Nevada man hears coyote attacking cat—CCTV captures him taking quick action

A Nevada man taking action to defend his cat from being attacked by a coyote left viewers conflicted with how he handled the situation.

Rick, known on Instagram as @rdarrate, moved into his home several years ago. It was abandoned for three years and overrun with packrats, he told Newsweek. He decided to get some cats to help clear them out and keep them away.

As natural predators, cats have been used for thousands of years to help drive away rodents on farms. Cats can kill between 6.3 billion and 22.3 billion mammals a year, mainly mice, voles, shrews, squirrels and rabbits, an article from Catster reported.

As there are larger predators at the top of the food chain, felines aren’t always safe, as Rick learned. Coyotes that live in the mountains near his home started eyeing his cats. and when one started attacking, he immediately took action.

In his November 22 Instagram video, Rick shared his security camera footage of what unfolded on his property. The cameras spotted a coyote that ran after his orange cat. The coyote lifted the cat with his mouth, shaking the feline back and forth. But the cat didn’t give up. The two rolled around in the dirt as Rick ran outside.

Another camera view shows Rick standing on the porch, aiming his gun and shooting. The next thing you see is his cat walking away from the coyote with the predator dead.

“I don’t like to kill…” Rick told Newsweek. “I’m just trying to protect them.”

He said his cat had a puncture on his chest, but he was back to normal after a few days, sleeping and hanging out where his dogs usually stay. However, he shared that he hadn’t seen him in the last few days, suspecting the cat’s time had come.

With more than 4.5 million views on Instagram, people flooded Rick’s video with differing opinions on how he handled the situation.

“Poor coyote. Keep your cat inside and get a guard dog,” one viewer wrote.

Another echoed: “Keep the cat inside. Both can live. Not difficult.”

On the other hand, people defended Rick and commented: “Coyote attack first, point justified.”

“A man defending his property,” a fourth added.

Ashley Zeme, public information for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, provided a statement to Newsweek about the situation: “Coyotes are considered unprotected wildlife in Nevada. This means that, as long as all applicable local and state firearm laws were followed, the homeowner was within their rights to defend their property.”

Zeme said coyotes are a common sight throughout the state, even in the most populated areas, so encounters between coyotes and people’s pets are not uncommon.

“Human environments often create ideal conditions for coyotes by offering resources such as lawns, vegetation, water structures, excess shrubs, woodpiles, garbage and other attractants that support the small mammals coyotes prey on,” she said.

She added that the department encourages pet owners to take preventive measures to protect their property and animals.

The department’s website says that dog owners should supervise their canines while outside, especially around dawn and dusk. If a dog must be left outside, be sure to leave them in a fully enclosed dog run with a roof. Always keep your dog on a 6-foot leash and avoid using extendable leashes as it will limit your control over your pet.

For cats, the department suggests keeping them indoors or in a secure outdoor enclosure. This will keep your cats safely in and other animals out. Never allow your animals to interact or chase coyotes for any reason.