Hawk attacking my cat... what should I do?

[begin_within]

A large grey hawk has been hanging out in our backyard for the past 2 weeks. Twice in the last 3 days he has swooped down and came within inches of grabbing my cat. The cat ran, and I threw stuff at the hawk, and he just goes back up to the telephone pole. I throw rocks at him and he flies away, but the next day he is back again. Any suggestions?

[AllegroRondo]

1. keep your cat indoors

:shrug:

[begin_within]

2. Guess I'll have to until the hawk goes away, but he's always been an indoor-outdoor cat

[Orsino]

7. Is a compromise possible?

Do you have a porch, or some other way to get Kitty some fresh air while safely under cover?

I know the li'l critter won't like being confined, but a determined hawk is going to injure it eventually.

[begin_within]

40. What about bird netting?

[ariesgem]

41. How about one of these?

http://www.catsplay.com/kittywalk_lawn.php3

[DS1]

3. What he said

Either that or build a battle armor suit with giant poisonous spikes facing upwards

[Writer]

4. Seriously, keep the cat indoors. There's nothing you can do about this predator.

We have hawks in our area, as well, and I have heard stories from friends of cats disappearing. Seriously, I wish I could give you better advice, but please keep the kitty indoors, if you can.

Take care,

Writer.

[guitar man]

5. get a shotgun?

:shrug:


I keed, I keed!!

I keep a bowl of loud firecrackers by the door. Anytime unwanted "guests" start hanging around, I'll light one or two and toss them out in the yard. Sometimes it works, sometimes doesn't, it's worth a try.

[liontamer]

6. build a cat run.

you have no chance against a hawk, and if it's an endangered species your rock throwing is a felony. Keeping your cat indoors is the safest, but a good caged enclosure is your next bet.

[begin_within]

33. I wonder if putting bird netting over the whole backyard would make a difference.

[mainegreen]

8. Tie a wooden board with nails poking up out of it to you cat's back. n/t

[Sequoia]

23. Suddenly, the quiteness of the office is shattered by an outburst of laughter.

So stop already.

[Shakespeare]

9. Buy a box of bunnies, and just toss one outside once in awhile.

That oughta keep him fed and occupied.
























I KID, I KID!!

[LostinVA]

57. hehehehehhehehehe

I love baby bunnies.

[Shakespeare]

61. Me, too--love those teeny baby ears they have

*faints from cuteness*

How are you? :hi:

[LostinVA]

62. I flushed some when I was trailrunning last night

*SWOON*

Haruka didn't get to see them, since she was trailWALKING.

Doing well -- wedding planning.

[commander bunnypants]

58. Why kid

great idea

CB

[matcom]

10. *sigh*

i'm not in the mood tonight. yet another reason....

[realisticphish]

11. wow

Nothing, I'm sorry. Short of killing it, which i believe is illegal, there's absolutely nothing you can do.

[Shakespeare]

13. Yup, that'd be illegal. 16 USC 703 through 712.

Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

[realisticphish]

22. personally

I wouldn't want to anyway, I love birds of prey. Not that I would want my cat near it of course

[SteppingRazor]

75. Only illegal if this particular type of bird is covered under the act...

not all birds are. Hell, not even all migratory birds are.

That said, it'd still be illegal, since you're discharging a firearm in a neighborhood and there's generally laws against that, no matter what you're shooting at (barring self-defense and whatnot).

On edit: If the OP meant "gray hawk" as in that particular species, then yes, it's illegal. I wasn't sure whether "grey" was just a descriptor of color or not.

[Shakespeare]

76. All raptors are covered. n/t

[xchrom]

12. the hawk has probably moved into the neighborhood for the summer.

hawks aren't fond of competition.

i'm always seeing the coopers and redtailed hawks attack the feral cats in the garden just a few feet from my door.

i haven't seen one grab one -- but boy oh boy do they come close -- and those kitties jump like crazy.

it's probably dicey for a hawk to actually grab a cat -- so he may never do that.

[begin_within]

16. Oh boy. That's great.

[xchrom]

18. there's no business like show business and no news like -- um -- uh -- bad news.

i take it my ethel merman isn't entertaining you?

[Kali]

14. only let kitty out after dark

of course then an owl might get it, or some other mamalian predator...best bet is keep kitty in for a few weeks.

[begin_within]

15. Fortunately the cat is totally black, and almost impossible to see at night.

But then I'm worried about ground-based predators like coyotes...

[pokerfan]

17. You might want to read this

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/zoo00/zoo00233.htm

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

19. Please keep your kitty indoors!

If he is carried off by that hawk you won't be able to live with yourself.

[msanthrope]

20. Would something shiny on the cat's collar work? n/t

[puerco-bellies]

53. That might help the hawk's aim..

OP - Keep your kitty inside for awhile. Even if the hawk can't lift the kitty, it's talons can kill.

[bigwillq]

21. Any pics?

Would love to see a pic of the hawk.

[TZ]

24. You might want to check out the trees nearby

It sounds like the hawk MIGHT be protecting a nest. Hawks really don't usually go after cats as prey. They like much smaller things. It sounds like territorial aggression actually. I think if he really did want to grab your cat, he/she would have they are very fast!

[Gormy Cuss]

63. Exactly what I would guess is happening.

We had hawks nesting in the neighbor's yard two summers ago and the roaming cats steered clear of that entire yard --- these are cats who aren't fazed by the mockingbirds' nest defense attacks.

Best to keep the cat out of harms way for a few months if that cat hasn't figured it out on its own by now. The hawk can and will hurt it but I doubt that it's trying to capture the cat. Coyotes on the other hand love to snack on cats.

[tandot]

25. How heavy is your cat? Is the hawk big enough to grab it?

Maybe the hawk has a nest somewhere close by and it is just protecting its young from the cat?

It will be best to keep the cat inside.

[begin_within]

42. He's a relatively small cat, 7 years old but still small and slender - I think he was a runt.

[Inchworm]

26. I just cannot imagine a grown cat that is used to the outdoors

being a victim of a hawk. Cats rock at evasive maneuvers, and they don't miss much. I'm probably wrong and you might ought to keep the cat inside.

I created an entire vicious struggle for resources out my back window. The cats stalk the birds, my dogs bark at the cats, the squirrels steal the food and 2 squirrels will chase the cats. A hawk would defiantly put a kink in it all.

Hmm.. was it your cat taking out my songbirds? :D

:shrug:

:hi:

[Liberalynn]

27. I have the same problems here with the critters.

The barn cats chase the birds, and the squirrels eat most of the seed out of the bird feeders. The starlings eat all the suet I put out for the wood peckers, and the dog nearly kills me trying to chase them all when I walk her.

Plus we have a migratory Tom cat (the black and white kitty in my banner) who shows up to dine frequently and he is always beating the crap out of a more docile younger male, whom I believe is the migratory Tom's son. The younger male's name is Sparky, and the poor little boy often finds it necessary to run and hide. I feel so bad for him as his sister also likes to beat him up every now and then too. He just doesn't seem to know how to stand up for himself.

I just saw a crow diving at him in the field on top of it. I'd bring him in the house, but I had a hard enough time convincing my Mom to let me bring our little neurologically challenged kitty in at the vet's suggestion, and keeping him separate from the dog, who hates cats. I doubt I'd convince my mother or the dog that bringing Sparky into the mix would be a good idea.

[Inchworm]

32. guess it boils down to

Nature does nothing uselessly.

I kind of created the issue here, but I really like watching all the birds during the day. :)

:hi:

[Liberalynn]

34. I like watching the birds too

especially when the rarer ones show up. We have a pair of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks that show up every once in a while and have even had a couple of Baltimore Orioles. They don't stick around long here just stop by for a couple of weeks on their way to another climate I guess. I also love to watch the crows and the red headed woodpeckers.

[Inchworm]

36. This is the first time I actually paid attention

A very sweet and special person to me kind of got me in to it. I love her to death for it! I haven't seen any real "rare" sightings, but I can pick up all the ones around here by their calls.

My latest favorite to watch is a Brown Thrusher that keeps running squirrels off because he eats off the ground too.

:)

Edit: spell checker is my friend

[Madrone]

28. My friend's grandmother -

Had her small "toy sized" dog outside and watched it get grabbed up by a hawk. When it got back into the air it dropped the little dog. The dog fell to it's death. In view of the grandmother. :(

[Liberalynn]

30. That must have been awful for your friend's grandmother.

It is horrible to see your pet being hurt/fatally injured and not being able to do anything to help it.

[tandot]

45. OH NO!!! How "toy sized" was it??? My Leo is almost 10 pounds.

I am always worried about him but he rarely is outside in the yard by himself. However, I think he now is just too big to be seen as prey.

What a nightmare for the poor grandmother.

[Madrone]

54. I'm sorry ... I don't know.

I'm not even sure what kind of dog it was. My friend may know at least the breed - but not sure.

[dben88]

29. Indoors.

There are hawks in my parents' neighborhood and we have to keep the puppies (goldens) inside. Pure predators

[SPKrazy]

31. Put a weight belt on your cat...

so he weighs even more :P

[DS1]

35. yea

but then the hawk will have his baby cat baby cat baby cat RIBS!

[Redstone]

37. Do NOT try to punch the hawk. I tried that with an Osprey once, and the gash I got

on my wrist took months to heal, including a lot of very painful debridement.

Those birds may be "noble raptors" and all that claptrap, but their beaks are filthy with germs.

Redstone

[Blue-Jay]

65. I can't imagine that was the OP's first thought!

Words to live by: "Never try to punch a hawk" :rofl:

[asthmaticeog]

66. Wait - what?

You punched an osprey? Come on, you can't just drop that without telling the story!

[mainegreen]

69. Like, midflight?

:rofl:
That's crazy.

[slj0101]

71. This is one of those posts you never expect to see on a message board.

:D

[MissB]

93. You didn't.

:rofl:

[libodem]

38. Tie one of those big plastic

owls on kitty's back. My late friend Jeanette, regaled me with a tale, of the neighbors down the mountain, who's little dog was taken by an eagle. It happens.

[Bjornsdotter]

39. Scary

I've had a red-tailed hawk swoop my boxer puppy last summer, it came between me and the dog....Bailey was only on a 4ft leash. That scared the shit out of me. I've seen hawks take squirrels and chipmunks out of our yard, while I've been not more than 3 ft away.

My advice, keep the cat in the house and contact your county wildlife bureau. They usually have good advice.

Cheers

[pitohui]

43. harming a hawk is a felony, stop throwing stones

keep the cat indoors or feed the cat to the hawk, i really don't care which, but it is a felony to interfere with a North American raptor (bird of prey) without a license

cats are not endangered, they are an overpopulation, it is the right of the hawk to defend its territory and to feed

it is an honor to have your cat eaten by a hawk

people who care about their cats keep them indoors, no excuses, there is no natural habitat for the housecat in north america

[begin_within]

46. No, it is defintely not an honor to have my cat eaten by a hawk. Sorry.

Moreover, if any animal of any species attacked me with deadly force, I would kill it without hesitation, in self defense. Even if it was the last surviving specimen of that species. My life is not worth sacrificing for the sake of the survival of another species. Sorry. I have rights too, and my cat has the right to live a life undisturbed by predators.

[pitohui]

47. if you put the life of a cat aga. an endangered species nothing to discuss. u have chosen evil

people who boldly boast that they are on the side of evil and the death of species really need to get a conscience but reality is that evil people don't turn to the side of good much after age 13 or so

too many people are happy to destroy species and the planet for their own convenience but i wish more of them had enough conscience to at least not boast about it

[begin_within]

49. Since when is one's survival a matter of "convenience?" If my life was in immediate peril

from an animal attack, I would kill that animal without hesitation or any guilt. The law doesn't matter in that situation. The endangered status of the animal doesn't matter in that situation. All that matters is my survival. The animal is dead. Period. Not a second thought.

[Xithras]

51. I agree about you, not about the cat.

Personally, if I saw you kill a hawk to defend you're cat, I'd call every agency I could to push for your prosecution. Cats are an invasive species and have no place in the natural environment of North America. They're just as destructive to nature as suburban sprawl and pollution, and are far more devastating than all of Americas hunters combined.

You have a right to a cat, and your cat has a right to live, but it MUST live in harmony with the natural environment that already exists. Neither you nor your cat has a right to change the environment or to kill or chase off native fauna. If your cat cannot live outside with the hawk, you should keep it inside.

That said, it's not likely that the hawk could get your cat. They do catch them on rare occasion, but cats are excellent at evasion. Dogs tend to be more frequent targets because they aren't built to evade the same way cats are.

As others have mentioned, you can also try some bird netting. It's effective, and you can net a typical yard for about $50. Put the number for the local SPCA on your speedial however, because you're going to be calling them to have injured birds untangled with some regularity.

[begin_within]

60. Go ahead and call. If a bird attacks and harms my cat, the bird is taking a bullet. Period.

I don't care whether it's an endangered species or not. It's self-defense. Anyone or anything that attacks me or one of my dependents is dead. Period.

[Catchawave]

68. Keep your kitty safe indoors. The hawk has a family to feed

this time of year.

[ronnykmarshall]

64. Honor?

Oh yeah, what a great honor?

:eyes:

[HEyHEY]

77. I'm sure the cat has another opinion about that "honour" thing

[Zuiderelle]

79. Please god...

[Midlodemocrat]

80. Okay, that totally cracked me up.

:rofl:

[ronnykmarshall]

88. Priceless!

That comment is going in the hall of fame.

[crispini]

91. SNORT!

:spray:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

92. Post. Of. The. Fucking. MONTH.

:thumbsup: :rofl:

[Deep13]

82. invasive species vs. native wildlife...

...in a test of sympathies, bird wins.

[Blue-Jay]

83. It's also a great honor to have your baby eaten by cannibals.

[Deep13]

84. baby=cat?

Granted, saying it is an honor is a stretch. Still, I don't think losing a pet to natural predation is quite the same thing as infanticide.

[Blue-Jay]

94. Depends on who you ask, eh?

[ronnykmarshall]

89. THE DINGO'S GOT ME BABY!!

[sniffa]

90. i Love your posts

man, you are fucking OUT THERE.

[eppur_se_muova]

44. Realistic statue of an owl ? Starter's pistol/blanks?

:shrug:

[pitohui]

48. read post 46, this is not a legit sincere question, this person seeks an excuse to kill

anyone looking to kill an endangered species for their own convenience is not looking for a safe "do not harm" solution like keeping the cat inside, owl statues, or starter's pistol

they just want to kill the hawk and not pay the $20K fine

[MonkeyFunk]

81. Don't be silly

he's not looking for an excuse to kill - he's looking for a way to keep his pet safe.

Your "honor killing" theory is just nuts.

[Hotler]

50. Let the hawk have the cat and be done with it

or keep your cat inside.

[ronnykmarshall]

87. How nnniiiiiicccceee!

[hyphenate]

52. I, too, would say keep him in for awhile

You might also want to see if there is a wildlife or raptor sanctuary near you that you can ask for advice. Good luck--hope the kitty stays safe.

[Evoman]

55. I don't know, but I would leave the Hawk alone if I were you.

If you leave your cat inside for some time, it might go away (although I can't imagine a raptor sitting around waiting for a cat...it's nest is probably nearby).

I would love to have a hawk live outside my apartment. Hell, I would probably feed it cats if it found them tasty!

:hide:

[djones9916]

56. Here's a response that makes sense...

Call animal control. They will remove just about any animal that is proving a harm to pets. It's not that hard to catch a hawk and relocate it.

[Shell Beau]

59. Wow! People are being kind of harsh here.

The only thing you really can do is to keep your cat inside. I feel like your cat could escape from the hawk, but to be on the safe side, bring him in. Hawks are wonderful birds. They are truly amazing to watch, but I understand you being concerned about your pet. Who wouldn't be? Why a lot of people here are being so harsh towards you I really don't understand. Hawks are protected, so it is best to leave him alone, but you could possibly call the animal control to see what ideas they may have!

[stuntcat]

70. right? lol

Maybe there's something somewhere out in the world more worth fighting about.

I'd keep my cat INSIDE! but I might set a fish or stake or mouse or something out there for Mr. Hawk :D I bet he's a pretty bird.

[Shell Beau]

74. Hawks are gorgeous! I am always in awe when I see one!

But, the point is here is that he wants to protect his cat and people are jumping on him. If it were one of my dogs (I do have a small one too) I would feel exactly the same way. They are inside and outside all day. Thank God for doggie doors.

[Capn Sunshine]

67. .22 rifle

with CB caps. Very limited noise; lethal force for hawks. Sometimes, raptors know the sound of a bullet and leave the area. So try shooting around him. I prefer not to kill things , but when my family is threatened......

[krispos42]

72. Velco a porcupine to your cat

Problem solved!

[SoxFan]

73. Get a Maine Coon

The damn bird would get a hernia...B-)

[HEyHEY]

78. Or a tiger

[Bridget Burke]

85. Keep the cat inside.

Yes, it's a pain to clean a litter box.

But the hawk has a right to live.

[ronnykmarshall]

86. Hopefully my kittens will not have the 'honor'

of being eaten. I've seen a hawk hanging out on telephone pole by out deck. I hope that it doesn't jump on our widow ledge and give my kittens the "honor".