A brief public-service announcement:
If you live in Los Angeles, please think about making your indoor-outdoor cats indoors only. I've heard no fewer than eleven stories of cats being killed in their front yards in the last month, in houses from Pacific Palisades to Pasadena.
[Actually, I heard of a coyote trying to grab a morbidly obsese chihuahua as well, but couldn't lift him over the fence. I can't decide whether that's a "Protect your pets" story, a "Don't let your dog get nearly immobile from fat" story or a "On second thought, a chihuahua shaped like a planet might die from a heart attack but at least won't be hauled over the picket fence" story. So I'm leaving it out.]
The coyotes were here first, and they are getting braver with each passing year. I've seen them running down the sidewalk in Hancock Park, a neighborhood locals know is nowhere near uninhabited parkland. They're eating our trash as snacks; let's not make their job easier by leaving their entree waiting.
Is it even possible to keep a cat exclusively indoors? Mine jumped out of any open window, dashed out through any open doorwary even if it was only open for a second, and sometimes seemed to even shift through solid walls to get outdoors. Luckily, we don't have coyotes.
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad all the way around. I'll pass this link on to my LA friends; many have or foster cats. Thanks for the warning.
ReplyDeleteThe wolf is at the door in more ways than one. Paris had its Courtaud. Barstow shall see it’s cats safe someday.
ReplyDeletePlus, keeping your cats inside will protect birds and small mammals.
ReplyDeleteMy cat, Pekoe (he's orange, I drink a lot of tea...), is a former stray who is so delighted to get fed every day that he is happy to be an indoor only cat. Pekoe being indoor-only also means that my birding boyfriend regards him as a charming pet rather than a mass murderer of small wildlife. :-)
ReplyDeleteIndoor cats also don't have to lose arguments with cars.