Fisher Cat Pictures
The following story and fisher cat pictures are from one of our website visitors in Andover, MA.
Our dog (Annie – Golden Retriever) was going crazy this morning (April 6, 2009) to get out into our (Andover, MA) backyard. My wife noticed something brown walking along the top rail of our chain link fence and recognized it as a Fisher Cat. When Annie ran out, the Fisher ran up a small pine tree. Not realizing it was on the other side of the fence, it nervously chattered at us while we took pictures of it. It eventually realized it was protected, climbed down the tree (only a few feet in front of me), leapt into the neighbor’s yard and ran off. Annie cornered one up a tree a couple years ago as well.
In the second photo, you can notice the blurred horizontal line toward the bottom. That’s the top rail of the chain link fence.
Video of the Fisher Cat
July 7th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Great pictures. We live in Andover too and have seen fishers often, but they rarely hold still long enough to get a good look.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:59 am
THESE PICS ARE GREAT! I LIVE BASICLY IN THE WOODS SO I SEE ALOT OF FISHER CATS. I HAD A CAT NAMED SPLAT AND A FISHERCAT ATE HER. SHE WAS MY BFF. EVER SINCE THAT HAPPEND I VE BEEN SEARCHING THEM.
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Hate fisher cats , eating my free range chickens. Afraid for my cats. Trapping didn’t work. Shot gun next.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
I hate to say it, but if you are all so worried about your cats, my sympathy to Harley for your loss of Splat, why do you let them out? We have four cats and we live in a rural area, we would never think of letting or cats out.
The Humane society tells people not to let their cats be outdoor cats, they are just as happy frolicking in the house.
They live much longer lives also, not to mention they do not become a wild animal’s dinner.
You cannot blame the Fisher Cat for doing what it does naturally, hunt and kill small animals to live. It may be a sad thing to some or a bothersome thing to others, but is what they do to survive. Oh, and as tasty as chickens are to us, they are just as tasty to Fisher cats. You can’t hate a species for doing what nature intended it to do.
Goodness, to think that we are supposedly the most evolved species, maybe if we were less evolved we would understand the ways of nature better.
August 9th, 2009 at 3:00 am
I feel bad for my friend’s mother cat killing by fisher, she left 6 3 weeks old kittens…..SAD!!!!!
August 11th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I think one of my three cats was eaten by a fox or a fisher (the sound is similar). I don’t blame wild animals for doing what they have to do to feed themselves, especially since humans also kill to eat. Just wish it wasn’t my cat. My cat was 10 yrs old and started out a bit feral and enjoyed the outdoors so much there was no way I would take that away from him. I would be safer too if I locked myself in the house, but its not what I choose, and I don’t think it is what my cat would choose either. I think the quality of my cats life was made better by the outdoors. Years ago, I had two cats I tried to raise as indoor cats. They would pace from window to window like zooed animals. They were a bit neurotic and overweight (yes, my fault). When I caved into their meowing requests and escape attempts and let them go outside, they became healthier happier cats. I try to minimize the risk by having a cat door and I try to get them all in at night and shut the door till morning…. but sometimes they hold out and win that battle.
August 11th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Do fishers typically come on people’s porches to attack house cats? My cat didn’t come home for about 6 days last week, which was very unlike her. Once she finally came home, we were certain something scared her up a tree and she was stuck for a few days (she was very weak, slept and ate for 3 days). Now today something big was fighting with her on our deck. By the time we got out there to see what it was it had scared her up a tree (and she’s quite the hunter). It was still daylight, and there was a loud family outside across the street during all this. My father-in-law saw a fisher across the street last week, and someone a few streets down claims a fisher ate three cats this month. What does anyone suggest? Could it be rabid?
August 13th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
i was missing one of my cats for three weeks and today i sent my wife to the local pound to check and see if perhapps they had found him. When she returned she informed me the pound had Half of our cat. They found him in a cemetary ripped in half the back half missing, and they suspected a Fisher cat in the area that has also been suspected of killing several cats in the neighbor hood that i was also unaware of.
i did some research and found fisher cats are not suseptable to rabies.
I’ve read these articles and I understand your arguement of how nature works, So me being the better predator next time i see a dam fisher cat / weasel. i might find out if it taste like chicken… your invited to my BBQ….. Mother Nature at it’s finest….
August 15th, 2009 at 11:29 am
We live in Eliot, Maine and just this month we have been hearing all these screams late at night. The first time I heard one was right outside my bedroom window and I was just falling asleep, let me tell you, my blood ran cold and didn’t know what was going on. It just kept on going. Then one of our friends said we have Fishercat’s around, my cat come’s in at night now. Everytime I hear the scream’s, I still get the chill’s!
August 18th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I would not be saying “hello baby” to that thing. They are really evil creatures. Our neighbors cat got disembowled by one of those things and almost went after their dog my neighbor shot at it with the gun and it went back into the woods.
I would not let my dog near one of those and I wouldn’t go near one. They’re incredibly dangerous. Stay away and I know what the scream sounds like. It’s horrible.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I saw a fisher cat run out of my back yard and across the street last week. It was still daylight but late afternoon. I had never seen one before. I had a cat here for 16 years and she was never bothered. But she was very outdoor smart.
I now have a miniature dachsund who is not aggressive at all. he weighs about 11 pounds. Should I be scared for him.? I have a fenced in yard and woods in the back. My dog doesn’t really stay outside unless i go with him, but I do have a doggie door so he can go out alone and go to the bathroom. Maybe this fisher is a first or something. Should i assume there will be more??
September 15th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Just lost our cat of 10 years and the neighbours has been gone for a month now. We north of the 401 highway in Ontario in a small town called Newburgh. We do have forest around and live by a river as well. Other than a clump of fir we have found nothing. Going to try a live trap and see what results we have. I think my wife is angry enough to care of the rest!
September 19th, 2009 at 9:34 am
cool video but it was feeling threatened.not some you want to do with any animal especially a vicious one.i’ve see one kill a raccoon that out weighed it.a coyote won’t even go after a raccoon.be careful.
September 21st, 2009 at 11:14 pm
i live in seekonk ma, and i have a fisher cat living under my shed. at first i thought my 132 lb lab was chasing a skunk but i looked under with a flash light and this was no skunk. i shot at it with a pellet gun and hit it twice thats when it ran my way, but it went into a hole in my fence and went into my neighbors yard. can they kill a dog?? and if so what should i do use my shotgun or try and trap it. i also have a cat and she stays around now were as she use to go into the woods all the time. this is a well populated neighborhood the houses are not that far apart, but, it has a den in the ground. and now i know what that screaming noise is. any suggestions
September 27th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
My black lab was attacked by a fisher cat two days ago. I can tell by the deep gouging teeth marks left on the bottom left side of her belly. It looks like an oversized hampster bit her. The Fisher also gnarled up my Lab’s rear leg pretty good as she still can’t walk on it. We are off to the veterinarian on Monday to get some antibiotics as the cuts that I sutured with butterfly band-aids are looking pretty swollen. The puncture wounds on her belly were deep and unable to suture them, finally I had to put cornstarch on the wound to stop the bleeding.
I have never seen a fisher cat yet, but we recently got chickens on our property, so don’t know if that is what they were after and our dog, Roxy an 80 lb. Lab, startled the Fisher. Prompting it to attack.
Hopefully this is the last encounter we have with a Fischer, but living in the rural woods, I will always be aware now. The damage they can do is unreal! This site has given me some good information.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
We saw our first fisher cat here in Duxbury, MA. It looked like a dog climbing a tree it was so big! Called animal control who came and witnessed this bad boy. He estimated it at between 25 and 30 pounds! Biggest he’s ever seen. He didn’t like all of the commotion so he evacuated the nest right next to our porch…we hope! Just a few things I learned I want to share. These animals can take down a deer and will, if motivated, charge a 190 pound man! The animal control officer said he’d prefer going one on one with a full grown wolf rather than a 30 pound fisher cat! Their territory is around 8 miles with multiple nests, usually 20 to 50 feet up in a tree. The females are pregnant most of the time (11 months out of the year) and are particularly vicious if they have off spring in the area. They are smart and not easily trapped. We tried and no luck. If there is one, there are many and they have no one hunting them so they are not fearful of anything or anyone. Play a radio for 15 minutes outside before you play with your kids or your dogs, even in the day. It gives them a warning and will ward off some. Others will not care. Be careful and always be cautious. Good luck.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
I hate to break it to all of the people who hate Fishers for hunting and killing their cats, but. What exactly do you think your cats are doing in the woods all night? Hunting and killing birds, squirrels and other small animals. Along with urinating on other peoples shrubs and property.
It’s called karma. Keep your filthy cats in your own house and the Fishers won’t eat them.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:21 am
too funny………………”Anonymous”.
You can type your name, be brave. Or is that your name because you couldn’t narrow down the possible “donors”.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Your just hilarious jim, which of your two brain cells came up with that one…..
October 16th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
so i have to cats. i try to keep my baby in the house and yet she still gets out sometimes. well three cats in the area have already gone missing in only a week. i hurd from across the street that people have seen fisher cats around the area. if they try to kill my cat im taking out my gun too. those creatures are so ugle. i havnt seen one yet or hurd it but if i do that fisher cat will be the first one i go after. i live near a dam and water so maybe thats why there here, it snows here and i thought that they would be gone by winter but apparently they hunt in winter too damn. i wish they hibernated.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
cccccccccoooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllll
November 10th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Personaly, I think fishers are awsome. They can actually kill porcupines. COOL.
I hate cats. But I am also VERY sorry for your loss.
I don’t think it was the fishers fault though. Maybe your cat started it.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I don’t find it very funny.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I recently heard a fisher cat attacking and killing a cat, we own 1 cat and two dogs. Regardless of whether or not these two animals are your favorites is okay, but to say so what that someones house pet was killed, shame on you. If you could have heard how vicious this attack was and to hear a domesticated or wild animal screaming for its life was not pleasant and I hope I am lucky enough never to hear it again.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
what eats a fisher cat?
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
bobcats
December 11th, 2009 at 9:40 am
dont be hatin on the fisher cat cuz he be snatchin up yo pets
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:54 am
I believe this is what ive been seeing at lake mayer in savannah georgia,3 years ive seen them 4 to 5 times but only on land once rest of the time in the water wich is throwing me to not believe that is whaT IM SEEING,NOTHING ON THE COMP SAYS THEY SWIM BUT WHAT IM SEEING SWIMS STEALTH,A FRIEND SAID HE SEEN ONE WITH A DUCK,IF there is somthing ele out there help me out.grew up around beavers and otters no comparison.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:56 am
by the way the comp says there not suposse to be any where nere here ?????
February 7th, 2010 at 12:49 am
Dont pick on these poor animals!
February 7th, 2010 at 12:55 am
These cats are cute and wild
February 12th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Fisher cats are not cats. They are weasels. If you saw one in the water, it could have been an otter, which are also in the weasel family. Like all members of the weasel family, they are excellent hunters and killers. Weasels and ferrets (which are smaller than weasels) can easily kill rabbits. One of my ferrets came upon one of my cats fast asleep and tried to drag it away by the ear! (Of course, the cat awoke and objected!) The way weasels kill prey is by biting the neck. They go for the jugular vein.
Of course, they kill in order to survive, just like any other carnivore. Raccoons, esp. mothers, are considered extremely vicious and dangerous – and they are not obligate carnivores; they are omnivores (they can eat anything). Weasels ARE obligate carnivores: they MUST eat meat. They do not have the part of the digestive tract for digesting vegetables.
Any of these animals, of course, in the wild can be dangerous to humans. I got bitten so badly by one of my ferrets when I first took him in that I spent 8 hours in the ER. He was not wild, though, just had been mistreated by others. It took me well over a year or more of working with him to get him to trust me and now he is the sweetest, gentlest guy in the world. That’s because his basic needs are met – for food, companionship, love, freedom to explore. (I don’t cage any of my animals and they have constant access to a large enclosed yard.)
I also have 5 indoor/outdoor cats and there are raccoons and opossums here, as well as hawks and owls (and gray foxes and coyotes, altho I live in a city – it’s a pretty wild, green city). It’s obviously safer for cats to be kept indoors, but they are happier going outside and they have learned to avoid the wild animals, as well as the wild humans. (One of my cats got hit by a car last year and I live on a double dead-end street. He was saved by surgery.)