Sad news this morning
Discussion
I had been thinking this week how lucky we have been with our eldest cat Cola. She is 12, and is a very close companion to al of us. Hugely affectionate and a real lap cat, unusually so.
I just came home from a nightshift and went to put my car cleaning stuff in the shed. In the side alley I found her, clearly dead, but unfortunately it's a bit worse than that.
She was absolutely drenched, yet its bone dry here. Next door has a pond, and I found fur on our grass. I suspect she has had an interaction with a fox resulting in her fence hopping, falling in the pond and making it back here. I don't know whether her heart will have given way or the fox got to her first, but unfortunately, a large hole on her right side had been made and her insides were poking out. There was little blood visible, I suspect licked / drank. We have shale so it may have sunk down?
Initially I wondered whether this could have been a human who did this. Logically thinking about it, I know there are foxes here and I suspect it must have been a fox with the evidence of her being so wet, then the fur in the garden, and then making it to the alley which makes sense as we have a metal gate which could have acted as a barrier etc. But currently I am not thinking straight, feel sick and am bordering on bursting out in tears.
We just told our kids, 7 and 9, and our daughter is devastated. This is the 3rd cat we have lost in 3 years. The previous one was Nestle who was 3 months old with a heart condition who we found dead on Xmas day 2 years ago.
Has anyone had their cat attacked by a fox - is what I describe making sense or should I consider some sort of foul play?
Sorry, and thanks.
I just came home from a nightshift and went to put my car cleaning stuff in the shed. In the side alley I found her, clearly dead, but unfortunately it's a bit worse than that.
She was absolutely drenched, yet its bone dry here. Next door has a pond, and I found fur on our grass. I suspect she has had an interaction with a fox resulting in her fence hopping, falling in the pond and making it back here. I don't know whether her heart will have given way or the fox got to her first, but unfortunately, a large hole on her right side had been made and her insides were poking out. There was little blood visible, I suspect licked / drank. We have shale so it may have sunk down?
Initially I wondered whether this could have been a human who did this. Logically thinking about it, I know there are foxes here and I suspect it must have been a fox with the evidence of her being so wet, then the fur in the garden, and then making it to the alley which makes sense as we have a metal gate which could have acted as a barrier etc. But currently I am not thinking straight, feel sick and am bordering on bursting out in tears.
We just told our kids, 7 and 9, and our daughter is devastated. This is the 3rd cat we have lost in 3 years. The previous one was Nestle who was 3 months old with a heart condition who we found dead on Xmas day 2 years ago.
Has anyone had their cat attacked by a fox - is what I describe making sense or should I consider some sort of foul play?
Sorry, and thanks.
Thx for replies.
Turns out the kids heard a commotion at 6am which matches the outcome. Her being soaking wet has thrown me but the pond next door offers an explanation.
Maybe a cat fight then a fox got to her afterwards. But I was home by 0730 and the hole was large, fairly clean. We do have fixes here and we hear them in the early hours but there are other cats about too.
Turns out the kids heard a commotion at 6am which matches the outcome. Her being soaking wet has thrown me but the pond next door offers an explanation.
Maybe a cat fight then a fox got to her afterwards. But I was home by 0730 and the hole was large, fairly clean. We do have fixes here and we hear them in the early hours but there are other cats about too.
Just spoke to our vet who said the outcome I described is quite a common one of cats get into a tussle with foxes or badgers. There are a lot of foxes around here at the moment.
Their suggestion was she was attacked in the garden, and has rolled / staggered through the dewy grass which explains the wetness. I have found pieces of her fur in the grass, which supports this theory.
Really feel sad, she was one of my best friends and now is gone forever.
Their suggestion was she was attacked in the garden, and has rolled / staggered through the dewy grass which explains the wetness. I have found pieces of her fur in the grass, which supports this theory.
Really feel sad, she was one of my best friends and now is gone forever.
Sorry for poor Cola
We have a fox that comes along our wall almost every night. Never had any issues with our 2 cats they always seem to avoid each other seen the fox sleeping in the undergrowth from time to time at the side of the house our vet said it’s very rare and the fox would usually be desperate to attack a cat.
We have a fox that comes along our wall almost every night. Never had any issues with our 2 cats they always seem to avoid each other seen the fox sleeping in the undergrowth from time to time at the side of the house our vet said it’s very rare and the fox would usually be desperate to attack a cat.
Thx, reading messages does help. She was my cat and I was very close. Unfortunately there just won't be another cat as affectionate as she was.
Its the not knowing exactly what happened thats on my mind. There are also some bird feathers on the ground and I have just also found mouse head or part of one.
Its the wetness I'm stumped about, I got in at 0730 and she was soaked and cold. The wound on her side was huge and her insides totally exposed. Any human involvement I've ruled out as our dog goes mad at any noise and we are surrounded by gravel. Kids also heard it we found out, they happened to be sleeping in a den in the downstairs room where she came to rest. They said they heard a commotion at 6am.
Really hurts. I tried to cry but couldn't.
Its the not knowing exactly what happened thats on my mind. There are also some bird feathers on the ground and I have just also found mouse head or part of one.
Its the wetness I'm stumped about, I got in at 0730 and she was soaked and cold. The wound on her side was huge and her insides totally exposed. Any human involvement I've ruled out as our dog goes mad at any noise and we are surrounded by gravel. Kids also heard it we found out, they happened to be sleeping in a den in the downstairs room where she came to rest. They said they heard a commotion at 6am.
Really hurts. I tried to cry but couldn't.
I'm so sorry to hear about Cola! My cat passed away in 2005 and I still think fondly about him every day. My work since has involved travelling and I'm actually allergic, so I never did get another.
Having said that, my back garden seems to be a big animal crossing, with plenty of neighbourhood cats either traversing or lying on my garden furniture in the sun or on the patio. We also get foxes, hedgehogs, badgers and on occasion, deer. The cats don't tolerate each other well, but the foxes and cats seem happy to be in the garden with each other and pretty much ignore each other. I'm surprised as I thought they would be natural enemies, but apparently not...
Having said that, my back garden seems to be a big animal crossing, with plenty of neighbourhood cats either traversing or lying on my garden furniture in the sun or on the patio. We also get foxes, hedgehogs, badgers and on occasion, deer. The cats don't tolerate each other well, but the foxes and cats seem happy to be in the garden with each other and pretty much ignore each other. I'm surprised as I thought they would be natural enemies, but apparently not...
I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s always heartbreaking & so many ‘what ifs’ are left.
You want answers, of course you do, but is unusual for a fox & cat to fight
It could be the case that she was near Cubs & the fox defended? Or something else happened & the fox did what foxes do; scavenged
You won’t know & beating yourself up over a commotion & what happened won’t help your mental health (having been there after Bast was hit by a car - I beat myself up for months because I’d let her out at a time I wouldn’t usually).
There will never be another cat you have that bond with, true. BUT there will be others that you have a different bond with, just as special.
You want answers, of course you do, but is unusual for a fox & cat to fight
It could be the case that she was near Cubs & the fox defended? Or something else happened & the fox did what foxes do; scavenged
You won’t know & beating yourself up over a commotion & what happened won’t help your mental health (having been there after Bast was hit by a car - I beat myself up for months because I’d let her out at a time I wouldn’t usually).
There will never be another cat you have that bond with, true. BUT there will be others that you have a different bond with, just as special.
Thx again.
So this is our 3rd loss in 3 years.
First loss - first cat at old age. Lived with it and was there for her. Second loss was the kitten replacement months later, died Xmas Day 2019 at 3 months. The PH Cat Thread has all the details - invisible heart condition - had huge support from PH - first class.
Cola lived with all these cats. She was my cat and I bought her in 2010 when looking for a ball for our dog at a pet shop. Long story, won't bore, never bought the ball but left with her instead. Since, she became a staple, a daily necessity and a bold, tough personality. Slept on you, checked on you, and was "always there" ( shift worker so literally ).
I still have not got over what I came home to this morning at 0730. My family member ripped to pieces, wet, and cold with insides exposed, on my drive. No words can express the grief, which was all bottled up, so as to be able to be strong for our kids, which will have dealt with 4 pet deaths now in 3 years at ages 7 and 9 today. All unlucky, and young.
I do think I know what has happened though. The evidence is there.
There were bird feathers and a 3/4 eaten mouse head I found throughout the day, next to the grass area where Colas fur was in tatters. The cats ( we have 2 - now have 1 ) must have been chewing on their latest catch ( both hunters and very well versed outdoor cats ) and set upon by a fox. The fur trail is considerable, but only 2 metres max,. She made it behind our side gate, which is a metal lined one with gaps, but that's where she ended. I suspect fox has managed to creep up whilst she was eating her latest catch, on our well tended lawn. The distance, fur, and end result is very dramatic.
I am struggling but I have been through this and I know will heal.
Cola - the "dog cat" - - do what you want, she won't bite and loves people. Everyone remarked on her, most noticeably, those that weren't fussed by cats. Irreplaceable. I feel guilty accepting what's happened.
Devastated. She was such a switched on cat, agile and never clumsy. Almost like an alpha male, but she was a female. Just so shocking the outcome, never did we think this would be how it would end.
So this is our 3rd loss in 3 years.
First loss - first cat at old age. Lived with it and was there for her. Second loss was the kitten replacement months later, died Xmas Day 2019 at 3 months. The PH Cat Thread has all the details - invisible heart condition - had huge support from PH - first class.
Cola lived with all these cats. She was my cat and I bought her in 2010 when looking for a ball for our dog at a pet shop. Long story, won't bore, never bought the ball but left with her instead. Since, she became a staple, a daily necessity and a bold, tough personality. Slept on you, checked on you, and was "always there" ( shift worker so literally ).
I still have not got over what I came home to this morning at 0730. My family member ripped to pieces, wet, and cold with insides exposed, on my drive. No words can express the grief, which was all bottled up, so as to be able to be strong for our kids, which will have dealt with 4 pet deaths now in 3 years at ages 7 and 9 today. All unlucky, and young.
I do think I know what has happened though. The evidence is there.
There were bird feathers and a 3/4 eaten mouse head I found throughout the day, next to the grass area where Colas fur was in tatters. The cats ( we have 2 - now have 1 ) must have been chewing on their latest catch ( both hunters and very well versed outdoor cats ) and set upon by a fox. The fur trail is considerable, but only 2 metres max,. She made it behind our side gate, which is a metal lined one with gaps, but that's where she ended. I suspect fox has managed to creep up whilst she was eating her latest catch, on our well tended lawn. The distance, fur, and end result is very dramatic.
I am struggling but I have been through this and I know will heal.
Cola - the "dog cat" - - do what you want, she won't bite and loves people. Everyone remarked on her, most noticeably, those that weren't fussed by cats. Irreplaceable. I feel guilty accepting what's happened.
Devastated. She was such a switched on cat, agile and never clumsy. Almost like an alpha male, but she was a female. Just so shocking the outcome, never did we think this would be how it would end.
Edited by Armchair_Expert on Monday 16th August 00:41
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