NYC cat OK after being dropped by hawk

upi. ^ | July 16, 2011

[JoeProBono]

NEW YORK, - A New York woman says she had nearly given up hope her pet cat, Eddie, was still alive after the feline was carried off by a red-tailed hawk.

But Eddie, who weighs in at a hefty 15 pounds, was found stunned and disheveled but still kicking in the back yard of an apartment building after the estimated 4-pound bird apparently couldn't hang on and dropped it.

Eddie plummeted an estimated five stories but was no worse for wear, the New York Daily News said Saturday. "He checked out fine, other than some minor cuts, scrapes and bruises," said Eddie's owner, who did not want to be identified. "The vet says he's an amazing cat."

The woman admitted she wasn't so fine after hearing a ruckus outside her Upper West Side apartment and finding "fur, broken nails and feathers" when she went out to investigate.

"I walked for hours all over the neighborhood and up Riverside Drive, sobbing, looking for his body," she said. "I went to all the hawks' nests. I put up signs with Eddie's photo."

Animal experts said hawks generally don't consider household pets to be on their menu; however, they did recall a 2003 incident in Bryant Park when a hawk swooped down on an unsuspecting Chihuahua.

[JoeProBono]

[jimbo123]

I live in Manhattan and my children saw a red-tailed hawk attack and munch down on a nest of baby sparrows roosting inside the hollow of a traffic light pole. There was blood and feathers all over the place.

[Lazamataz]

This is UNADULTERATED bullshit. I happen to have trained a little in 2001 as regards becoming an apprentice falconer, and Red Tails were the only birds I could even tend if I had made the apprentice test (I didn't). But I have enough knowledge to know that falcons of that size are even somewhat leery of squirrels, but a 15 pound cat? Not a chance. Cats are damned tough fighters when it comes to survival, and one cut, a few broken flight feathers, or a minor bone break -- in the wild -- will kill a falcon ... and they instinctually know this.... and will NOT engage an animal capable of inflicting same. Much less, the fact that a Red Tail is generally incapable of picking up such an animal.

I call shenanigans.

[jimbo123]

I live in Manhattan and they’re all over the place. They’re really beautiful birds.

[Lazamataz]

Must have been an injured or small squirrel. Most Red Tails avoid them troublesome squirrels. Mice and bunnies are more it’s cup of tea.

[JoeProBono]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/07/16/2011-07-16_fat_cat_eddie_gets_snatched_up_by_hawk_but_dropped_in_neighbors_garden_due_to_we.html?r=topnews

[JoeProBono]

[ReformedBeckite]

Mice and bunnies are more it’s cup of tea.

If the hawk did pick up the cat maybe it thought it was a big white bunny rabbit.

[comps4spice]

Turns out the cat’s obesity saved his life!

[USS Alaska]

I call shenanigans.

Agreed, no red tail would even attempt to go after that fat pig of a cat.

I can't stand cats, and those rank critters have been known to go missing in my space.

Cats on my property are targets, and I abide by the SSS theory.

[dirtboy]

That actually looks like my old cat Velcro (another RIP).

Cookie was gray and white.

[Lazamataz]

I ain’t buying this BS without a video, and even then, the video will be doctored. NO WAY.

[Lazamataz]

Agreed, no red tail would even attempt to go after that fat pig of a cat.

Hell, Red Tails are a bit leery of all but the smallest squirrels. Squirrels can fight back pretty well!

[HerrBlucher]

So, I guess hawks don’t know about weight and balance calculations, stupid birds. Fortunately for them they can drop their extra weight quickly as fat Eddie found out.

[JoeProBono]

[tflabo]

I guess the NYC hawks have to compete with the homeless for the old, discarded hot dogs, pretzels and other foodstuffs on the streets. With all those rats they have hawks should also have some live meat available—unless the chinese restaurants get them first.

[Bellflower]

Turns out the cat’s obesity saved his life!

Oh no! Don't tell the Obamas and upset them with facts!

[dirtboy]

I disagree. Predators react to motion of potential prey. Sometimes the prey is too heavy to carry off or swallow.

[Ditter]

Our squirrels are small, I think I have heard them called cat squirrels.

[HerrBlucher]

LOL! That is a great picture, ballsy cat and an eagle that just ate.