• Myth - Coyotes only hunt at night. Cats should be safe if allowed outdoors during the daytime.
  Reality - A hungry coyote will do ANYTHING for a meal, including hunting during the daytime. After all, they are not closely related to vampires. I have been told numerous stories of coyote attacks during broad daylight. Although a coyote will generally prefer to hunt during the nighttime hours, often the are active just before sunup, during the twilight hours of the evening, or even at high-noon.
  
  
• Myth - Coyotes can't climb fences. . Cats should be safe if they are kept behind a fence. Reality - Once again, A hungry coyote will do ANYTHING for a meal. This includes scaling fences, climbing trees to leap over a tall fence, breaking through screened porches, etc. They don't seemed to be easily fooled by lights, smells or even noise most times. I have seen a number of interesting coyote deterrents, but I have yet to hear of a truly successful deterrent.
  
  
• Myth - There is no evidence of a struggle. A missing cat could have just wondered off.
  Reality - Coyotes often, but not always, execute what I have termed "snatch and run" mode of attack on small animals. Often there will be no sign of a struggle, short of a few tuffs of fur. There are a number of theories why a coyote will run with prey in his jaws after an attack. But the result is that any evidence of a coyote attack may be a long distance from the site of the attack.
  
  
• Myth - I have not seen any coyotes in the neighborhood. My small pets should be safe.
  Reality - Coyotes are superb hunters within our suburban neighborhoods. They are not likely to be seen. They do not leave fliers or business cards on our doors to announce that they are in the neighborhood. Their hunting territory may cover a 20 square mile area. I suspect each night they cover a different part of their territory looking for prey. A kitty outdoors is playing Russian roulette. It may just be a matter of time before an unsuspecting kitty is at the wrong place, at the wrong time, when a coyote crosses his path. If their are often signs posted in the neighborhood of "Missing Pet" then you may be seeing the evidence of coyotes in the neighborhood.
  
  
• Myth - Coyotes fear humans.
  Reality - Yes and No. Coyotes, like many other wildlife species, have a keen sense of danger. Often they can size up an opponent in an encounter and quickly decide the probability of a successful attack. Big dogs: Probably no match, Humans: bigger yet, no match. Small pets: Easy prey. Small children: perhaps a possible prey although there have been few encounters reported. I think that you can get an idea the match up is often measured on opponent size. Be aware, however, that most wild animals, if cornered, or threatened, ignore the size thing and will fight for survival. One exception to this wildlife matching concept are those half-breed coyotes that are the result of coyote-dog mating. It may be possible that these animals share the wild characteristics of a coyote combined with the lack of human fear characteristics of a dog.

The bottom line is simply to protect your small pet as you would your child. A domesticated cat is generally treated with care, love and may not be prepared for the treatment and cunning that they may encounter with a predator. The only truly safe cat is one that is kept indoors. There are many dangers in the outdoors for a kitty. On the average, cats that are allowed outdoors, live shortened lives.