A group of 4 raccoons tried to get my neighbor's cat.

[JohnnyRingo]

1. I absolutely hate raccoons.

...and I'm an animal lover, but I've had more trouble from 'coons than they're worth.
Several years ago one nearly killed my cat of 15 years. He's gone now, but there's a stray hanging around for the last year that I like. He's all black like my departed longtime friend, and I guess he's my cat now.

A couple months ago he showed up with a lame leg and the whole top of his head scratched off. I could see his bloody scalp and claw marks. He was too wild to capture to the vet, but he got better and I went on a mission.

Three raccoons were coming here every night and killing squirrels in the tree out back. If you've ever heard a squirrel scream while getting torn limb for limb, you'll never forget the sound. They were also eating the cat's food and dragging the dish away.

It took all week with a .22, but the neighborhood is at peace again. I don't hunt, and killing anything is very difficult for me, but I didn't miss a moment's sleep over that. If they stay down by the creek, I can live with them, but when they get so desperate as to come to my house and help themselves to anything that moves, they're mine.