i know this because it actually happened to my cat. for the short time i lived in MN, i looked out the backyard after just letting my cat out, and out from the snowy white fog a hawk swooped down and grabbed my cat by the neck and tried taking off with him. about 12 feet in the air, my cat finally got free and fell in the snow about 2 foot and came running back into the house. he had a hole in his neck, and we had to have the vet drain the puss and sow it up. the cat's fine now though.