Larkwell Valley (2023)

[JacinLarkwell]

Could it be a bobcat? Are you far enough north for a lynx?

It's either a bobcat or a cougar catwise. We've had both pass through on the cameras, but we've actively seen a cougar and had losses to one before

 

[NatJ]

Miss Kitty and Jack are at least a year now I think, since they were here last winter. Miss Big Tort is probably at least 1 as well, she doesn't look gangly like the other Miss does, or like Jack did last year, but I know some cats are just more box shaped too.

So short answer, no, but I'd guess between 6 and 18 months at a minimum, but they could be a couple years honestly. The only reason we even know our neighbor got cats is because they started showing up and we watched them go to his garage occasionally

Given that estimate of age, if you haven't already seen kittens, I think there is a good chance she has been spayed.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

 

[JacinLarkwell]

View attachment 3997382

Miss Big Tort here. She was willing to tolerate me petting her a little today while she munched in some horse pellets (yes, I know not the best thing, but I didn't want to chase her away and she only ate like 4 or 5 really) so she definitely isn't as spookish as she was before she got stuck. She felt really good though, thick healthy fur and she definitely wasn't skinny, so she's eating well between me, the mice and any food that our neighbor leaves for her when he's home from his routes.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Hasn't been great the last week. Lost potato a few days ago. Think/hope it was heart failure and just a one off.

Moose is missing too. I'm pretty certain what got Romero got him since there's not a single sign of him and last I saw was before I ended up coming home a few hours after sunset, which is when this thing seemed to strike. Had hoped it moved on since /he last bird since it's been a while, but I guess not. Can't find the camer either so there's that. I'm hoping Moose shows up, but he's not exactly easy to miss as it is

 

[Canadian Wind]

Sorry to hear all this Jacin.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Moose is gone, neighbors across the street (while yet again coming to grab their ever invading guineas) mentioned that they kept finding giant piles of feathers behind their house. Sent some photos and there definitely is a pile that matches Moose. So the cat is going a far distance to grab my birds and then go back across the street to where it must have a den

 

[Canadian Wind]

Any way to report a large feline predator, or will nothing be done about it?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Any way to report a large feline predator, or will nothing be done about it?

Nothing will be done. We tried reporting years ago and all we got was 'its not likely to be a danger to people' and 'best to keep your birds and livestock locked up' when one wiped out my turkey flock. They done like to capture them when they're causing issues if they aren't a risk to people because then they usually have to just put them down

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I got most of the ducks penned up today. I'm not penning my extra drakes (space is limited now, and if the cat gets them, then the cat gets them, they'll still be inside at night, just not in pens), and have like 4 more to get put away later