A recent incident in Blackpool has sparked concern after a woman claimed her son prevented a seagull from attacking a cat. According to her post on Homeward Bound’s Facebook page, she witnessed a seagull repeatedly attempting to attack a fully grown cat yesterday evening. She expressed gratitude that her son intervened, preventing the cat from potentially being harmed by the bird.
However, some have questioned the feasibility of a seagull actually lifting a cat. As per information from Google, seagulls, with their webbed feet, are not raptors and can only carry items in their beaks, limited to about half their body weight for short distances. This skepticism arises despite previous reports, such as the 2019 incident where a chihuahua named Gizmo was snatched by a seagull in Devon.
Seagulls in coastal areas are known for their aggressive behavior, including incidents of swooping down to snatch food from people. Blackpool, notably identified as the UK’s second largest hotspot for seagull attacks according to a recent survey, has prompted warnings from Blackpool Council for residents to exercise caution during nesting season. The council advises vigilance as seagulls can become particularly defensive around their nests, potentially swooping down to protect their chicks.
