[gerryann]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

Thank you for this post very much. Your coming forward to unequivocally put to rest denial that coyotes are Wiley enough to find kitties kitties on the lanai. Videos of coyotes show them breaking windows as well.
If I were you, it would be hurtful to have people disbelieve what I am sure of, accuse me of telling A fable about the disappearance of my sweet cat, or blaming me for leaving the door ajar, not caring that The reality of the awfulness Of replaying over and over my guilt for not protecting well, the sickening impossible longing to do over that nanosecond.
Hoping it was quickly done, I hope kitty neck was snapped! Just like that! between his favorite place and the portal the beast came in and out. There is no real comfort.

Dear One, may the Lord comfort you. May the readers you hope to spare from losing their innocence Violently get you when you describe the beast, now that you've looked him in the eye, you describe so beautifully and tragically what it's like, that you were the only one who knows that you are looking in the eye of the beast whose vicious ravening teeth savored at least the liver, possibly sharing kitty with pups.

I hope with you that the warning will not fall on deaf ears.
It is not easy being a prophet of doom.

Beyond a shadow of doubt, you know that a coyote ate your cat.
I know beyond a shadow of doubt, that when my cat goes to the highest farthest spot on in the lanai, out near the screen, where he can see out, and sit in the sun, he feels catly, kingly superior.

As the person responsible to protect him, the intelligent one, the researcher who learns everything she can about the enemy, beyond a shadow of doubt I know that in the dark silently invisibly a growing army is in training. Learning that cat-on-lanai is the best kill food. A cat that presents himself, like a gift, right out at the screen. Coyotes have a sort of beat you stalk, smelling, scoping out. In the wild it was tough, prey had to be chased.

Prey in the wild were fair game. Is it sporting, these fish in a barrel, is it moral to find the weakest point of entry, break in and snap! And back out the way the way I came in? Fowl on the lakes are yummy, but they are less cost effective.
The advantage is all ours..tame little cats are unwary, no trees On a alanai, and we climb better than a tame cat anyway. Easier. I'd say, than a sitting duck.

Ducks can fly.
Sheep to the slaughter. Screens are there to keep the kitty from having an exit when I tear it, exactly like our historical favorite, sheep penned up as lifestock.
Risky business. Farmers know we are there. They have big dogs, high fences, multiple traps, snares, poison, raid our nests, we win some and we lose some. Shotguns. We learned to work at night.

In TV we are learning when garbage days are, which houses have pets, where the dogs are trolled on lines like bait with no hook, which neighborhoods have the houses with the kill inside a fence---you just hop up, in, up, out. But you have to case the joint and work the day shift.
Cat-on-lanai is my favorite, night or day, like window shopping.



......

Yikes....this is a lot of stuff. I don't care for your constant phrase of the cats neck being snapped.....a bit dramatic.

When my kids were little, they had a window that led out to the roof of the house. They used to love to go out there late at night, lie down, and watch the stars. As much as they enjoyed this, it was way too dangerous. I was the one responsible for their safety. After attempts at "trusting" that they wouldn't go out there. I eventually had to nail the window shut. I had to do whatever it took to keep them safe and out of danger.

I am aware of the natural dangers here in central Florida. My dog can't swim in the lakes or ponds, I must take precautions whenever she is outdoors. When playing in the parks, I have to watch out for fire ants. There are many regional dangers here in Central Florida, including Coyotes. I chose to live here. I must adjust to my surroundings and protect my pet......this does NOT include removing animals that live here as well.