Primarily ambush predators, cougar will typically attack medium to small prey when it comes to livestock and pets, such as-but not limited-to dogs of all sizes, sheep, goats, pigs, young horses, house cats etc. In the Northern regions, cougar seldom pray on cattle. Although it has happened, it's rare. It is much more common in the southern regions, where they are known to be quite hard on cattle herds.

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General attack indicators

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• Typically show more skill and stealth than other predators such as wolves and bears, although bears have been known to develop similar habits once accustom to a predatory life style.

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• Often livestock or pets are not known to be missing immediately due to the lack of disturbance or fight during the attack.

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• Cougar will usually target the head, neck and throat of a chosen prey animal, often with dramatic trauma to the skull, face and neck of victims. Often the first feeding on victims will consist of the heart, lungs and liver tissue, while other entrails are typically removed from the victim. This habit of evisceration is common with cougar and is an attempt to preserve the remains for feeding as long as possible. 

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• Typically cougar will drag or carry the prey to a nearby location that is able to be hidden in brush, timber or other cover (including buildings). Often the drag mark of the pet or livestock is the only indication that an animal has been lost to a predator, although not always present in cases of the victim being carried away. 

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• Cougar will typically hide the remains of their kill with debris such as leaves, loose brush, grass, moss, sticks etc., collected from the immediate area where they decide to leave the carcass. 

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• It is not recommended to follow any drag mark leaving an area when searching for missing pets or livestock without appropriate protection and support from multiple experienced people for everyone's safety. 

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• Often the remains of the kill are stumbled upon before they are even seen by those searching for the missing animal. It is at this point that the search party will realize they are standing between a large predator and it's food source that it may wish to defend. If the remains of a pet or livestock animal is located or a pile of debris has been located at the end of a drag trail, it is not recommended to investigate without appropriate support as cougar will typically bed down near their kills in order to protect it.

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Bear and cougar, typically being solitary predators (at least while killing) do share a few habits that can be observed with prey that have been killed by either predator. These include:

• Both predators have been known to kill multiple domestic prey animals during one attack

• Both predators will drag or carry a prey animals out of open areas toward areas of cover such as brush or timber

• Both predators are known to cover the kill with debris from around the site where they have stored the carcass; such as grass, leaves, sticks, moss etc. 

• Both predators are known to stay close to the kill and in some cases, defend it.