Cats, any way too keep them out of the yard?

[The Sheriff]

My neighbor's cat just severely injured one of her full sized Ameraucanas. He grabbed it by the neck and shook it so violently that it had neurological damage. After two days of trying to save it, she had to put it down yesterday. That's why I have this guy. He doesn't like cats.

 

[ruralmom]

The ferral cats at our ranch was big enough to eat my snowy call duck hen. He did not kill a chicken yet, nor will he ever, thanks to my DH good shooting. Sorry for all you city folks, if the cats do not kill one of your chicken they sure are going to terrorize them.

 

[Kaitie09]

I've got 9 pet cats, and have 6 feral ones that come around. None of them have ever bothered the chickens. The neighbor feeds the feral cats and they walk right past the chickens to get the cat food. My biggest guy (16lbs of muscle) goes with me when I feed them. He walks into their run and eats the scratch that they miss. I've got one tiny girl that likes to chase a stray chicken when they get away from the flock while free ranging, but she technically does not get within 5 feet of them.

 

[The Sheriff]

My neighbor didn't think her cat could or would kill a chicken either. Until she was prying one out of it's mouth.

 

[Chick Charm]

One method that amused me was trapping a pet cat that had been stalking our new chicks. I seen several times a day for about three days. That prompted me to go and purchase a Have-a-Heart trap. Mind you I am in an upscale urban part of San Diego where shooting a cat even while taking a chick would send me to the Brigg for life. So I set the trap in the morning and by noon the cat was caught. I then took the cat in the Have-a-heart trap and set it on the side walk in from of my house. That evening a neighbor lady came and tried to get the cat out but couldn't figure it out so I came out of the house and we had a nice little chat about her cat (that was still alive at the moment but should it kill a chicken......) All the neighbors saw the cat meowing in the Have-a-Heart trap and funny thing....I haven't seen as many cats around lately.

 

[seminolewind]

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I was just going to say, 2 geese would probably do it!

 

[RHRanch]

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This. I have trapped several cats. If they had an owner, the owner could have him back one time. If I catch him again, I drop him off at the county shelter and the owner can bail him out of kitty jail. I too live in urban SD, where if you killed someones kitty it would turn into a nightmare. They put it on the news when coyotes eat too many poodles and housecats where I live. lol

 

[joan1708]

Sheriff, what kind of bird is that in the picture? Is it a peacock?

 

[Debbi]

I have 9 cats. While they do not bother the large fowl, Marans, I do feel they would attempt eating a Silkie! Or chicks. My roosters beat the tar out of my cats on a daily basis if they get too close to them, or their food!

 

[moetrout]

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I am pretty sure that's an EMU. Smaller cousin to the Osterich. My old neighbor had 3 of them.