I live in a fairly residential neighborhood but hear these awful screeching animal sounds late at night.

Question

It sounds like a screaming child and is not a cat. It gives me goosebumps. I have caught a glimpse and they (there are 2 of them) are dark colored and about the size of a large cat. What can these be?

Answer 1

Its probably a raccoon, I remember that this happened to me before be sure probly expose of your garbage carefully because Raccons are usually attracted by it.  

Answer 2

Female foxes (vixens) make a noise that sounds like screeching. I'm not so familiar with North American mammals, but I'm sure the same applies for most of the above mentioned animals. Just natural behaviour!

Answer 3

A possum???

Answer 4

it's either a fisher cat or a fox. most likely a fox.

Answer 5

OMG !

YOU have a CHUPACABRA infestation !!!

RUN FOR YOUR LIVES !

Answer 6

Probably raccoons. Possums hiss and are lighter, usually grey. Female foxes shriek, but they aren't really cat-size or cat-shaped; they're more dogish. Raccoons are dark, and they shriek, and they are cat-sized. And they love to scavenge for food in the garbage, so make sure your trash cans are tightly covered. They're probably just having a territorial dispute; if it continues, you can call animal control and they should come catch them.

Answer 7

Sounds like a couple of raccoons are having a territory dispute