Coyotes are abundant in the United States, and you can find them in every state except Hawaii. Coyotes are wild canines that resemble a small wolf or dog, and they can pose a considerable threat to your cat because they often team up and work together to take down prey. If you have a cat that likes to go outside and want to know how you can keep it safe, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading while we look at several steps you can take to protect your pet from these dangerous predators.
Do Coyotes Kill Cats?
Unfortunately, a coyote will kill your cat if it can’t find other food, or it is traveling with others. Coyotes prefer to eat smaller food like mice, moles, squirrels, and rabbits. If there are plenty of these animals in your area, it’s unlikely that it will pay much attention to your cat. However, if the food is scarce, it will chase after your cat.
One study followed eight coyotes for several months in Arizona to study their behavior. During the observation, the coyotes encountered 36 cats, and they killed 19 of them. So, the odds are slightly better than 59% that the encounter will be deadly for your cat.
Can A Cat Fight Off a Coyote?
A coyote is slightly more than twice the size of most house cats, so it won’t be a fair fight. Coyotes also hunt similarly to the cat: lying in wait until finding the right moment to pounce, so the cat usually has little chance to defend itself. The cat’s only chance would be to use its sharp claws on the nose or eyes of the coyote, but as the study we mentioned earlier showed, the odds are not in the cat’s favor. Some lucky cats can escape a coyote by climbing a tree, but they are too fast to outrun.
Protecting Your Cat from Coyotes
Summary
It’s usually not hard to tell if there are coyotes in your area because they like to make themselves known by screeching and howling throughout the night, especially during the full moon. If you hear these howls, we strongly recommend keeping your cat indoors and only allowing it out during the day if it insists. The other steps we listed here are perfect for when you don’t hear a coyote, so they will be there to help your cat if one suddenly appears.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over this guide and found it helpful in answering your questions. If we have helped you provide a safer environment for your pet, please share this guide to protecting your cat from coyotes on Facebook and Twitter.
See also:Â
- Do Coyotes Make Good Pets? Can They Be Domesticated? Legality & More
- Will Essential Oils Have an Effect on Cats? What You Need to Know!
Featured Image Credit: Frans van Heerden, Pexels
