
It’s bad news if cat food and pebbles wind up in the water bowl put out for outdoor cats. This means that raccoons have learned that you’re providing easy eats. Raccoons enjoy “washing” their food. What they are really doing is feeling the food and other items under water. This is important behaviour for finding clams and crayfish in rivers or lakes, but just a curiosity when it comes to a container of water.
The furry ones with the masks are native animals and have every right to live their lives in peace. Still, it’s important not to encourage them to come near homes or cat feeding stations. Adult raccoons are good sized animals and can kill a cat or severely injure a dog — or a person. Once one raccoon discovers free food, it’s almost certain that others will follow. The raccoons will wind up chasing the cats away.
Raccoons can be carriers of Rabies. If a raccoon seems to be drunk or disoriented, stay away from it and call Animal Control. If you see young raccoons, keep your distance. Mom almost certainly is nearby and might attack if she thinks that her young are threatened. Raccoons are the definitive host for the Baylisascaris roundworm that will kill domestic and exotic birds. This parasite also is dangerous to people and infection can result in death.
Raccoons are active during the hours of darkness. Only feed outdoor cats between the hours of dawn and dusk. Be sure only to put out as much food as the cats are certain to eat. Garbage that raccoons will find delectable — chicken carcasses as a prime example — are best thrown out just before the trash is going to be picked up. Even then, the “edible” stuff needs to be in a garbage can. This container should have a secure lid on it until it goes to the curb,
Raccoons Roundworms — The Hiddden Horror
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Metro Cat Rescue coordinates the volunteer care of many outdoor cats in a number of colonies. We’re working hard to bring some inside to socialize and to place in good homes. This takes lots of time, space and money.
Our day with the rescue cats starts at 6am and ends at 8pm. Volunteer feeding of community cats is at dawn.
Metro Cat Rescue needs your help so that we can continue to help cats living in the streets. It’s quick and convenient to DONATE. Just click on the Link below to our GoFundMe Page If everyone reading this gave SOMETHING, we’d be well on the way to providing for suffering cats who have to fend for themselves. THANK YOU!
MetroCatRescue@gmail.com is the address to use to donate through PayPal.
Instead of posting questions as comments, email inquiries to MetroCatRescue@gmail.com