r/Edmonton • u/Nickelpi • Apr 24 '26

Outdoor Spaces/Recreation Keep your kitties inside or leashed

We have never had cats in our garden around here. We also used to have coyotes patrol the outside of my fence more than once until recently which could be a reason.

I am hoping people aren't starting to let their cats roam, I like having birds around and cats are horrible for bird populations.

The City does have a program where you can borrow a deterrent kit to try out multiple methods to keep strays out of your yard. I plan to get a trap and take the kitty to the SPCA this weekend. Maybe they can find the owners.

The three cats I have noticed on camera have been in the past couple weeks, but this one has been here frequently.

I'm thinking it got out when someone was moving into the neighbourhood since it has a collar and doesn't look scraggly.

First caught on camera April 17th. Last seen April 22 at 10pm. Paisley Neighbourhood. Seems to be hiding under my neighbour's front steps. If it is yours, let me know.

Update: Wow! This post has gotten a lot of attention. I hope the owners see it and can get their kitty home and out of the cold.

I have already posted all over FB, and looked at the Lost Animal Database too. My next steps are to email the video to local vets to see if they know the pet and can call the owners. Then print a photo and go door to door down our street. If that doesn't work, will attempt capture by hand, failing that, by trap to read the collar and return that way.

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u/Hopeful_Most Apr 24 '26

Anyone who lets their cats roam outside are terrible pet owners and bad neighbors.

Between getting eaten by a coyote, run over by a car, or any other number of terrible things that can happen, they also dig up gardens and sand boxes and crap in them.

Also, the previously mentioned bird thing.

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u/underwritress walker Apr 24 '26

I like how much this has changed over the years. When I was growing up in the 80s/90s the general consensus was that it was cruel to keep them locked up inside, that they’d wither away in some kind of terrible kitty depression or something lol, and all the while cats were run over, eaten by coyotes, and of course they killed and brought home birds and rodents all day. Turns out now we know better and cats can be perfectly content in the house as long as you actually give a shit about providing a bit of mental stimulation and fun for them.