Cat Almost Killed my Showgirl

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i am so upset! Trying not to cry. Oh, forget about it, i'm going to cry. My sweet Maribou, my sweetest and prettiest Showgirl, came within inches of being killed by my neighbor's cat tonight.

i saw him twice trying to sneak into the yard. First from one side, and i chased him back to the fence line. Next thing i know he's in another position, staring at my girls. So i chase him away again.

i don't see him at the back of the property anymore. i am just a foot or two from my three showgirls who are happily pecking around. All of a sudden Maribou lets out a distress call and starts running towards me, in her awkward staggering way. i see that darn cat in full throttle, front legs forward, rear legs back, flying in the air towards her - INCHES from her. i fly out of my chair and scream at him to get the heck out of there. He stops mid-stream and bolts for the back fence. i grab Maribou and feel all over for puncture wounds - luckily, there are none - but it was dang close!

i still was not sure that cat was gone, so i donned a forehead flashlight, grab the hose and head for the back of the property. There he is, prancing around and spraying my husband's riding lawn mower. i have the water nozzle on jet stream, so let him have it and don't let up until he is waaaaaaaaaaaay over the fence.

But, i am still in shock. i was right there. My beautiful Maribou could have been snagged and dragged away screaming. That darn cat had better not set one teeny paw pad in our yard again!

 

[Katy]

I've lost more chickens to cats than any other predator.

 

[winekntrychicks]

If I were you I would set a live trap, catch it, and drive it 100's of miles away and let it out. There is a leash law in California for dogs and if caught harrassing livestock you may shoot to kill. Should be the same for those nasty ole cats

 

[Katy]

Quote:
If you do that you're just putting your problem on someone else.

 

[winekntrychicks]

I really doubt it. Most people don't raise chickens. I have issues with Cats. I lived in an area where we had about 6 ferral cats. My front yard smelled like a litter box. It was disgusting. Most, not all cat owners are have their heads in the litter box when it comes to being responsible cat owners. Hence the over population and ferral animals spraying everything. You have a right to farm and your neighbor is being irresponsible.

 

[winekntrychicks]

You could talk with your neighbor. I doubt that would help. My husband built us a lovely coop and run. There are ferral cats at this property as well as skunks, coyote, racoon, fox, etc. Since I really am an animal lover and won't kill any of the mentioned animals I had to confine my flock. They are very content and don't know the difference. On second thought when you said capturing the cat and dumping it would just pass along the problem you were right. The cat's owner probably has neither spayed or neutered that cat. Even if you captured it and kept it yourself (you would always know where it is at) the neighbor would just get a new one and the circle continues. Your best bet is a coop and a run. Keep us posted. Good luck

 

[silkiechicken]

That sucks.

I've been lucky enough to not have a problem with ferals and even my chicks. They don't even bother the month old silkies who get to free range in the spring. If you capture it, turn it in to the shelter or something and don't let it go be someone elses problem.

 

[Akane]

Even if someone else doesn't have chickens cats are a problem everywhere. Most farmers here train their dogs to kill them because they are such horrible pests. Then idiots think they should drive their unwanted or annoying neighborhood cats out into the country and dump them on us. It would be more humane for the cat and less trouble for other people if you'd just get it put down yourself or take it to a shelter instead of leaving it to starve, get killed by coyotes/foxes, or make the owners of the farm it ends up on do the job for you.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

The thing is, the neighbor who owns the cat is a super nice guy. He gives us tomatoes, we give him eggs. When my husband fell off a ladder trying to put our shed together, he was right there ready to jump the fence to help. He said that cat adopted them, and ended up driving his own cat off. This is just a nice older man and his wife who got adopted by a cat, and puts out food for him. This is an outdoor cat, and i understand that. Some cats just can't abide being indoors. i have cats, but they are all indoors, by my choice for their safety.

i don't want to hurt the cat. i'm just upset and surprised he was so ballsy. We have one of those scarecrow water things, but it was pointed in the other direction. This cat came all around the left side of the property, sidled up along the side of the house, and sprung out where i was not expecting. i just need to be more careful, and maybe look into other options for yard protection - a dog, a goose, another scarecrow?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Another thing, this cat is a gorgeous orange persian. i have persians, so i guess i was thinking he would be as sweet as my own cats. Wrong.