Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Thirteen Thursday CEC Facts Every Kitty Should Know


So we are going up to our mountain house this weekend. Last time I was there, I heard the howls of CECs (cat-eating coyotes), and it scared me and I hid under the bed. But I've been practicing on my CEC attack technique, and reading up on my adversary. In some cultures, CECs are known as "The Trickster". They can trick us into thinking we are safe in our yards, and then ZAP, we are snapped up in a minute! So here are thirteen CEC facts every kitty should know.

1. CECs like to hunt between sunset and sunrise, which is the same time you outside kitties like to be out. But actually, CECs can be observed at all hours and will not pass up the opportunity for an easy meal. SO BE CAREFUL!! A woofie or kittie in a yard can be taken in minutes.

2. CECs are cousins to the domestic dog and the wolf, so they might just looks like a friendly woofie from across the street.

3. You outside kitties, if you see tracks, you can tell the paw prints from a dog because the rear paw tracks are smaller than the front, while woofies typically have symmetrical paw prints.

4. And just because you live in New York, it doesn't mean you are safe. In fact, Mom was running in Central Park last summer when on a business trip, and a CEC was seen there! They started in the Western plains and deserts, and have spread outward across the country until they are found in every state except Hawaii.

5. CECs vary in size from 25 pounds in Mexico to 75 pounds in the mountains and the northern reaches of their range, with those New York CECs ranging between 35 and 55 pounds (us kitties weigh between 5 and maybe a tubby 20 pounds, so CECs have the weight advantage).

6. Like dogs, CECs have four canine teeth, two upper and two lower, for grabbing and holding us poor little kitties.

7. CECs can breed with both domestic dogs and wolves. So make sure your woofie isn't eyeing the large good looking stranger down the street, it might be a CEC! But if woofie wants to make a "coydog", its gotta be in January, as CECs are sterile the rest of the year.

8. While CECs kill small dogs, big dogs can kill CECs (like, wolves can kill CECs, and CECs kill foxes.)

9. In areas where there are a few wolves, wolves and CECs may breed and produce fertile offspring! This is one of the reasons red wolves are endangered- their numbers were already low when CECs moved in and the two species bred the surviving red wolves out of existence!

10. A CEC litter is between 2 and 12 pups (6 pups being the average), with CECs producing one litter per year. Only 5-20% of CEC pups survive their first year (hah, wimps!).

11. Like kitties, CECs maintain their territory by marking it with urine (but I bet in a marking contest we have some friends how could beat them in a marking contest!)

12. CECs have a lifespan of about 15 years in the wild, about the same as us.

13. A CEC can run at almost 40 mph and can get over a 8' fence!

CECs are a formidable adversary. While I'm practicing on my stuffed coyote, I think avoidance is the best technique, as these guys sound MEAN!!

17 comments:

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

That was very educational Tara! I learned a lot. Thanks for informing us about the dangers of CECs and for providing us with all of these facts. Terrific list! :)

mister jeter harris, hizself said...

yer tt iz verree disturbin to me tara. at first i wuz jus reedin fer enjoyment an laffin becuz i'm in noo york an i figyered i'm safe frum cec'z. but az i read further ... i realized i'm not safe at all!
iz dere cec repellunt similar to da vishus deer repellunt?
jh

Daisy said...

Tara, you are so very smart. Thanks for the CEC facts. I will be on my guard for the Trickster now! I hope you have fun at yer mountain house!

Karen Jo said...

You gave us some very important information about CECs. Avoidance is the best tactic, as they can be very mean. On a lighter note, some CECs have a sense of humor. There used to be a boarding kennel down the street from us. A CEC would sit across the street from the kennel and howl, just to hear all the woofies bark. Then the CEC would make a laughing sound. That made the woofies bark even more.

LZ said...

That was very informative Tara! I will certainly avoid CEC's but luckily I don't go outside unless I'm in my stroller or on my harness so I'll make sure Meowmy is on the lookout!

Latte

Unknown said...

That is super great information! We will file it away with our Vishus deer facts and refer to it when necessary!!

D
J
CC

Forty Paws said...

Very informative Tara!!! There are CECs in the Dallas suburbs because the stupid beans keep building and building and there is no place for the CECs to go. So they end up steeling small woofies and poodins from yards. Then the beans yell about it. Maw sez, "Well go figure."

Be very careful when you go to the Mountain House, but have lots of fun too!!!

Luf, Us

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Dis wuz furry ejookashunal. Mom sez dat whin her and daddy were driving to a frends howse sumone had hit a coyote, da beans thot that it wuz sumones doggie until dad told dem what it wuz! We'z neffur seen one in our nayborhood, but we will remane vijilint!

Hot(M)BC said...

Fanks for the informashun, Tara! Pepi sez he'll patrol the howse and look owt all the windows to make sure no CECs can get in.
Purrrrrrrrrrs,
Sanjee, Boni, Mini, Pepi and Gree

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Fanks Tara.
That wuz furry gud infomashun. We is glad yu share dat wif us. Be furry careful when yu goes up to yur oddur house.

Abby

Christine and FAZ said...

My goodness. I thought foxes were scary but these guys are really scary and big with big teeth and stuff. I am so glad we don't get them in England. FAZ

Mr. Hendrix said...

Thank you for the good information. Yet another good reason to keep kitties inside where the CECs can't get us!
You have fun at your mountain house. You'll be fine as long as you're inside! We have the same problem out here that Forty Paws does. Why don't people keeps their little creatures inside? They know the CECs are out there! Every week some schmo is on the news sounding surprised...duh

Madness, Trouble, Squish and Milkbone said...

They sound very scary. Thanks for warning us about them. We'll be very careful of these nasty CECs.

The Crew said...

Oh, do be careful, Tara. Everyone wants you to stay safe!

Love,
Tipper

Anonymous said...

oooh - you know what? our Lady's sister in Northern Cally-4-knee-yah has a half woofie, half CEC RIGHT IN HER VERY OWN HOUSE! we're never visiting her ever.

The Fluffy Tribe said...

Very ifoormative. Mom says stay away from the CECs they eat poodies. ~Merlin, Shadow, ko KO

Rocky the Gutter Cat said...

I'd komment on this exsillint post, but I need to go invent Mao & Rocky's CEC Repelunt, and apply for a paten on it!