This very tragic situation with the Yorkie and the dead kitty has me worried now. I just posted a new thread asking for advise on how to introduce my new Yorkie pup to my Catalina macaw puppy. Do you think a Yorkie might try to attack a bird, even if it it looks like something out of a fairy tale and is bigger than the puppy (3 ft. long, with the tail feathers - the body is about 1 1/4 ft. long [not metric, I know; sorry] and has a daunting beak that can kill just by looking at it)? I may just never let them interact without bars between them :-0

The cat could have been attacked by a larger dog, etc. and ran to your yard to get away. When cats are scared and hurt they can run and jump to get away. The cat had just died in your yard and your dog was jumping on it to see if it would get up. I have seen my bigger dogs jump on dead birds, etc. trying to get them to play. I have never known a cat to do down quietly, usually a lot of screaming and howling going on.

Your dog could be completely innocent and could have been doing CPR on the cat!! Just a thought.

I do not think a Yorshire Terrier, no matter how big could kill a full grown Tom Cat. That cat was killed by something else, and the Yorky went in for a bite. A big Tom Cat can take out a large dog with little or no trouble. Also you would have heard the fight, no matter how quick the kill. The cat was dead before the Yorky got to it.

I believe a larger Yorkie could kill a cat easily. the prey drive instinct is there and well to be less than graphic, naturally they know how to "get the job done"...

However, I'd imagine a cat would not go down without a fight as they too are often the hunter and not the prey...so if the Yorkie had no "fight wounds" and the OP didn't hear a fight in this situation it most likely the cat was killed or died in another manner...

My cat was hit by a cat two blocks away and got up ran home, over the fence into the garage...the neighbor saw it and ran after my cat (knowing it was mine) and couldn't believe she made it not only home but over the fence...so it happens that cat's (and other animals) can flee from the scene to another area.

pinkpatty,

I'm inclined to go with CGurl on this...
I have a 10 lb Male, and I'm not saying he would'nt take some grief from a Cat, but, those guys are bread to deal with some very aggressive foes.

Since I got my Female (who's still a puppy) my Male is teaching her how to "posses" things, us, house, yard and everything else. So, she's "joining" him in their territorial instincts. Now, between the two of them, I don't think a Cat would fair all that well.

That was my first guess as well!

Also..
(it would have been nice if I could have just added this to my other Post)

It depends on how they are raised...
If you have one that's been a "Cushion Potato" all it's life,
it will not have developed the skills to deal with situations.
Depends too, where they are in the Pack/Pecking order, an
Alpha will be more likely to step out to confront and defend.

Honestly IMO....both you AND the neighbor is at fault here. As a pet owner it is your responsibility to be aware of your pets whereabouts at all times. Whether its your front yard, backyard....bathroom, kitchen, or shoe box...you watch them. I have a cat as well....& yes they are roamers...but u still keep an eye on them. I live in an apartment building with a front walkway & balconys....my cat doesn't really have much room to roam...but I'm still on her a** like whit on rice. Now I'm pretty sure the OP has heard of all the terrifying Hawk / back yard predator stories....so thinking that its ok to leave your yorkie out in your back yard unattend wasn't the best idea. as much as your yorkies feel they are pitbulls...they are not. & because they are so small they should be watched.

That's like having a baby roam freely around your house. & you feel like because its YOUR house...you don't have to hover over them. :-\

Now you are right....you don't own the neighbor any money...because it was "...fair game..." but I would have gave them SOMETHING...because my animal killed them. Whether its money....offer to get another kitten...or a HAPPY MEAL!....I would've given something. I would've felt really bad that they had to bury their family member. But maybe that's just ME.

But ill make sure ill have that "Fair game" mentality when I own a home w/ a front & back yard. I'm going to put up a sign on my front door saying "free puppies" & when people knock, ill set 5 rabid pitbulls on them....why?....because its fair game. Its my property & I can do w/e I please on it. :D

Sorry typos:

" ...white on rice "

& " ...Owe the neighbor"

That's so true...except...Elvis is a woosy seriously I need to get a video of him going out to potty, he's so prissy we mock him he runs from clean spot to clean spot in the yard gets all mad if the other dogs get him dirty grooms himself for hours and in some dictionary he is pictured next to the definition of lap dog...until he sees a cat, bird, or rodent...it's on, or has a chicken bone...he didn't until the last month and a half play at all but he will thrash a stuffy like no one's business, make sure it's "dead" and proceed back to my lap...

When someone comes over if you pet him he rolls over and wants belly rubs, is a lil skittish and hops out of everyone's way...if someone comes to the door or the side gate...he's like a wild beast. :)

I disagree. If my dog is in his own backyard living his life and a pet allowed to roam gets into my yard, I don't feel it is my or my dog's fault if the pet is accidentally injured or killed by my dog. It is the responsibility of the pet's owner to keep their own pet home, safe, out of harm's way and above all, off others' premises. I would be very sorry it happened and definitely feel their pain pretty intensely but my fault would not be equal in any way to that of the other animal's owner. Each owner is solely responsible for keeping his pet from trespassing on other's property and safe from harm. That's basic animal ownership responsibility. I only hope that all pet owners will keep their own dearly loved animals safe on their own property so these horrible things will not happen. While I do watch Tibbe when he is out due to his small size, if I owned a Mastiff I would not stand outside or sit by the window the entire time he was out just in case a negligent owner allowed their pet to get into my yard! It is a shame a poor cat is dead because he either had no home or his owner just let him out on his own.

CGurl,

My Male is just a total OPPOSITE...
If you were to call him up on your lap, and say...
You're a pretty dog, or, sweet Snickers, try to hug
him or give him a kiss, like that, he'd jump off your
lap in a heartbeat.

However...
If you tell him he's a BIG Dog, hansom, or how
strong he looks. His tail is wagging so hard, it would
blow a newspaper off the table !

I suppose it's the tone of voice, cause there's no way
he actually understands the implication between
sweet and his conception of being a REAL Dog, HA !

PS:
ytJilley, :thumbup:

Here's my thinking you are very in-tune wit his personality and respecting him for it,
when you say "awh you;re so cute and fluffy" it's in a sensation child voice
when you say "you;re a big boy, barney bad bottom dog" you're excited in your tone and he likes that
Elvis in my my lap as we speak resting...lazy cat he is!:D of course his tongue is poked out too

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I doubt, anyway, that the Yorkie killed the cat. The OP said the body was still warm so it could have had a heart attack, been attacked before it got to the OP's yard and just died there.
I am so sorry a cat has died. But it is not the OP's fault, and she does not owe the neighbour any money.

Yes, have read that. I was just addressing the fault and not the how. I am glad the dog is safe and unhurt and sorry for the poor cat.