Coyotes blamed for St. Albert cat deaths

The deaths and mutilations of three cats in St. Albert were the work of coyotes, RCMP say.

Police made the determination following a necropsy of a cat that was found in the Oakmount area of St. AlbertSept. 3.

• Police investigating mutilated cats found in St. Albert

A veterinarian at the University of Alberta concludedthe cat was killed by a coyote. The animal looked like it had been cut open.

Two catsfound dead in St. Albert in late August were left in similar condition, leading police to conclude they were also killed by coyotes.

Cpl. Laurel Kadingsaid this comes as a relief to police.

"The thought that there might have been a person doing this is deeply disturbing to the community and to the RCMP."

Coyotes target cats whentraining their pups to hunt. They will ripthe cat open as a way to get their pups to eat prey, police said.

The cat deaths had raised concerns that someone was killing and mutilating themin St. Albert.Cpl. LaurelKadingsaid police had the third cat examined in order to rule out that possibility.

"The thought that there might have been a person doing this is deeply disturbing to the community and to the RCMP," she said.

Now that coyotes have been identifiedas the culprits, theRCMP is warning St. Albert residentsto keep their cats and dogs indoors overnight.