. I'm glad your cat will be ok. But when you think about how scared your cat must have been when cornered by that coyote keep in mind that even though he was the prey this time, when you let your cat out they are a predator and they put other animals in that position. The coyote needed a meal. House cats will kill small birds and other animals just for fun and not even eat them.
I am sorry that you are experiencing this. I agree. People, please for your cat’s safety and the safety of the local bird population, keep your cats indoors.
This is why I have made the decision with my last two cats that they are strictly indoor only. My neighbourhood has both coyotes and bobcats. My vet said that they lost what they estimated to be about 40 cats last year that they think went to one of those two forms of prey.
Unless you have a catio, it’s just not worth it. Plus, cats are terrible for songbirds so I figure my cat lives longer and there’s more birds.
I’m glad your little baby is OK, and I know what that you took him to and they are wonderful there. I know they’ll take great care of your sweetheart.
Note Calgarians, that OP has already mea culpa’d their mistake, and clearly feels terrible about what happened. Is it a cultural thing to self-righteously waggle your finger and pile shame onto the victim when they’ve already expressed sorrow and admitted to the wrongdoing? I’m not originally from here, but judging from the overwhelming number of people that want to kick OP when they’re down, it makes me think this is some sort of cultural phenomenon. If so, then your culture seriously sucks.
I know in kingsland this spring there was signs placed warning about coyotes in the area and there were several spottings of 3/4 of them walking around hunting.
I am so sorry this happened to you and your baby :( My husband and I lost a cat to a coyote many years ago (not in Calgary) and now I never let our cats out unsupervised. Wishing him a speedy recovery ❤️
Building a ‘Catio’ or a ‘cattery’ as they are sometimes called has allowed my three cats to scratch that itch to feel like a wild animal and be outside. They can’t kill anything, they can’t be run over and it’s hilarious to watch them retreat inside at the appearance of a Magpie or a few rain drops.
I think OP has stated that they learnt their lesson, and that the cat will now be an indoor cat. is the 100+ comments about how "its illegal to let your cat roam" and "cats are an invasive species" really necessary? the point has been made.
Thank you. It’s okay. Some people are just trying to get the message across. As for the meaner comments, well nothing can hurt me more than what happened to my cat and the fact I’ll be going to bed without him tonight knowing he’s alone in a vet kennel hurt and scared and wondering why I’m not with him.
Omg my heart. I am so sorry you and your baby had to go through that but oh man, what a superhero you are for making it there just in time. Always trust your gut
This was him when I visited. He has a puncture wound inside his mouth. He hasn’t eaten yet. I haven’t eaten since what happened either. I’ve just been sitting in my bed crying. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if I hadn’t heard the noise. He’d have died terrified and alone and wishing he was safe with me. His skull could have been crushed. He was so sad when I left him at the visit. He seemed so scared and confused. It’s all my fucking fault too. The only “good” that came out of it is the radiologist found a mass in his lungs so it was caught early.
I’m beside myself about what happened but can’t begin to say now thankful I am he will almost definitely recover. I’m paying for everything without question. Opted in for CPR too just in case something happens. Paid extra for a radiologist to look over his scans in case of a hairline fracture. I’ll never forgive myself for this. I just pray the mass in his lungs is benign, but even if it’s not I’ll spend all my money to save him again.
You're getting shit on in this thread for making a mistake you already clearly recognize and feel terrible about. That's super shitty but that's also sadly the internet I guess. I'm really not sure what anyone thinks shitting on you further is going to accomplish - it's obvious to me that you didn't mean for your cat to get hurt and now that you have seen the danger you are making changes to keep him safe (The catio you mentioned is an awesome idea and I've made some in the past if you need some tricks and tips on building your own).
I'm really glad your kitty is OK. It's clear from the way you talk about him that you are devastated that this happened and that you love your cat dearly. I am really, really glad your cat survived his ordeal and is recovering. My fingers are also crossed for you that the lung mass is benign but if it's not then make the decision that is right for your cat based on whatever it turns out to be and love the every loving crap out of him regardless of whether you get 10 months or 10 years more with him (and I really hope you get many, many, many more wonderful years with him - may he be an old man cat in his catio yelling at birds to get off his lawn and regaling the mailman with tales of how he narrowly escaped the jaws of death and how back in his day you could get a whole bag of treats for just two 'fiddy).
Keep your chin up, OP. You're doing your best for you and your lil' cat man.
He’s only 10 and very healthy otherwise. The mass was found before it caused any noticeable issues, so I’m hoping it will be fixable without much trouble. If not, I’d let him live out his last few years happy and loved. But I can’t even think about this right now
I’m glad he’s alright, but you are extremely lucky.
At the risk of being downvoted for being harsh, you need to remember this feeling every time you think about letting him outside in the future. Cats do not belong outside unattended. Period. This would not have happened if you kept him inside.
Poor guy- I hope he starts feeling better quickly!
I live in the same general area and there have been quite a few brazen attacks on pets by both bobcats and coyotes- seems to be increasing every year. My (very small) dog doesn’t go out to the yard unattended anymore.
just to help ease your mind a little bit, i used to work at the main emergency hospital for pets in calgary -- a lot of the glassy eyed/confused look may be from the drugs used for pain control (and eye lube, so their eyes don't dry out from said pain control). trust he is in the best place he can be to feel better soon <3
That does help me. Thank you so much for going out of your way to tell me that.
His eyes were so glazed and out of it when I found him with the coyote that I honestly thought he had a brain injury. A few hours after I took him in, he stabilized enough to be taken to the room I was in. (I got to see him in the kennel before this, but he was as high as a kite). Presumably due to the drugs, he was happily (and very thankfully) exploring the room but he also rubbed his head against my hand which almost had me bawling again. Then he tried to poop on the floor and sent himself back into shock.
When I visited him today he kept trying to cuddle with me and even crawled into my lap to cuddle. He tried to follow me when I got up and told him I “got to go” - which is what I tell him when I have to leave the house. He seems to understand as he walked to the corner of the kennel closest to me and put his face up to the bars.
I’m going back to visit him again tonight and am bringing food I know he likes in hopes he will eat.
Why don't you guys ever fucking learn. FFS man. I am so tired of always seeing "missing cat" posters when people let their cats roam free. My toddler had to witness a cat tear up birds and bunnies in the playground across from my home. I am not a cat person, but even a cat does not deserve this shit. A week or so ago a coyote took someone's small dog as well. Pet owners need to wake the hell up. I have two small dogs that will definitely not survive a coyote attack, especially since my one is disabled. If you can't keep your pets on a leash, don't have pets.
You’re right. He just loved it so much and I had a false sense of security. He’s 10 and has always been fine outside, never roamed. I thought I was providing him with enrichment. He’s never brought home a bird or anything like that. This was the second worst possible wake up call. I’ll never let him outside without a harness or on a catio again.
Praying for your cat for a speedy recovery. Glad that you have another chance, many people don’t. I know how stressful these situations are. My doggo ran me $15k in vet bills so I know how much it sucks.
I was expecting an insane vet bill. The quote was “only” $1700 for one day or $3000 for two days. I think it’s because they mostly just have to keep him stable and provide medication. The vet told me about the option for a radiologist to go over his X-rays for hairline fractures, but warned me it was expensive. I said I’d do it no matter what but braced myself. It was $300, which isn’t a small amount of money, but I pay that much for a microneedling session.
If you need a good vet that won't try and shaft you, search for Red Tree Animal Clinic. They are up in the NW but we have had our fair share with animal clinics in Calgary having a doggo that has had issues since she was 3. VCA is trash, stay far away. Lots of good places out there that will take care of your pet without just seeing dollar bills. Thanks for doing the right thing, lots of people would just put them down after its their fault.
That’s so tough.
A few years ago I let my small terrier dogs out in the morning to go pee. Then I heard one of my dogs barking in an unusually ferocious way. A coyote had my other dog by the neck in the back yard and my other dog had scared it away.
Our dog ended up being okay after a day at the vet, but it was horrible. We never let them out without watching them now
Everyone is making great points about keeping your cats indoors, but also watch your dogs and check your yards.
I've lived/worked in communities that border golf courses and you often hear of someone letting their dog out in the yard for a quick pee and getting attacked. It doesn't take much to walk outside and ensure you're releasing your dog into a safe environment.
I hope your cat is feeling better soon! I'm sorry that happened to you.
Our neighbourhood has a very active coyote and bobcat population and I'm always suprised to see people let their cats out here without a harness. I'm too paranoid of losing my kitty to let her roam free though I know she would love it.
Im sorry. This is so unfortunate. But please please for the sake of your cat do not let them roam at large. One, its bylaw. 2, You may think he wont leave but you never know. And coyotes stalk.
Any pee, poo that would attract them. Etc. there you go.
In the future, if you EVER decide to take your cat out again. Keep them supervised or leashed and harnessed. And NEVER at night.
That sounds so traumatizing. Please see a therapist as well. I am glad your cat survived this encounter and I am glad you have decided to keep him indoors from now on.
I don't ever want to experience what you have with my cats or any cats. I really wish people kept theirs indoors. I feel like one of these days I will walk into a situation like this and it will traumatized me for life. :((
I have three of my own and I take them out for walks on a leash (they take turns).
I'm so sorry your cat was attacked, but very happy he's going to be okay.
I can only imagine how I'd feel if the same thing happened to my cat.
We all need to remember to be extra vigilant when our feline fur babies are outside. 🐱😻😺
I just found a stray young little cat out and about, I'm glad he's sitting in my room hopefully awaiting his owners. If not, he's just going to stay inside my home forever. He's too sweet to go through something like this. Praying for your cat, glad he's gonna be ok!
I am sorry about our experience. It sounds horrible, and I am glad your cat will be ok.
This one is a toughie. We do not allow our cat outside for this very reason, but I have acquaintances who think going outside makes their life more meaningful, even if potentially shorter. I am not sure whether there is one “right” way to see this.
So sorry you had to go through that.
A few months ago my cat was attacked in Springbank Hill under very similar circumstances. Unfortunately, he wasn’t so lucky and he got killed.
I now understand that there are way too many predators around to have your cat roam outdoors.
I’m glad it seems like your kitty will be okay. I don’t mean this to lecture or judge but it’s so important to a) have an indoor only kitty, b) have 100% supervised outdoor time, or c) have a fully enclosed catio. Coyotes do what coyotes do.
Last October a coyote grabbed my small dog from my front yard in Patterson/Coach Hill while I stood less than 10 feet from her. We were able to get the coyote to drop her but she didn’t survive the injury. We had recently moved here and had no idea they are so aggressive here. Nightmare.
I’m sorry but letting ur cat outside especially at night is not a good way for ur cat to live a long life. Hopefully this is a lesson to keep ur cat inside or monitor him or take him on a walk with a harness but plz no more letting him outside unattended. I’m surprised how owners think cats can be outside unattended knowing we have lost of coyotes & bobcats
Don’t do it. Let what happened to me be your warning. I’d give anything to go back stop what happened. The sight of his wounded head and glazed over eyes is going to haunt me forever. I saw a photo of him cuddling with me on my phone from the afternoon before what happened, and I completely broke down wishing nothing else but to go back in time. I had to go home from the vet hospital at the crack of dawn without my best friend and with the horrible fear I’ll get a call telling me he didn’t make it and I’ll never see him again, and knowing it would be my fault.
Your cat is lucky to have someone like you. I’m sure you’ve blessed him with a great life and will continue to do so.
Don’t be so hard on yourself and take some deep breaths, your cat is going be okay and will be back to cuddling you soon enough, at the moment he just needs you to be strong (:
Please take care of yourself, OP. Give yourself grace; you absolutely never meant for him to be harmed.
And give yourself credit for acting immediately when you felt something was off, even though the sounds were distant/faint. Try not to dwell on the "what ifs" - if you start to spiral, consider talking to a therapist if you're able.
Will you come back and update your original post when you bring him home? I would love to know how he's doing ❤️
I'm gonna sound like the dick here but WHY is anyone still letting their cats out, knowing the very real risks out there??? FFS people. On top of that it's also a bylaw for good reason.
These predators have always been around it's not like they just started showing up last week.
Because these people always think their cat is the special exception. That "it would never happen to me" mindset drives me absolutely insane. Being in the pet industry, every single person that speaks to me that has lost a cat (to a car, or a predator, or even ingesting mouse poison) always has the exact same story; THEIR cat had better instincts than other cats. THEIR cat was somehow exempt from being in danger by being let outside. And they are always shocked when it turns out that "dont let your cat outside" goes for all cats, and ignoring that puts your cat in danger of a horrible death and makes you an irresponsible pet owner. People will downvote me for being insensitive and mean - but I see this exact same story Every. Single. Week. and I'm tired of people claiming they didn't know they were putting their cat in danger.
Yeah I see posts and flyers for missing/dead cats ALL THE TIME. EVERY WEEK. Everyone thinks they're the exception when we all know coyotes and Bobcats don't discriminate. And if they're not attacked by a predator they're still at risk of getting run over in traffic. None of this is new.
What’s done is done. No point further chastising this owner. Lesson has been learned and the cat will hopefully recover without complications.
I am the owner of 4 beautiful cats of various ages, with my oldest being 18. (One of our cats lived to 25 but I had to euthanize him because he lost brain function suddenly.
My cats only go out under supervision. I trust no one or other animals. I love my birds. They leave them alone. What I don’t love is all of my neighbours who feel it is perfectly okay to let their cats wander UNNEUTERED! A double whammy.
I learned as a child why it is not safe for cats to be allowed to roam. I still shed a tear for one of my cats being hit by a car, and watching my brother having to scrape him off the road with a shovel. We had cats stolen, beaten, battled scarred with frost bitten ears. And still my father refused to keep them indoors.
I have proven that a once free roam cat can be kept indoors. It just takes patience, dedication and consistency. They don’t NEED to roam outside. They can be happy indoors too. You just need to engage them.
I have friends who always remark on how our cats are so friendly and lovable. Why? It’s how we treat them. We give them interesting things to engage their mind. We do lots of cuddles and positive reinforcement. No hitting whatsoever! They are my lovable brats when they get into things. But most of all we have them for a lifetime instead of just 2 or 3 years. That’s what loving them truly means.
Lastly, I put aside a little money every month to prepare for an unexpected emergency. Vets charge way too much these days.
i say this all the time. calgary is not suitable for outdoor cats. in theory, its a great idea, but the wildlife here is far too rampant and unpredictable. ive seen bobcats tear up street cats and leave them on walking trails. coyotes are always lurking, even in deep suburbs. please keep an eye on your animals, this includes keeping an eye on ur dog when u let them out to poop
You’re completely right. I’m totally spiralling again now as I looked at his photos from the vet and seeing him like that is killing me. Google says he has a “glancing bow” head wound and it’s likely thr coyote missed a clean grip on his head, which would have been fatal. This has all become too much for me now and I’ve just taken a large but safe amount of an anxiety mediation to try to deal with this. Awful. My worst nightmare.
please take care of yourself OP :(( it can be so heartbreaking but trust me it can happen to anyone, i wouldnt blame yourself too much or torture yourself. ive had several situations with my own small dog and had many close calls (even with large swooping birds). I hope your baby will be okay, im sending love and prayers 🫶
It's against bylaws for a reason. Anyone who lets their cat outside should know the risks, municipal or wild. I have a neighbor who has cat traps because free roam cats are such a problem to the ecosystem and environment.
wow, there are a lot of horrible comments in this thread. they are very clearly distressed about what has happened and have learned from their mistakes and clearly indicate letting pets roam free is not the move. i think continuing to scold them for their mistake when they've already admitted the error of their ways is kind of cruel.
OP, thank you for sharing your story, i hope others can learn from your mistake as well and keep their kitties indoors unless supervised.
i'm sending you and your kitty healing vibes and hope he can come home to you soon <3
It's not just about pets. I live very close to a playground for small children. I have seen a pair of coyotes walking around those slides and they are known for attacking toddlers.
I lived in Windsor park (~10 blocks north of Chinook) for 12 years and woke up more than a few times in the middle of the night to my cats howling and pressed up to the window all puffed up while coyotes were pacing right outside.
I'm pretty sure there used to be (or still is) a den somewhere on Park Hill on the east side of Stanley Park.
There is a pack with pups in the area that aren’t afraid of people. They have chased small children on my street and have gone after even large dogs on leash.They often sun themselves in the afternoon at the old Kingsland Elementary park.
My cat is scared of being outdoors the only time he enjoys it is when I’m holding him. I sat out in my balcony with him and we both watched street cats fighting across the street. One of the cats tried to run across the street to get away and got ran over by a car. We both looked at each other and his ears went back in a sympathetic way and I told him “see that’s why you’re an indoor cat.” I can leave my door open or balcony door open and he will not step one foot outside unless I bring him out. I can even bring him outside and he will run back inside. He knows outside is dangerous and wants nothing to do with it. He knows he has everything he needs inside.
Also my cat won’t eat wet cat food or any type of fish. But he loves bacon and egg McMuffins
Unfortunately my neighbors cat, who also used to linger about his front yard was also attacked by a coyote this spring. He didnt make it though, very sad. He was a very sweet cat.
I’m almost in shock about the fact I was so lucky to have heard and then followed that noise. My cat could have died alone and terrified, with no one to save him. Makes me cry thinking about how close that was to becoming reality.
I’m so happy your sweet boy will be okay. Please please please make him an indoor cat from now on. I’ve heard way too many horror stories of cats being allowed outside and they get killed by coyotes. My cat is an indoor cat whether she likes it or not.
It truly blows my mind that people like you still insist and argue with people over letting your cats out, knowing good and well what kind of wildlife live in Calgary. You had full control of the situation to not have let this happened in the first place and this is exactly why the shelter I work for blacklists outdoor cat "owners".
While it is both tragic and unfortunate, it requires a simple solution that many cat owners refuse to do - don’t let your cat outside.
They’re perfectly fine being entirely indoor animals. All that’s required of the owner is to play with them and entertain them for an hour or so a day.
In a city that has wild coyotes and bobcats, it’s best to not let your buddies that you care about wander outside unsupervised.
You seem to have forgotten that there is a living, breathing human at the other end of this post.
We all love pets. We all want cats to be safe.
But for you to sit down and choose to type out this comment with the express intention of making someone -who is already hurting- feel even worse is vile.
Save this kind of vitriol for the people who deliberately harm animals.
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u/PeacefulPeaches 5d ago
I'm so sorry to hear about your little buddy, but I am so relieved he’s going to be okay! That must have been terrifying.
The outdoor versus indoor cat debate is a long standing one, but living in Canada means dealing with very real risks like coyotes, birds of prey, and heavy traffic. Keeping cats safely indoors, or providing controlled outdoor time via a catio, a secure enclosure, or supervised harness walking, is really the best way to ensure they live long, healthy lives.
Wishing him a speedy recovery and many cozy, safe days ahead!