Bigger Cat Killer: Possums or Raccoons?

[Jack_Dawson]

I heard they both attack cats, and both have been spotted in gf's yard of late. Which are scarier to her cats and (small) dogs?

[Buzz Clik]

Both will leave the cat alone...

but both will kick the cat's ass if the cat is stupid enough to invade their space. Unless her dog is one of the "rat on a leash" things, her dog should be fine.

[Patiod]

10. Actually, "rats on a leash" will kill groundhogs & others

Some of them were bred to do that.

/easily offended dachshund owner

[Buzz Clik]

13. No, Wrong breed.

The Wiener Dog is NOT a rat on a leash.



and similar such rats.

[Patiod]

25. Thank you, Buzz

Although I'm ashamed to admit I was walking through NYC one evening, walked by a dimly lit lot and thought "Yikes! That's the biggest rat I've ever seen" before I realized he was attached to a leash, and was actually a dachshund.

But they are fierce little guys, and will go after all sorts of yard intruders, then shake them to break their necks.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Both, keep the pets inside.

[PatriotGames]

26. Agreed.

[Midlodemocrat]

27. Seriously, better safe than sorry.

[0007]

2. In the west the coyote will take care domestic cats fairly easy

[Buzz Clik]

15. For coyotes... cat = midnight snack

[smiley_glad_hands]

3. Make sure Rabies Vaccinations are up to date. eom

[madinmaryland]

4. Wild pigs . . see this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2162247

[MuseRider]

5. Out on the farm

my barn cats encounter both and have never had a problem. The cats are pretty tough even though they are spoiled with access to my heated and air conditioned office. I worry more about the coyotes and bob cats and the occasional Great Horned Owl (I don't know if they really bother cats, someone told me they did).

Someone suggested Rabies vaccinations, do that just in case.

[eternalburn]

6. Both pretty much stay to themselves unless.....

...threatened or sick.

You definitely don't want a wild/feral animal coming into contact with your domestic pets just because of disease/parasites.

[kittycat1164]

7. A possum tore my Dammit up last year

I think Dammy was under the deck and either got cornered or cornered the possum, but he was ripped open. His whole cheek was gone, I could put my finger through his face and neck. He recovered fine, but maaan, it was a long haul. Thank God he's never had a run in with a coon, I don't know about how vicious they can be.

[Jack_Dawson]

11. Sorry to hear that!

That sounds traumatic (and expensive).

[catzies]

8. If she brings in all her pets inside every night she should never have

a problem with either of those, or coyotes, which are the biggest threat.

And she shouldn't leave pet food outside to encourage them, and make sure there's nothing in her yard that's hospitable to them and maybe soon they'll go away.

[Vanje]

9. What eats cats and dogs

Before I became a ne'er-do-well, I was a wildlife biologist, so I have a little bit of experience here.

Opossums are pretty dumb and pretty slow, more of a scavenger than a predator. A cat that lets itself get killed by an opossum is probably already dead. An oppossum would really enjoy a bowl of cat or dog food.

Racoons are resourceful and can be ruthless predators. I wouldnt put anything past a really hungry racoon, but he'd rather eat cat food than a cat because its easier.

My vote for biggest predator threat to small kittens is a Great-horned owl.
Biggest predator threat to cats and small dogs is a suburban Coyote.

[Grown2Hate]

12. Both are potential dangers, BUT...

if you see Bill Frist lurking around your yard, get the cat INSIDE ASAP! ;)

[Jack_Dawson]

14. I don't get it...

The Senate Majority Leader killz catz?

[Lavender Brown]

20. see here

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20021231-071056-3546r

[Jack_Dawson]

21. OMG!!!

Why haven't I heard about this? Jeffrey Dahmer started out the same way. This dude is our Senate Majority Leader?

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[Lavender Brown]

17. Ha

If that guy ever runs for President, I'm bringing my cat to protests. :)

[demnan]

16. We had a short beagle-bassett mix when I was a kid

and she killed an entire litter of baby possums. So I guess she was more than a match for the mother. It was gruesome, really. Poor little things and Pansy was so proud of herself.

[soothsayer]

29. beagles are cat killers, too. I got bitten in the face by the same

one that killed our guinea pig.

[skygazer]

18. I have many raccoons around here

And all my neighbors as well as myself have cats. They leave each other alone and I think the only time you'd have a real problem is if the cats or dog messed with the raccoons. Possums I don't know about.

Coyotes and foxes though are cat killers.

[sam sarrha]

19. The possum is the most dangerous.. Its teeth are more numerous and SHARP

I saw a guy get some Really bad karma returned to him for abusing a possum, literally shredded his arm, he almost died, and was only 6 blocks from the hospital.. they have big mouths with hilarious teeth, they will not offensively attack a cat/dog but will defend themselves from attack. they are sort of a perehistoric thing.. spooky.

The raccoons are nothing to mess with either...if you keep your garbage LOCKED up, dog food inside..or put up a fence. they will go elsewhere..mostly.. they are very clever and intelligent... abuse is probably the only thing that will keep them away, if you cant trap them out. ammonia supper soaker's, non lethal weaponry if you are so inclined.. a wamo slingshot with marbles.. you will have to hurt them some for them to get the point.. sorry but if you want to control them it will take some non wimpy regular gettn down on the varmints or they will soon act as though you are not there... or learn to live with them... that might work or not. maybe just when you are around .depends on if they get fed there someway or other, or think they will.

you can check with the Agricultural extension or the forestry dept and get some better advice on how to control them

they took a seal from Seatle WA to San diago Ca and he was back in weeks. the forestry people might be able to tell you more about the Racoons habits..

[donheld]

22. Neither You and i are

[City Lights]

23. Coyotes and owls are the big predators around here.

When we first moved here, everyone we met warned us about it. Our cats stay indoor anyways, but we appreciated being alerted to the danger.

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

24. Coons usually kill our chickens. Our cats are mean to the possums

and the dogs will chase them off, anyway. the bigger concern is the coyotes, but they don't come up to the yard much.

[soothsayer]

28. anything if rabid (rabid skunks SUCK), and healthy coyotes