SARASOTA, Fla. -- Home surveillance cameras captured video of two coyotes attacking and killing a cat.
"The cat had access through the cat door on the side," said Vlad Vanchanka.
Vlad Vanchanka lost his pet of nearly 10 years earlier this month. His cat was relaxing on a patio chair around 6 a.m.
The attack happened in a neighborhood off of Fruitville Road in Sarasota.
A coyote approaches the cat in the backyard. Video shows the cat trying to scare it away, but another coyote approaches and grabs it.
"We saw the coyotes pretty much attack and kill it," said Vanchanka as he watched home surveillance videos.
Vanchanka said the cat would only go outside when the weather was nice, but mostly stayed indoors. He checked security cameras when the cat did not return.
"It was a good animal. I never had a problem and usually it was indoors. It liked to go outside just to walk around," he said.
Vanchanka located his cat's remains not far from his home.
State wildlife officials warn coyotes do prey on domestic cats and small dogs. Most coyote attacks on pets happen either at night, in the early evenings or in the early mornings (dusk and dawn).
According to FWC, coyotes rarely pose a threat to people, especially adults. They can be curious and also timid and generally run away if challenged.
If approached by a coyote, making loud noises and acting aggressively will typically cause a coyote to leave the area, but you may need to continue hazing efforts until the coyote is effectively deterred and leaves the area for good.
Another homeowner said he lost his cat, Tippy, about two months ago. In August, the cat never returned home.
"It was devastating. He was definitely part of the family and when he did stay in at night, he liked to sleep on my chest," said Mark Wigley.
Wigley located his cat's remains in a neighbor's backyard.
"They're predators and they're doing what they're born to do. I blame myself," said Wigley.
