Are cats predators?

[ChickenMama18]

We have one that lives down the street and comes on the fence like he's interested but I shoo him away. On the other hand I see chickens down the road free ranging no problem. We let them free range when we're home but in this nice spring weather I'd sure like to let them out while we're at work. We live in a residential area so there are not a lot of other predators....and our dogs are on the side of the house in a dog run...but not with the chickens.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Most cats wont bother a grown chicken.
Some may kill small chicks.

 

[gryeyes]

My cats like to watch the chickens, and they will sit outside the run to watch 'em. They don't display any of their "hunting" behavior whilst doing this. It's more of an interested observation mode.

One cat put her face up to the run fence to sniff a chicken, and that chicken leaned over to inspect the cat's face. Then suddenly pecked her on the nose right through the fence. The cat jumped straight up and stalked away, annoyed. Now she doesn't sit quite as close to the fence.

 

[herfrds]

I have lost some young birds to cats. One grabbed one of my turkeys. Didn't last long enough to enjoy it.
The cats leave the big birds alone though. Had a chicken that would "break in" kittens. She would let them come up to her then peck them. They learned.

i would keep watch though and never fully trust the cat.

 

[possumqueen]

Quote:
The best way to chicken proof a dog or cat is to introduce them when they are little to a mama bantam who is setting on a clutch! There is nothing more terrifying to a pup or kitten than to be attacked by a "huge" screaming feather duster with claws and a snapping beak. No matter how big it gets, a dog will NEVER forget the experience. I had a chow who would cringe away from the chickens in the yard if they even looked at her.

It sounds awful to scare a cute little puppy like that, but remember that they grow up, and they're meat eaters.

 

[ChickenMama18]

Quote:
The best way to chicken proof a dog or cat is to introduce them when they are little to a mama bantam who is setting on a clutch! There is nothing more terrifying to a pup or kitten than to be attacked by a "huge" screaming feather duster with claws and a snapping beak. No matter how big it gets, a dog will NEVER forget the experience. I had a chow who would cringe away from the chickens in the yard if they even looked at her.

It sounds awful to scare a cute little puppy like that, but remember that they grow up, and they're meat eaters.

I would totally do that! Our ten month old puppy is quite scared of them already...he hasn't even gotten close he's so worried about them. Unfortunately...it's too late for the neighborhood cat, he's already full grown.

 

[turbodog]

Quote:

 

[sarahsark]

I have two different cats stalking around my place, but they've never yet attacked a chicken, which I attribute to the presence of my Great Pyrenees, who isn't the greatest guardian ever but still has sense enough to jump up and do a booming bark whenever a cat or something like that lurks around.

I don't know if a cat would harm a full grown chicken, particularly a standard size one, but I would not trust them completely and I know chicks and young, or very small chickens, are probably not safe.

 

[ChickenMama18]

Yeah, it seemed like the big ones "should" be ok. We do have one bantam though and that's a big worry. So far when we're home all has been well, and we also have two dogs and the cat knows they are here.

 

[AZKat]

My chickens chase away any cat that gets near them.