Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

hummm ... It's not likely the rat eat enough poison to kill a full grown cat. But the CYA answer on the "Just One Bite' website is call the Poison Control Center for treatment. ....Just One Bite's Frequently Asked Questions ...

Also, well feed cats (pets) usually do not eat already dead animals they find. They prefer to kill their prey. It's more fun!

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

In the Florida Keys my trail cams have picked up as many raccoons eating the cat food as cats, if not more. I cannot say I have ever seen an opossum at the dishes on camera, but live catch trap results suggest they're just not as good at setting off the motion sensor. Rats are indeed too small to set it off and there's no way those cockroaches of the mammal world are passing it up. Snakes will come looking for the rats, and the native snakes will stand no chance with cats around. But pythons will. In fact all this supplemental mammal feeding everyone is doing will ultimately turn into a python-a-thon. Fire ants and carpenter ants also relish cat food very much.

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

Welcome Champhibian,

Looks like this is your first post! Congratulations. If you haven't already, post in the new members area a little bit about yourself. Looks like you live in paradise in the Keys. Interesting name Champhibian! Is there a story behind that. There is a South American lizard that has invaded the Glades and upper Keys. Have you seen them? They probably eat cat food too!

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

I saw a bufo toad eating bread that was thrown outside for the birds. I imagine they would eat pet food as well.

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

I came up with that name by marrying the words "Champlain" and "amphibian" because at a family summer residence on the NY lake by that name there seems to be world-record-sized swimming salamanders that account for stories of a lake monster. We have our own crummy photograph of one of these critters at dusk consistent with a youtube video by user "mookibone."

As for South American lizards on the loose in my neck of the woods, I've seen tegus, amievas, rainbow lizards, and a whole bunch of stuff.

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

The tegus are what.I was referring to. They can give a nasty bite and seem to adapt readily to suburban life. I would think that cats and small dogs would be fair game to them. If I remember correctly they have very strong jaws. Probably strong enough to eat small pythons! LOL

That's a good name.

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

Mystery perhaps solved, perhaps? Food was inside as it has been since my life calmed down but I left 6 corncob halves by my backdoor; it was too dark to navigate to the compost pile. This morning 1 has been chewed to a pile of "kernels". Never known a cat to chow down on cobs so I'm thinking coon. Sound right?

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

needs more salt.

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

Mucho salt, butter and Parm cheese. Whatever showed up, apparently liked it. Kinda. Pile looked like they regurgitated the cob. Guess there was enough salt to "chew on it" for a bit. Gotta grab the bowl; stupid DST means it's dark already.

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

Minutes ago I stepped into my kitchen and turned on the light. I saw the original cat from my quest from months ago take off. I set down the food bowl. He or something will dine tonight.

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

I'm late and didn't read above.

Raccoon, Opossum, Bobcats, Bear, Panter, Pigs and homeless people. At least I have been able to trap all of the above with cans of cat food.

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

I caught a couple of these last week.....


Blueberry Baby by lifes ill,
on Flickr

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

Are you feeding them cat food?

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

Okay, so let's get a pro in here on this...




Aside from other cats, possums are #1 when it comes to eating cat food.

Raccoons are more partial to meat scraps and shiny things.

DO NOT PUT OUT POISON!!! You will probably involve a few neighbors' cats, and if I find out it was you, I will track you down to all 72 corners of the Earth. So...

Set a trap. Catch the bugger. I have mellowed in my later years. Years ago, I would have simply shot them. I now trap them, pick them up and pet them, and then take them for a ride into the country, where I then turn them loose.

Possums do NOT carry rabies! Their body temp is 3F too cool to contain the virus. Never be afraid of a possum. It's the coons and skunks that concern me.

Skunks are really friendly, so it can be hard to tell if they are looking for a handout, or trying to kill you. Just avoid them if you are unsure.

Raccoons are typically nocturnal, so if you see one during the day, be aware! A few years ago, my neighbor called me about a coon trying to open her front door. I grabbed my 9mm and hotfooted it down the street. We had a close encounter, where I talked to it, and it shrieked at me just before it came towards me...

On the phone with 911 at the time. First shot fired through the chest. It looked at me and blinked, like "Why did you just do that?" That is a confirmation, my friends. If you ever shoot something or someone, and they ask you why you just did that, it's a pretty good indication that they are not in their correct venues.

Followed by a shot over the fence into the heart, and a third into the head. It was confirmed rabid.

Do not trust cats, skunks, coons, foxes, or coyotes. All are in the temp range to carry rabies. If you trap one of these, call Animal Control. Unless you know the difference. My favorite cat was a stray that bit me on our first encounter.

When in doubt; SHOUT!

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

Funny, I was always told to SHOOT when in doubt.

Says the old bat who owns no firearms which is probably a good thing since I could probably, maybe, hit the broad side of a barn but then all bets are off. :ha:

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

Well, by shout, I meant call 911. When shouting didn't work, shooting did the trick.

Some neighbors who didn't know me were having a cookout in a nearby yard. They started yelling and bitching about me discharging a firearm in city limits. I told them I was on the phone with Dispatch. They kept it up until I badged them. Then they all got really quiet and left.

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

Badged? What the heck is that?

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

In addition to the one pinned on my chest, I also have one in my wallet. When you ID yourself, it's called, "badging."

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

So what gives you "badge" rights?

Re: What besides stray cats eat cat food at night in FL?
 

The one in my wallet. Did you miss the big pic of me in uniform? :waving: