Can a wild cat kill a turkey?

[bshpqr]

I had something get into my barn the other night and kill one of my turkeys. The crop was ripped open and one of the breasts was picked clean. I assume it was a coon, I had to take care of a couple last year. The reason that I question that it might be a cat is I set traps and baited with the dead turkey. The next night I caught this rather large wild cat. It was a nasty looking thing and pretty mean. I know cats are good hunters,but could a large male take down a 1 year old hen?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

could a large male take down a 1 year old hen?

It "could" but it would be unusual unless it was starving​

 

[bshpqr]

Thanks. I wouldnt think so, but this was big and mangy looking. I'll keep setting traps, Im sure I'll have a coon in it sooner than later. Anyone have suggestions on what to use that won't attract stray cats, or my 2 cats?

 

[Attack Chicken]

I've heard of using marshmallows in your trap.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

I catch cats in my live trap all the time, but they are not what killed my turkey. I'm pretty sure a bobcat killed my turkey.

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:

 

[bshpqr]

I had my wife pick up some marshmallows. Lets see if I can catch something other that a cat. My cats eat everthing, hopefully they are not interested in marshmallows.

 

[dchickenman]

Throw a couple of marshmallows on the ground in front of your cat, let him satisfy his curiosity about it & determine it's not something he wants to eat. Probably won't go into the trap for them after that. Marshmallows have accounted for MANY a coon. Good luck!

 

[dacjohns]

I assume you mean a feral domestic cat.

Bobcats and mountain lions can kill turkeys.

 

[bshpqr]

I assume you mean a feral domestic cat.

Ya, I do, sorry.

Cats didnt want the marshmallows. Nieter did anything else. Nothing in the traps this morning. Do coons normally comeback the next night or would it be more random?
The couple coons I trapped last year, I seemed to catch 3-4 nights after the first attack?​