Cats & Chickens

[peasant_girl]

Hello!

We have 3-month-old chickens. We want to let them free range, but we also have four outside cats. We've let the chickens out as long as we are watching them. The cats are very interested. One tried to attack yesterday, but a chicken pecked it and it ran away. Our neighbor had chickens and our cats never bothered them, maybe because they were so big. Is it safe to let our cats free range at this age, or should I wait until they are older? Thanks!

 

[IsabelleButterscotch]

Cats dont really give full grown chickens trouble. I would wait until they're full grown to let them and the cats interact.

 

[hayley3]

Hello!

We have 3-month-old chickens. We want to let them free range, but we also have four outside cats. We've let the chickens out as long as we are watching them. The cats are very interested. One tried to attack yesterday, but a chicken pecked it and it ran away. Our neighbor had chickens and our cats never bothered them, maybe because they were so big. Is it safe to let our cats free range at this age, or should I wait until they are older? Thanks!

Cat never bothered my chickens. Not sure at what age the chickens reach full size but I don't remember keeping mine in for fear of the cat bothering them but I only had one cat. I would supervise until you are sure the cats have lost interest.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

Hello!

We have 3-month-old chickens. We want to let them free range, but we also have four outside cats. We've let the chickens out as long as we are watching them. The cats are very interested. One tried to attack yesterday, but a chicken pecked it and it ran away. Our neighbor had chickens and our cats never bothered them, maybe because they were so big. Is it safe to let our cats free range at this age, or should I wait until they are older? Thanks!

We have free range ducks by our outside cats. They don’t bother them at all. The cats were interested while they were babies but when they got big the cats left them alone.

 

[CatWhisperer]

My indoor outdoor cats have always been good with chicks. They won’t hurt baby chicks raised in the house. They were gently talked into that, never any punishment done. The2 feral cats leave the chickens alone and I have some pretty small seramas out there. Well fed cats won’t bother chickens.

 

[PaperRain]

It’s somewhat relieving to hear cats don’t care much for adults (although I do need to see it to believe it in my dilemma...). I’m having neighbor issues with my neighbor hoarding semi-feral kitties lol. I know their cats kill birds and that geeks me out for my chickens.

My cat is indoor and she is okay around the chicks. She’s interested but has no intention of hurting them. But because she is a cat, I still keep an eye on her

 

[Folly's place]

Cats vary which shouldn't be a big suprise. Most cats will have not problem killing chicks, unless they are protected by a broody hen. As the chicks grow up, the birds are not so vulnerable. My adult bantams, and larger standard birds, have been fine with my cats, and others.
It's possible to have a very motivated, very hungry cat, who will tackle a bird that most cats would ignore.
Guard your chicks, take good care of your outside cats, and expect that things will be okay with them when the chicks are larger.
Mary

 

[Kgbao]

It’s somewhat relieving to hear cats don’t care much for adults (although I do need to see it to believe it in my dilemma...). I’m having neighbor issues with my neighbor hoarding semi-feral kitties lol. I know their cats kill birds and that geeks me out for my chickens.

My cat is indoor and she is okay around the chicks. She’s interested but has no intention of hurting them. But because she is a cat, I still keep an eye on her

My 14yr old kitty would rather love on them.

 

[Alexandra33]

"Attacked." Was this play or true hunting instinct? I've kept cats and poultry together since the beginning, and not all "attacks" are meant to do harm. My outdoors occasionally chased and pounced on unsuspecting chickens out of pure mischievousness. Keep in mind this is also how they play.