The Editor,
Re. “Watch out for coyotes, says cat owner” (The Tri-City News, Sept. 5).
I find it hard to believe that anyone living in the Tri-Cities area would be unaware of hazards that outdoor cats face from wildlife.
Yes, coyotes eat cats, raccoons attack, injure and kill them, too.
So do bobcats and cougars, all of which are predatory creatures living close to us. Outdoor cats are also vulnerable to dogs, traffic and disease, all of which result in a shorter and less healthy life for a pet.
Domestic cats are not part of the natural environment and are largely responsible for the decimation of smaller wildlife and the drastic reduction of our songbird population.
Any cat owner would be advised to keep their cats indoors or provide an outdoor enclosure for them for the sake of both their pet and other vulnerable creatures in our natural environment.
Melanie Stokes, Coquitlam
