Cats and Chickens

[ivan3]

Our 18lb. Manx is like Gritsar's `kitty'. It would kill the chooks (and probably the turks if he could run `em down) just to sharpen his claws. He has injured himself trying to get at the chickens (leapt from the kitchen table and was brought up short of the chooks on the back deck by the sliding glass door - addled cat). The other two indoor cats ignore the chooks. The Manx spends his time sizing up his chances and he is neutered. He will never leave this house.

Have retired ferals working in tandem (Sylvester belly crawling after Tweety cats) to get to the chooks. And our 4th, saved from the ditch cat, runs from the turkeys and hangs out with chooks.

I won't assume anything about a potential predator that can bound up and over 6ft. welded wire fencing in less than 3 seconds.

 

[Brown Farmer]

My barn cats are as feral as they come - no rodents on the property. But family is family. Cats, dogs, goats, turkey and chickens (from OEGBs to broilers) no one harms the other as long as it is alive - they will prey on the dead. Certain cats enjoy spooking chikens in daylight but do not bother them on the rafters at night. One kitten this spring would wait for me to put chicken feed in the bowl, then curl up on the feed and tap at the chickens' faces when they got at the feed.
My cats have to be fed before sunrise and after sunset because they back off when the chickens get at their feed.
Same problem with the dogs and goats. The dogs have to be fed when the goats are locked.
And yes, the cats steal the comfort of the nest boxes. I tried leaving them pillows just to find them sheredded.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

My own cat and my visiting grand-cats leave everyone alone... my own cat even sleeping with the birds.
But stray and feral have had to be dispatched, live trapped and taken to local shelter or if not able to live trap, then .......

 

[abhaya]

I had several chickens killed by a stray cat before I live traped it and rehomed it to a farm with no chickens. The cat was doing what she had to to feed her young I have 3 of her kittens she had in the barn they are sweet as can be and sill rub on the chickens like they are best friends. It is the individual cat.

 

[Ibicella]

Chicks and bantams are definitely on the prey list for domestic cats.

Cats predating on standard-sized adult chickens doesn't happen very often. Cats don't typically tackle prey that appears to be as large as themselves. They know they can easily get hurt by an angry chicken. When I have heard about domestic cat attack stories, usually the cat is inexperienced, crazy, starving, or exceptionally large enough to attempt it.

 

[welasharon]

I have eight cats. THe full-time outside cats don't even look at the chickens. The four inside/outside ones I have had to train not to mess with the chickens. They think the chickens squirt water now. I still have one though that has not learned and she is locked up while they are outside in the yard. One is particular is a tiny little hen. Even if she didn't kill them I think she could do a bit of damage.
sharon

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
See, that's it right there. The underside of a cat's nails are filthy. If they can get one good slice into a chickens side the potential infection you would have to deal with is not worth it, IMO.