Cats hunting my chickens

[2hotchicks]

I agree with this response as an initial step. I lost my favorite BO hen in September 2018 to a feral town cat who was starving. He got into the pen at sunset on the one afternoon that I wasn't home to shut the access door. I would have normally disposed of the cat but chose another path of forgiveness and rehabilitation. View attachment 1991739 Today, a well fed Tom hangs out in the back yard and has become quite friendly. And he now has Esmeralda to hang out with. As a bonus, Esmeralda is hell on mice, rats and moles.View attachment 1991740

That is the ultimate act of compassion & forgiveness. Problems with domestic animals always trace back to an irresponsible human, so I hate to see the animals pay the price. Thanks for sharing.

 

[SueT]

We had a feral cat watching our chickens. I decided he wouldn't bother them if he wasn't hungry so I began feeding him, and he never did harm them. However, they were not bantams, and I think the OP's problem cat isn't hungry, just doing it for fun.

 

[MountainWoman73]

Consider keeping a good rooster? My own cat gets bored and stalks the chickens sometimes. (They're full size, not bantam, so he's playing, not seriously hunting.) That game ended when he got chased right back! I laughed so hard... I understand this might not be good enough for a cat who is doing serious hunting though.

 

[CatWhisperer]

Please don’t do anything to your neighbors cat that you wouldn’t want done to a beloved pet of your own. I didn’t read that the cat actually killed a chicken. Perhaps once the chickens become accustomed to the cats presence they won’t react so much.

 

[cleoandtheflock]

I have the same issue with my neighbors cat! The neighbors are interesting and their cats aren’t aloud inside so they are always out and about murdering everything. One of my chicks disappeared a few months ago most likely a cat. One of the cats is horrible.
One nice sunny day I woke up and looked outside at the sunshine and my chickens then I noticed off to the side in my driveway the murderer cat a foot away from a giant squirrel then it pounced and I heard the squirrel scream like crazy!!!! Then there was blood all over my driveway after the cat dragged it away! Also that same cat killed my neighbors old 3 legged cat who never goes outside and slipped through the door. I don’t know what to do the neighbors cats are crazy!!!!!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have the same issue with my neighbors cat! The neighbors are interesting and their cats aren’t aloud inside so they are always out and about murdering everything. One of my chicks disappeared a few months ago most likely a cat. One of the cats is horrible.
One nice sunny day I woke up and looked outside at the sunshine and my chickens then I noticed off to the side in my driveway the murderer cat a foot away from a giant squirrel then it pounced and I heard the squirrel scream like crazy!!!! Then there was blood all over my driveway after the cat dragged it away! Also that same cat killed my neighbors old 3 legged cat who never goes outside and slipped through the door. I don’t know what to do the neighbors cats are crazy!!!!!!

Call animal control in your area and ask what they advise.

I am betting those outside cats are not vaccinated either.....
Rabies is real!
My uncle did not vaccinated his barn cats. He got attacked by one with rabies. He had to kill it to stop it then spent 6+ weeks in intensive care.
Even a vaccinated cat can inflict a bite leading to a life threatening bacterial infection.

If I had my cat running loose I would expect to have to bail it out of the pound or pick up its corpse from the road.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Consider keeping a good rooster? My own cat gets bored and stalks the chickens sometimes. (They're full size, not bantam, so he's playing, not seriously hunting.) That game ended when he got chased right back! I laughed so hard... I understand this might not be good enough for a cat who is doing serious hunting though.

My kittens also love to tease the chickens! They are trained not to hurt them, but they love to bat at tail feathers or terrify the OEG bantam. I even got a picture of it:


What I would do is when the cat tries to enter your yard rub your feet on the ground repeatedly while glaring at them and maybe even growl. This is cat language for "get away, my territory". It works fine on my cats when I want to keep them out of the shed or something. You could also chase them off with a shovel or something every time they come near and hopefully they will get the message soon.

 

[21hens-incharge]

My kittens also love to tease the chickens! They are trained not to hurt them, but they love to bat at tail feathers or terrify the OEG bantam. I even got a picture of it:
View attachment 1991921

What I would do is when the cat tries to enter your yard rub your feet on the ground repeatedly while glaring at them and maybe even growl. This is cat language for "get away, my territory". It works fine on my cats when I want to keep them out of the shed or something. You could also chase them off with a shovel or something every time they come near and hopefully they will get the message soon.

or carry a squirt gun.....

 

[BarredRockMom]

Do as you wish everyone.

In my view, once a predator steps onto my property it's on. I don't give warnings, I don't speak to the roaming animal's owners, I don't call animal control & I don't look the other way. I keep the peace by keeping the peace.
I will neutralize the chicken threat in the quickest, most effective way possible. There's no reason for a predator to be in any proximity to my girls other than to size up an opportunity.

I recognize that everyone has a different outlook & a different living situation, so whatever works best for you is how you should handle it.

 

[RoosterML]

Do as you wish everyone.

In my view, once a predator steps onto my property it's on. I don't give warnings, I don't speak to the roaming animal's owners, I don't call animal control & I don't look the other way. I keep the peace by keeping the peace.
I will neutralize the chicken threat in the quickest, most effective was possible. There's no reason for a predator to be in any proximity to my girls other than to size up an opportunity.

I recognize that everyone has a different outlook & a different living situation, so whatever works best for you is how you should handle it.

X2 couldn’t have said it better myself