Yankee Scared to Death Of Raccoon Sighting on my Deck (transfer to, move)

[Artsywoman]

I was going out last night to put something in the trash and right on the tree that over hangs on my deck was a humongous, round furry creature with big bug eyes and a long squiggly tail staring at me. I screamed something awful! My Cat likes to lie out on the deck chair at night and now I am afraid that creature will try to eat her. Does anyone know about Raccoons in Florida?

[joelibyan]

raccoons are nocturnal and like to eat garbage. you or your cat won't ever be physically bothered by the raccoon unless it's rabid (aka infected with rabies). raccoons are rather cumbersome and aren't known for running very fast. just get a tight fitting garbage can!

[Sunscape]

Artsy, I have seen plen ty of them here and they usually will run away from you (unless you corner them ) They are usually in wooded areas where there's still a lot of vegetation. Ane they come out at night to look for food.
I have never heard of them eating cats, but I guess if they are very hungry they might eat anything.
Keep your trash in a covered container as to not attract them more.

[bnepler]

Keep you can covered and don't put out cat or dog food.

[Mike1306]

In case he is there tonight I have this for you.

BAKED STUFFED RACCOON WITH APPLES

1 med. raccoon
4 lg. onions
4 strips salted pork
2 c. beef stock

STUFFING:

5 lg. tart apples
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. dry bread crumbs
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Skin and clean the raccoon. Wash well and remove most of the fat. Place in a large soup kettle, cover with water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Peel, core and dice the apples into a mixing bowl. Melt the butter in a small saucepan and add the cinnamon, bread crumbs, salt and pepper; mix well. Remove the raccoon from the cooking juices and cool. Stuff the raccoon and sew up the cavity. Place the raccoon, breast down on the rack of a roast pan, with the legs folded under the body and fasten with kitchen string. Drape the salt pork over the back of the raccoon and fasten with toothpicks. Place the onions beside the raccoon on the rack.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes to brown the meat. Reduce temperature to 325 degrees and add the 2 cups of beef stock. Cook for 1 hour, basting as often as possible. Transfer to a heated platter surrounded by the whole onions.

Sweet and Sour Racoon is good also.

[tjax1000]

Indeed, I saw an article on cnn.com or somewhere a few weeks ago about parts of the country that eat quite a bit of raccoon per capita.

Sorry... but I just have to say it...
TASTES LIKE CHICKEN.

[si33]

..add the cat for an appitizer..lol

[Krulik]

I would suggest NOT to get a tight-fitting garbage can so that the raccoon never gets hungry for the cat.

By the way, these are also common in Yankee-land, I spot raccoons regularly in Central Park, NYC.

[AONE]

if i had to guess you place cat food outside for Fluffy... this is prime raccoon bate., they are alwayus up for a free meal. they will hiss at the cats if they come too close but otherwise are looking for mealtime. Not dissimilar from Opossums. and you may see the occasional armadillo... they go for grubs in the yard,,, hence the small piles of dirt you may see. they are all pretty harmless just give them their space and keep the cats and dogs off of them, Distemper is an issue with them which isn't good for Fluffy either. make sure the cat is up on ots shots.

[Keeper]

I do agree you need to be sure your cat is UTD on shots. That would be my main concern.

Here is more info on raccoons including ideas on how to keep them away
Raccoon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia