EDMONTON — RCMP believe coyotes are the likely cause of several recently-reported cat mutilations near Edmonton that were previously suspected to be the work of humans.
Last week Mounties received a report of a third cat that appeared to have been mutilated and was found in St. Albert. RCMP who examined the carcass said it looked much like two previous cat deaths reported to police at the end of August. The cat was also left lying in a field, and police said from all appearances looked like it had been cut open.
The RCMP had a necropsy — an examination of a non-human body — done on the cat. It was performed by the chief veterinarian office at the University of Alberta, which confirmed the cat died from a coyote attack.
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RCMP compared photos of the third cat to the two previous cases, and believe all three cats were killed by coyotes. Police said they didn’t find any evidence that humans were involved in the deaths.
The suspected mutilations prompted the Edmonton Humane Society last week to warn pet owners to take extra precautions.
In its news release, the RCMP said it had learned that coyotes will hunt cats, especially when they are training their pups how to hunt. They can leave the cat looking like it was cut open as a way to interest their pups to eating prey.
Coyotes usually target other wild species, but in urban areas will also eat pet food, garbage, garden crops, livestock, poultry, and pets like small dogs and cats. As Edmonton has expanded, it has begun to encroach upon coyote habitat and forced the animals to adapt.
RCMP recommends owners keep their pets indoors, especially at dusk, dawn and overnight.
“With an active coyote population in the city, the RCMP recommends that pet owners protect small pets particularly if they are in or near city green spaces. Keeping them indoors during this peak coyote hunting and training time is something that pet owners may have to consider,” said Cpl. Laurel Kading, St. Albert RCMP.
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