Cat issues

[Fayth14]

I live out in the mountains, and I have numerous predators, the main one is a wild cat. Yes, like a stray cat, which shocks me. I've only been raising chickens for a few years and had no issues. But since a new neighbor came in, and she had feral cats. They attack my chickens, even kill.

Is there any way to prevent this? They burrow under the coop or climb in. Does anyone ever have this issue?

 

[The Moonshiner]

I live in the country and my closest neighbor believes in raising feral cats. Probably producing 50 to 75 maybe more a year.
Of course they're just ""barn cats" so he doesn't feel a need to feed them regularly.
I had the same issue then they discovered my barn with my grow out pens. I lost 100+ chicks in a couple days.
I built and set out several of the simple wooden rabbit box traps. They were easy to catch. Usually catching several a day in each trap if I checked them enough.
The traps worked great but the amount of dispatching and disposal became a huge chore.
We ended up getting an adult dog that was farm raised. By chance he had a hatred for cats and killed them on site. Soon our other two joined in and my cat problem has been over since.
Downside is now I can't own cats either though.
Try the box traps or those havahart traps. You should be able to nip it in the bud before they get out of control like we had to deal with.

 

[50-45-1]

Hi and welcome to the backyard!
I am sorry you have such careless and heartless neighbors.
Ferel cats are a problem. They are starving, unhealthy, catch and spread disese, and if you have children they are a threat to them and your other animals. Ferel cats in high numbers you can cause your local wild bird numbers to drop.
Are you prepared to dispatch these critters? I certanly would but it is your choice.
You could catch them in a live trap and turn them into your animal control officer. Then likely he will dispatch them.
There are over a million cats euthenized in the US each year.
I have had 2 instances of ferel cat eating my baby chicks here and i practiced the three S's.
Good luck!

 

[BullChick]

Mothballs are illegal because cats eat them. Don’t ask, don’t tell though!
They hate the feeling of chicken wire under their claws. A skirt of wire on the ground should be used to prevent all predators.
I also just read that crushed eggshells hurt their feet too. That would be an easy solution-if it really works.

 

[Fayth14]

Oh my gosh! Thank you! I hadn't thought about, well, basically guard dogs! I have a few gentle ones that love the cats. Of course, they do. XD

Dang, @The Moonshiner that's much, much worse than what I had to deal with. It's like I already have issues with foxes and weasels out here. Don't need more. DX

Yeah, yeah that does sound very time consuming, I can try it though. But it only would bring them back right? I mean release, they come back it sounds like?
also, thank you!

Mothballs? Even if I want to, I can't.

I can buy cheap eggs and do that.

Thank you all for your suggestions, will try each.

 

[The Dapper Duck]

I would trap the cat(s) in a live trap and dispatch them. If you don't have the means to do so with a rifle, take them down to the creek or fill a garbage can with water and do it that way. Once those cats figure out where the fun is, they will keep coming back. And obviously don't mention anything to the neighbor and leave the cats in a ditch somewhere far from your house.

 

[Fayth14]

I couldn't do that.. Thanks for the suggestion. I think a dog is better to go. The Neighbor will only replace the ones like he does his rabbits in the shed.

What about an electric barrier?

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Leave food out for them! They'll start coming over to your property for the free food. Then they'll stop catching mice for your neighbor. Then...no more cats. Just an idea. We have barn cats in our area from the farmer down the way. We never seem to have a problem with them. You could always talk to your neighbor about it. If they are killing your chickens your neighbor should have some liability.

 

[The Dapper Duck]

I couldn't do that.. Thanks for the suggestion. I think a dog is better to go. The Neighbor will only replace the ones like he does his rabbits in the shed.

What about an electric barrier?

Yea, that should work.