LONG BEACH (CBS) — Pet owners in several neighborhoods around Long Beach were on alert Monday after a string of recent coyote attacks.

KNX 1070′s Ron Kilgore reports nearly a dozen cats have been killed in the last month in and around the city.

As many as 11 attacks have been reported since April 1 primarily centered in the Naples area, with some coming in East Long Beach and the most recent one in Marine Park or “Mother’s Beach”.

Police said they usually occur well after midnight — sometimes as late as 4 a.m. — and usually target pet cats.

Resident Philip Von Bucher spends a lot of time outdoors in the area and said he’s noticed the increase in activity.

“I hear ‘em every night, they sing their songs,” he said.

Animal control specialists said the coyotes are likely coming from the Los Cerritos wetlands, Seal Beach or Colorado Lagoon.

Officials are urging pet owners to keep their animals indoors overnight and eliminate food, water and other resources that may attract coyotes.

The number of coyote reports has sharply increased over the last year in diverse cities across the Southland, including Anaheim, Calabasas, Glendale, and Altadena.