Cats and Chickens???

[missnu01]

Cats will go after young chicks..but once they are chicken sized cats no longer see them as a meal

 

[MsChickenMomma]

I have 3 barn cats who have never once touched my chickens. Even when I had chicks in the barn with their mom. One of my roosters is currently living in the front of my barn until I can build him his own coop, and my cats haven't laid a paw on him. I even have a hen who is half blind in both eyes who hangs out in the front of my barn where the cats live. They all get along great! I think as long as the cat has plenty of cat food, and isn't a feral cat, your chickens should be fine. Even when I had 9 cats last year, they never bothered my chickens. My chickens all free range too. I wouldn't worry too much, as long as the cat isn't feral, and your chickens are at least 2 months old. That way your cat will be able to tell it's a chicken, not a bird.

 

[Rosies Roost]

We just moved into a new house and are waiting for our chicks to be able to go outside. But we have also seen two cats hanging around here that I'm nervous about. I don't know if they're a neighbors wandering barn cats or if they're strays but I hope they stay away from our babies. I don't want to come home one day to a blood bath.

 

[jjdward]

This is a picture of my cat Stinky Pete. He jumped in the run and decided he was going to make himself at home. Long story sort, about 10 seconds after this picture was taken he was given a rude awakening. I thought I may have to go in and save him. He only made that mistake once.

I have 3 cats and when they were young, they would stalk the chicken but none of them were brave enough to get closer than 3 or 4 feet.

Good luck with the chickens!

 

[aggiemae]

We have cats, including one who hunts and they never mess with our chickens, unfortunately this has caused our chickens not to be afraid of any cats (or dogs). Chicks and pullets need to be protected from cats but based on what I have seen I think that most adult chickens can hold their own with a cat.

 

[xxxgeorgiexxx]

i have never had a problem with cats nearly everyone owns a cat where i live

 

[ozarkchicks]

we don't have a problem with our cats being around the chickens, our cats are fat though so they could just be lazy. a big rooster may be enough to keep slightly curious cats away