There are reports that over several months almost two dozen domestic cats have been taken by bobcats between 16th Street South and 27th Street South at Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, USA.
Domestic cats have gone missing and therefore some residents are blaming bobcats although there is only good anecdotal evidence (if one is honest) that bobcats are to blame. They want to trap the bobcats and relocate them to a local forest.
Bobcats do attack domestic animals including livestock and therefore it seems they are well able to successfully attack domestic cats. The bobcat is able to single-handedly kill prey weighing about 10 times their own body weight it’s thought. They kill large prey with a suffocating throat bite and smaller prey with neck bites to sever the spine.
Residents of Flagler Beach are meeting at a local restaurant on Sunday, July 22 at 5pm to discuss the bobcats. The restaurant is Beach Front Grill.
One of the missing cats was described as a “little tiny black cat…and she was my sweet baby girl”. The owner, Petty, said that one day she didn’t come home and her body was found on her neighbour’s porch, ripped with claw marks. This evidence seems to be fairly solid. Although I don’t think a bobcat would leave a domestic cat in this state. A bobcat would kill, carry away and eat the cat.
Petty believes that cats belonging to other neighbours have also been attacked by bobcats. They have simply gone missing and concurrently people report seeing bobcats.
Another resident, Ted Doss, said that he saw a bobcat and thought nothing about it but then realised that the bobcat might be taking cats because all of a sudden lots of cats started to disappear. He said that he has buried three cats that were ‘mangled up’ on Flagler Beach beside the road.
A fundraiser page on Facebook has been started to pay for a trapper to trap the bobcat or bobcats. They don’t want to harm the animals but relocate them.
Residents are unsure whether people have seen either one or several bobcats. A fellow resident made the point that cat owners in the area can keep their cat safe if they keep them inside especially at night. The advice is based upon the argument that bobcats mainly hunt at night. They might well happen in a built-up area to avoid meeting humans. But when hunting wild animals in the wild, bobcats are active during the day and nighttime.
Resident Linda Roy is surprised that there appears to be a change in bobcat behaviour in the area. She said:
“So far, we have had no luck catching him.. We’ve got several raccoons and possums.. I’ve been here 20 years, and this is the first time we’ve had one going around grabbing domestic animals.”
Another resident, Kim Lane, of South Central Avenue said:
“She was kind of an inside-outside kitty. We put her out the night of June 1, and she never came in the next morning. She goes out every night and this has never happened.”
Linda Roy also said that a neighbour’s cat was sitting on her windowsill at about 5:30 in the morning. She heard ‘hollering’ and the cat disappeared and there was blood on the windowsill. The cat survived and was taken to a veterinarian.
There seems to be no hard evidence but there are signs that a bobcat is taking domestic cats in this area. I wish them luck in trapping the bobcat. Perhaps this bobcat or bobcats are particularly hungry and are forced to prey on domestic cat. This may be because their usual prey is in scarce supply. If that is true it might be useful to do some research to find out why.
Source: Palm Coast Observer.
I live in the Daytona Beach, Florida, area, and Flagler Beach lies roughly 31 to 35 miles to the north. I have been well aware of the alligator, snake, and wild boar populations for many years. We have our share of raccoons and foxes. Not only are bobcats present, but coyotes are increasing in numbers all over Florida also. I feel heartbroken for every feral, stray, and domestic cat that falls victim to outdoor predators, and that includes the subhuman kind. It is imperative to keep domestic cats indoors, or in a protected catio, and to aid the feral cat colonies in all possible ways.😰💜💜🐾
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20180506/with-coyotes-on-prowl-along-coastal-volusia-new-smyrna-hosts-meeting
Thanks Frances. If you hear anymore on this please update the story. You live what seems to be a very nice place.
Well, keep your cat inside or in a secure enclosure. If and I mean if the bobcats are eating domestic cats it’s because they have stumbled on an easy source of protein. It is a learned behavior and probably easy pickings.
The downside here is there are mangled remains. So unless the bobcats are killing cats in competition to for territory it doesn’t make sense.
I am becoming annoyed at cat owners who scream and wail that their beloved pet is dead hit by cars,dogs,wildlife or sadistic humans while continuing to let them roam at will.
Why dont ye M E King garner some compassion,ye dont know peoples circumstances and I would advise ye against snapping on me because I have 13 cats and of the 13 4 of them are indoor/outdoor cats and the only thing that has killed my cats in the past is cars and I am a feral cat caregiver so I get annoyed at people who past judgement onto others because they allow them outside and the reason my 4 do go out is they are former ferals that I alone was able to domesticate but still have the wild in them,I’ve had to replace my screens many times due to the former ferals ripping them open and then my indoor only cats got out too so like I said everyones situation is different.
Irish while I understand that some people especially those that rescue feral and semi-feral cats have no choice in the matter the truth is if you are an average pet owner it is your job to keep your animals within and under your personal control. Don’t be overly sensitive because I know how hard you ladies work to take care of all of your cats. TNR is a beast and you are making the best decisions you can for all your cats. Most people will never own a feral cat and have it in their home.
It’s like comparing zoo keepers who in this day and age should have some understanding of how to take care of tigers to the idiot that keeps them in their apartment. And yes I know Michael you hate zoos but i’ve only had one cuppa and it’s the best I could come up with.
Me too. It does surprise me that even when cat owners are concerned about bobcats killing cats they appear not to be prepared to change what they do and keep their cats inside.
My hand raised house fluffs would try and hide behind the nearest pebble. When the route to the AC unit was on our road we inherited many very tame house cats who were scared to death and usually dead and eaten before we could gain their trust. House pets even indoor outdoor TAME cats have lost their edge in most cases. Feral cats are seldom prey as they understand the lay of the land so to speak.
Frog was scared of the thunderstorm so she sat in the middle of the living room and whimpered until i put her in a cubby next to my desk. Feral cats that make it their first year are tough nuts.