Can a kitten be raised with chickens?

[@~rosecityfarmgirl~@]

Quote:
Well, my fiance said no more indoor animals, so the intention is that Noobie Kitty would stay outside. The coop is a decent size, and we're thinking of expanding the run to cover the whole 14x14 area. I may even let him 'free range' the backyard with the girls while I'm gardening lol

And if the weather's crappy, he'll be in the house - DF initally said NO chickens, NO way, and it only took me 2 weeks

Getting a kitten in the house once in a while should be no problem!

 

[ranchhand]

Why not just mouse and rat proof the coop? Store the feed properly, don't leave feed out overnight. Chickens rarely eat at night.

Seeing as how the person caring for the cat is willing to pay a pretty hefty vet bill, in order to torture a cat, makes me wonder why they are so desperate to rehome the cat? What's wrong with the cat?

 

[@~rosecityfarmgirl~@]

Quote:
Nothing at all! She lives in the county, on a farm, and has plenty of her own cats/dogs/etc, and just wants to make sure that he gets a home. There are ads for free cats all over kijiji in this area (and everywhere else I'm sure), but most people go "omg, vet bills, clawed furniture, a cat bringing home a litter of kittens I don't need!". I think it's great that she's offering to do this. There are SO many feral cats around my house, plenty of kittens, and I just wish people would fix their pets more often. There's no reason to NOT do it!
Note - I've had cats all my life, and just one little claw mark on a chair. Give your cat his own scratching post, enforce your territory with a .99 spray bottle, and he'll get the idea! We have tiny nicks in our leather couch from Rommel hopping across to look out the window, but it's ok - we got the 5 year everything's-covered warranty! If you don't like cat scratches on YOU, don't get a cat. That's how they play!

 

[emvickrey]

When I moved in this place last July, Somebody decided that we needed a cat. She stayed and stayed and eventually became a member of our household along with the dog, chickens and what ever runs through here. Aorin 5th she included 4 more kittens to the household. We've managed to rehome 1 but the other 3 are still here. They are the laziest kittens i've ever seen. When they play they don't take out their claws and scratch. They use them to cover their poop which is everywhere and climb the trees so they can jump down into my plants. They climp the coop and pens. They show no interested in any of the birds except for the quail chicks. Probably because they are smaller and easier to catch. But i'mv only seen them catching and eating bugs. They will lay around the chickens and let them walk over them and pect them and when they get treats they try to steal it from each other. My little "special" silkie attacts the kittens every chance he gets. Today we where trying to move birds around and the little critter where getting in our way so the bunny, George, teacup chihuahua and a cat where put in the small pen for the dog so we wouldn't step on them. George was the only one trying to hurt anybody, thats the special silkie. OF course he couldn't hurt any of them but the bunny just wanted to cuddle with somebody, the chihuahua wanted to play and so did the kitten and George wanted them out of his pen. Spoiled brat. My kittens follow me in the coop when i'm feeding or cleaning or collecting eggs. They allow me into the silkie pen and hang out with the chicks. They don't bother anything.

Now I think if you locked a cat in the coop with chickens, it would practically have to live in the rafters to keep from getting flogged. My older chickens do not want the ittens in the coop and if they didn't leave when I did, I feel they would make them wish they had. I don't normally have feed left out at night becaue they usually finish it off. I've only seen a few mice around in the coop and once in the tractor. I cover every hole I find in the dirt. I can'tkeep them from coming in the wire. As long as they dont bother my chickens and they eat the scratch mine dont want and don't build nests in the coops they can have a little food. The cats outside of the coop keep the population down.

 

[mackenzie450]

I may be confused about your intentions but it sounds like your new kitten will be confined to the chicken coop and run... along with the chickens?  If that is the case, I think he will eventually have some instincts take over and want to chase them....just for lack of anything else to entertain himself with. 


I think they can get along wonderfully otherwise and it only took one correction for my new kitten to leave my new chicks alone....that and a protective mama hen. 


I'm with the do not declaw crowd....ick, ouch, etc.  /img/smilies/smile.png

I know this is an old thread but I'm wondering how you corrected your kitten? I'm in this boat now. My kitten chases my 18 week old chickens everywhere and they don't defend themselves they just run and flap and flap and run.

 

[Beekissed]

Even a grown bird will run from a cat, except maybe a good and feisty rooster or broody hen. I just used my all purpose "Aaaaaaaaatttttt!!!!" and a light cuff to the head when they go into stalking mode. Pretty much like a mama does if she doesn't want them doing something....cuff and a high pitched growl. Don't wait until they are in chase, as they are too excited and intent then....cut them off at the pass, de-escalate their excitement by distracting them with the correction. Some kittens may be more persistent, the same as some dogs are more persistent, but they can learn.

 

[mackenzie450]

Even a grown bird will run from a cat, except maybe a good and feisty rooster or broody hen.  I just used my all purpose "Aaaaaaaaatttttt!!!!" and a light cuff to the head when they  go into stalking mode.  Pretty much like a mama does if she doesn't want them doing something....cuff and a high pitched growl.  Don't wait until they are in chase, as they are too excited and intent then....cut them off at the pass, de-escalate their excitement by distracting them with the correction.  Some kittens may be more persistent, the same as some dogs are more persistent, but they can learn. 

Thank you!! I really appreciate the advice.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I think making a cat live in a 5x8 enclosure with chickens is cruel and inhumane.
It's that's the best life you can offer him, leave him at the farm where he is now.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Oh, I didn't see that this thread was 6 years old. He's probably dead now. Poor kitty!

 

[mackenzie450]

Oh, I didn't see that this thread was 6 years old. He's probably dead now. Poor kitty!

Lol! Sorry I just searched for raising a kitten with chickens because I'm in the same boat and I had a question for someone on the thread. Didn't mean to resurrect an obsolete topic.