Coyotes and Cats: A Lethal Combination

There are many dangers to cats who are allowed outside: car traffic, parasites, diseases, traps, poisons, hunters, cruel people and altercations with wildlife. However, one of the most dangerous, and yet seldom recognized dangers to your cat is the coyote. In Michigan, coyotes are becoming a rapidly-increasing danger to unsupervised small pets, especially cats.

Coyotes are smart, adaptable, and extremely adept at staying out of sight, even living in rural areas and in close proximity to humans. If you think you don’t have coyotes in your area because you don’t see them, think again. Diminishing natural habitat from development and the growing population of both humans and coyotes increases their presence in urban areas.

Coyotes are resourceful and move into areas where they can find food sources, cover and water. They can range from 8 to 12 miles, and the range size will depend on available food sources, as well as the number of other coyotes in the area.

One of the coyotes’ favorite and easily attainable food sources is, unfortunately, the small pet, especially cats. Cats (as opposed to dogs) are most often allowed to range outside with little supervision and have become a favorite of the urban coyote. Small mammals are preferred foods, however, they will eat nuts, berries, seeds, plants, frogs, snakes, birds, garbage, and carrion. Some learn to kill larger animals such as goats, sheep, calves and poultry.

Coyotes rarely attack humans. However, coyotes that are fed become accustomed to people and present a human safety risk, in addition to a danger to your small pet. People should never intentionally feed or attempt to approach, touch or tame a coyote. People are most likely to see coyotes during their breeding season, which occurs in Michigan from mid January into March. As fall approaches, pups begin dispersing from the den site to establish home ranges of their own. These young dispersing animals sometimes wander into urban areas. Coyotes are active day and night; however, peaks in activity occur at sunrise and sunset. Coyotes generally feed at night.

Reduce your risk of attracting coyotes:

• Eliminate all outside food sources, especially pet foods
• Put garbage out the morning of pickup day
• Clear out wood and brush piles; they are good habitat for rats and mice and may attract coyotes
• Good husbandry practices, guard animals, and coyote control measures can help to protect livestock
• Do not allow pets to roam free when coyotes are present - keep pets indoors or accompany them outside, especially at night

For more information go to: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr

Tam Norton
Veterinary Assistant and Feline Aficionado