UGH! Look what the cat found

So I have gone back and forth about posting these images because the outcome was not good. I have thought about it and decided to go ahead and post them. So a little background first. As most people know, it doesn't get very cold in the winter in Florida. This year winter was even warmer than usual. We have a screen porch that we let our two cats and dog use whenever they want by the use of a doggie door. One cat in particular is a very good hunter. Lizards and Geckos are always finding a way onto the porch and I for a reasonable part are able to save them, but not all. Rarely even snakes have gotten in the screened porch area. I have rescued yellow rats and corn snakes a few times before. Well this time it was different. Back in February I got home from work before my wife (thank goodness), went inside, walk into the family room and this is what I found on our rug...................



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Initially when I saw this in our family room. It made me jump. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I then realized that the coral snake had been mortally wounded. The coral had gotten into the screen porch and our little hunter unfortunately founded it and maimed it. By the time I founded it, technically it was alive but barely moving. As much as I hated to do it, I did put it out of its misery. Luckily our cat was not bitten, but I was very upset that this happened to the snake. I have seen quite a few coral snakes growing up and this was one of the biggest i have seen. The box its in was 2 ft wide. That coral was every bit of 3 ft (which is huge for one). I hope these pics do not offend anyone and if so, I am very sorry. My intention was to share the fact that I found a coral snake in my house and not the unfortunate outcome

your cat is lucky it didn't get bit, poor snake :(

While it's lucky your cat wasn't bitten, but I'm not so sure your cat even did that damage? I could be wrong, but that just doesn't look like what a cat does to
prey, & believe me, I side with wildlife over cats when it comes to cats causing harm to wildlife. The injury is at the widest part of the body, & I believe that
poor snake forced his way thru a hole (maybe in screen or other abrasive material?) that was just too small for his own health. I know that a similar thing
has happened with a captive-bred snake (as reported a few years ago on a different forum) where the snake tried to force his way out of a damaged vent on
a plastic "critter cottage" & died a gruesome death as a result. Snakes don't always stop when they should, and maybe the presence of a predator had some-
thing to do with his haste? We'll never know...:(

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

While it's lucky your cat wasn't bitten, but I'm not so sure your cat even did that damage? I could be wrong, but that just doesn't look like what a cat does to
prey, & believe me, I side with wildlife over cats when it comes to cats causing harm to wildlife. The injury is at the widest part of the body, & I believe that
poor snake forced his way thru a hole (maybe in screen or other abrasive material?) that was just too small for his own health. I know that a similar thing
has happened with a captive-bred snake (as reported a few years ago on a different forum) where the snake tried to force his way out of a damaged vent on
a plastic "critter cottage" & died a gruesome death as a result. Snakes don't always stop when they should, and maybe the presence of a predator had some-
thing to do with his haste? We'll never know...:(

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Very good point. At the time I did find it odd the injury the snake had. From unfortunate past experiences with some lizards and a few geckos with the cat....I guess for lack of a better term, not the norm for her so to speak. The thing that makes me think the cat was involved was inside the house, I did find a few blood spots that were on top of a chair and a couple spots on the kitchen floor. Also she was acting weird when I got home also out of the norm for her. So I just assumed it was the cat, but you have got me thinking more about now

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bodie

Very good point. At the time I did find it odd the injury the snake had. From unfortunate past experiences with some lizards and a few geckos with the cat....I guess for lack of a better term, not the norm for her so to speak. The thing that makes me think the cat was involved was inside the house, I did find a few blood spots that were on top of a chair and a couple spots on the kitchen floor. Also she was acting weird when I got home also out of the norm for her. So I just assumed it was the cat, but you have got me thinking more about now

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As I tried to say, I'm rarely on the side of cats, but when something like this enters your house (their territory), I think it's normal for them to act weird, even if all
they did was sniff near it. It could have made the snake panic & try to go thru something it shouldn't have without even touching it. If a wild snake ever got into my
house, I'm pretty sure my dogs would have acted a little strange knowing it was there, but they'd not have done more than look & back away too...they've seen me
holding snakes for years, & been allowed a sniff on the tail end, with no attempts to hurt them, & even a little fear (-my smaller dog). Snakes move differently than
lizards...cats (& many dogs) are far more interested in quick & jumping lizards, & get spooked a little by snakes. Not always...but this just doesn't look like "the cat
did it" to me?

would the solution be to stop letting your cat outside?

he said the animals only go out on the screened in porch

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Originally Posted by SilentHill

would the solution be to stop letting your cat outside?

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The cats do not go outside. They only have access to the screen porch

Red to yellow will kill a fellow, red to black is a friend of Jack... Oh my, it's the venomous kind! I'm just glad your cat didn't get bit. Poor snake, it just went where it shouldn't have gone.