Cat & ducklings

[allergymama]

Our mostly outdoor cat is always in with our ducks and creates no problems. Should I worry about the ducklings that may be (hopefully!) coming? Will mama duck run him off? Should I put one of her friends in with her near the due date for help (she is outside of the pen, but in the fenced in area...cat gets everywhere though)? Sorry about all these broody/duckling questions. This is our first hatch this way. TIA

 

[Amykins]

Mama duck will probably try to shoo the cat away from her babies, but unless kitty retaliates it should be okay. The only thing to worry about is making absolutely certain the ducks never come into contact with the cat's saliva, water, food, etc. Felines carry a bacteria called pasteurella, and it's lethal to birds. Dogs and people carry it too, but it's only about 50/50, whereas about 80-90% of cats are carriers. So just be sure to put the cat's bowls up off the floor before letting them run around the house.

 

[allergymama]

Thank you. Cat eats and drinks in the house. Ducks are outside...although he does like to snitch their Brewers yeast if I spill it. Lol.

 

[Amykins]

Thank you. Cat eats and drinks in the house. Ducks are outside...although he does like to snitch their Brewers yeast if I spill it. Lol.

Weird cat. I can relate, mine used to try and eat drywall.

 

[allergymama]

Heartbroken. I guess I don't need to worry about ducklings. Cat got hit by a car. Kids are going to be devastated. We knew there was a good chance, people drive crazy around here. He was a "barn cat" to keep the mice down (husband is allergic so he was limited where he could be inside) but he was so sweet.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Sorry about your cat.

 

[Orca5094]

Omg, so sorry about your kitty.

 

[allergymama]

Thanks. Not telling the kids right away because they are leaving for camp tomorrow and I can't bear for their time away to be clouded.