10/03/2023
Written by: Janice R. Richard.
Cats allowed to roam:
As a rescuer, you have asked me to search and help locate your cat who is allowed to roam. He goes out after dinner, but he's always home before dark. Always. Until he doesn't. I have searched.
Sadly, I am now at your door with some very sad news. I have found......the remains of your cat. Since seeing this over and over, I can say he was killed by a coyote, as they are more plentiful in your neighborhood. However, could have been a fisher. They eviscerate their prey. Usually, not much is left to identify, but in this case, the face was clearly visible for ID purposes.
At this point, you are crying and in pain. Yes, I have compassion for that.... but if I am honest, my sadness, pain and pity is for your cat. It was the cat that had to endure being stalked and killed in a fairly vicious manner. It's rarely a quick death. Some cats put up a decent fight, but in most cases....the battle is lost. Imagine the terror they must endure. They are not aware of this danger when YOU let them outside and allow them to freely roam. Yet YOU are aware. You have to be. With all the education, postings, notices that are put out on all types of sites on Facebook and other social media's.... you have to be aware of that fact. And you still open the door.... and put them outside.
Yes, there are some cats that simply cannot be kept indoors. However. There are other methods of letting them out and keeping them secure. Catios. Harness, leash. If you yourself have a large screened in porch? Replace the screening with pet screening, add some enrichment for the cat, ie: cat tree's, toys, games.... You have now protected your pet.
GPS collars are not protection. Let me say this louder so the people way down in the back can hear. GPS COLLARS ARE NOT PROTECTION!! Do you think a coyote or fisher could care less if your cat has a GPS device around it's neck? Makes no difference to them.... I have found many collars in my time... break aways, and some ripped off. I have found "kill sites".
Coyotes, particularly, are living amongst us. We are encroaching on their living spaces/lands, so our backyards are becoming their hunting grounds. And, if we continually supply them with cats allowed to roam... well... the outcome could be devasting for those cats. And sometimes, you'll just never ever know what happened. One evening, they just never return again. No signs, no sightings, no nothing. Gone.
But sadly.... I am here at your door... telling you all this. While we are talking, your other cat runs past us to the outdoors. I look at you. Through your tears, you tell me, yes... she is allowed to be outside too. And after all I have just told you.... after all the tears.....after knowing how your poor cat was ripped apart for food.... you are still going to allow your cat(s) to roam. But you love them. Really??? Love is not allowing your animal to roam and become bait or succumb to any of the many dangers out there for cats. Love is doing whatever it takes to keep them safe. That.... that is love for your pet.
