Cats and Chicks?

[babypeeps]

Oh yeah and I forgot to add that the brooder is not opened without one rule being followed. Both doggies and cats have to be put UP before the brooder is EVER opened

 

[Chickycat]

I had some chickens a few years ago before the city made me get rid of them. Anyway, I had no problem with my cat going after the chickens, but, my cat was drinking out of their water, which the chickens pooped in at times, and my cat contracted Salmonella, and it destroyed his liver and we had to have him put down. Dogs and Cats can contract Salmonella and it can be very serious if they do. So this is something to be aware of. If you own chickens, and dogs and cats that are around the chickens, you should research the symptoms of salmonella in dogs and cats.

 

[MarieNC]

I am very new to this, but I do have a cat and a dog. We keep our babies in a large tub in the bathroom with a wire screen over top, since they're getting big enough to fly up to the edge of the tub. I let the cat and dog in to see them only when the screen is on top of the tub. And I never leave the bathroom door open. The dog and cat are curious, but not overly so. I think my dog will be just fine with them. And I think once they get bigger and my de-clawed cat (I adopted him that way at 5 years old) figures out they can kick the crap out of him, he will give them a wide berth. But for now I am just super careful.

 

[AccioSarah]

We had our chicks in a room where the cats couldn't get to them... that's not to say they weren't determined though. They sat outside that door all day long.

 

[Manda0227]

At first when I got my chicks, my 3 cats were very very very curious. I have a 20lb Maine Coon cat, and 2 Cornish Rex cats. The Maine coon didn't care TOO much, as he's always been exposed to all kinds of different things, but he sat and watched. Then got bored, and was like "whatever." I made sure to have my chicks in a secure brooder though, especially for the Rex's. They're both 2, and they're permanent kittens. I knew they wouldn't stay away- so I let them peek and got pecked, one hid on top of the refrigerator for 2 hours, and the other stayed away. Then once they got more used to the chicks, and everything- as I kept getting more, Im finding they don't care so much about the chicks so much as the brooder lamp. They're like lizards, and try to bask in the light. When feeding the chicks I left the top open, for literally 2 minutes- walked away, and came back to one of my cats sitting INSIDE the brooder with the chicks. He didn't care about them, they however we're seriously offended and mad they invaded their space! Im afraid I'm going to have to leave the lamp set up once everyone is outside, for the cats! I know my cats. I don't know how other cats would act. As far as mine with chicks.. I trust them... through a secure brooder. They still have a wild streak, and instincts do kick in. You just have to make sure they can NOT get to the chicks, even if your kitty is a lump, and "would never do that". I do know that cats don't like closed doors, and once a door is opened and they get a peek at whats inside, they'll never leave it alone! So I'd say.. let the cats see, but not touch.

 

[xyresicchick]

i have 3 cats.

i hatched and am now brooding 8 chicks. i was checking for and cleaning off pasty butts last night and one of the cats burst into the doorway of the bathroom, and watched me with his pupils dialated as big as they can get, follwing me and then waiting patiently for a chance to and grab one.... however, i was vigilant... and didn't let go of the buggers.

two nights ago, two of the cats snuck in to the chick room (an office/studio, which is typically cat off-limits anyways) while i was hanging out at the brooder with the... my boyfriend left the door open. they both hid under the futon in there, one actually fell asleep as he waited (this was the same one. that was following me around last night). i am glad i checked in there for cats when i left, before they snuck out and ate all the chicks, because at first glance it didn't look like any of them were in there. if it wasn't for me getting down on my belly and checking under that futon... well. i have bantams... which are snack size in kitty terms. i would have had a pretty rough morning.


my advice, if you have cats. keep your chicks in an off-limits room, or make the brooder 100% KITTY PROOF!

my cats would DEFINITELY eat a chick.

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

Our cat only pounced at one chick ONCE and got in such huge trouble, he never did it again. That was our first batch of chicks, and we were very wary of his predator instincts. But after close observation, we found he had given up on them as toys/food. We even had a solo chick that lived in the house with the dog and cat. He roamed the whole house from age 1 week to age 2 1/2 months with only as much supervision you give a 2 year old in their own house (frequently check on them, but free to do laundry, read a book, use the bathroom) and it was a sight to see all 3 critters dive for anything that hit the kitchen floor while I was cooking!
That being said, our cat was raised by and thought he was a dog.
The chickens, however, I think are better off having grown used to them. Instead of blind fear, they stand up to the cat when he does stalk them (just for fun, he never pounces) and are more likely to take a bite out of his tail than the other way around.
Depends on the cat, though.