I’ve heard of idiots at city council meetings say: “They were here first!” - in reference to mountain lions, coyotes, etc.
We’ve had a huge influx of coyotes where I live in the foothills of California - they can - and will and have - jumped 10 foot fences into backyards. Some local residents have put rollers on top of their fences to deter coyotes. I’ve know of several neighbors who have lost dogs and cats to coyotes - in their own fenced-in yards.
I looked it up - and this is deep blue California we’re talking about here - and it is legal to kill coyotes, they are neither endangered nor protected. I wouldn’t hesitate to kill one that attacked my cat or dogs.
In Arizona, it’s a felony to shoot to protect your pet. (See Shannon’s Law.) The filthy government.