By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-07-31 14:31:57 | Updated at 2026-08-10 15:40:05
1 week ago
A San Diego man recalled the shocking moment he found out a hungry hawk had broken through his patio screen and snatched his elderly cat.
Registered nurse Andrew Vergohven, who lives in the North Park neighborhood, got home from work on Monday and discovered that his beloved 16-year-old cat, Slick, was missing.
After spotting a hole in his screen, Vergohven checked security camera footage in hopes of finding out where Slick was, according to NBC San Diego.
Instead, Vergohven discovered that a hawk appeared to have smashed through his slide screen and attacked Slick.
The cuddly brownish cat was sleeping near the patio door before he was carried away by the winged predator shortly after 11.30am.
'I was just so surprised how fast he got him out of here,' Vergohven told the outlet.
Vergohven remembered Slick as a beloved companion that had been by his side during the death of his partner.
'I didn't expect him to live much longer, but I didn't expect him to die that way either,' Vergohven added.
Slick, a 16-year-old cat, was attacked and carried away by a hawk on Monday while sleeping by a patio door, according to his owner Andrew Vergohven
Vergohven said he returned home from work and discovered that his beloved companion was missing. After reviewing security cameras, he said a hawk struck and took Slick
The hawk attacked so swiftly that it initially only looked like a blur in the security footage.
After Slick was snatched, Vergohven scoured his neighborhood of North Park to see if the hawk had dropped his roughly six-pound cat anywhere.
Vergohven also posted about Slick's appearance on the Nextdoor neighborhood app, but remains stunned at what happened.
'I've seen hawks in our trees all the time,' Vergohven told the outlet.
That included one hawk perched on top of a massive palm tree across the patio, but Vergohven acknowledged that he did not think he had cause for concern.
'I didn't really think I need to protect my cat because he is an indoor cat' he added.
Vergohven got emotional as he discussed his pet, seemingly having to choke back tears.
A previously taken photo showed Vergohven smiling while the furry cat laid on top of him.
Vergohven said the hawk snatched his 16-year-old cat quickly and that he had seen other hawks around the neighborhood before (File photo of a hawk)
The grieving owner issued an urgent warning to other pet owners in the area about how to ensure their beloved animals stayed safe.
'If it looks like the hawk is staying around a lot, he's stalking your cat,' Vergohven told NBC San Diego. 'Please keep the windows shut.'
The attack on Slick was unusual, and it was unlikely that the hawk could have carried the adult cat for long.
Most hawks cannot carry more than one to two pounds, according to BirdWatching Magazine.
To date, no other hawk attacks have been reported in the North Park neighborhood.
Even though this specific encounter was uncommon, it is not rare to see pets clashing with wild animals.
This is especially the case during hot days, when windows and doors are regularly opened for ventilation.
'We do have to remember our pets may be able to get out, or vice versa,' Nina Thompson, of the San Diego Humane Society, told the outlet. 'Something may be able to get inside.'
The San Diego Humane Society told the Daily Mail on Friday morning that it had no further information about Slick.
