Cats? Predators?

[kryptoniteqhs]

How many of you have had cats get your chickens? And how big are the chickens that they got? JW

 

[Lmarie]

as far as I know they mostly mess with baby chicks... But I've never had too much trouble with them coming around...

 

[bantamsrus]

I've manage to acquire a collection of cats being a vet tech and none of them harm the chickens. Occasionally they "pretend stalk" them but usually the cats end up getting chased off in the end!!! Then hens are very protective over the chicks and won't let the cats anywhere near them. I've also raised chicks from the hatchery--and the cats never try to get into the brooder cages. We do have a couple of strays that hang around and they don't bother the chickens either. I couldn't say that a hungry stray or feral wouldn't go for a nice, plump chicken though...

 

[little_grey_bantam]

I've had cats drag off RIR...
We have supercats! Little _____(insert angry word) come out and hunt my chickens (oops, previous put in cats lol) and when I tell neighbors about it, they just shun us out. I've always lived near "cat ladies" and they are a hazard to my chickens...

in the city they were worse... they'd sit on top of the enclosure and pester the chickens...

and when I tell people that my chickens stay on MY property and that they should keep their cats on THEIRS, they tell me how cats need to be free to roam and mate and etc. etc. etc. etc.

My head feels about ready to explode...

We mainly lose chicks... up to 6 months, smaller ones, but have had bigger cats kill larger chickens... typically biting their neck and breaking it or removing feathers off the back, etc. etc. etc.

 

[horsejody]

My cat have never bothered the chickens. They catch full grown rabbits and pheasants, but they never bother the chickens.

 

[ParkfieldFarm]

Our cats get out...I've tried everything to keep them indoors because we live in a suburb of a large city, but it's a no-go. I don't have my hens yet but when I get them I know I'll have to be very very careful when they're young, because my older cat would go for them for sure. The largest animal he's killed, though, was a blackbird, so I suppose that if I get Sussex or Delawares they should be ok when they're full grown. I can't see Monster taking on anything that size.

As to the neighbors...I really really hope they're ok with our cats outside. I've never minded a roaming cat but I have issues with roaming dogs. They're just different in my mind, and a dog can cause a lot more trouble. Both of my cats are fixed, so they're not out chasing queens in heat, and for the most part they don't go too far. I have had my older cat's collar returned a couple of times after he lost it near someone's house, and once in their garage. I want to get a tag for it that says 'I'm really really sorry my cat is roaming in your yard.' on the back, but I don't think it would do much. I hope the neighbors will come talk to me if they have issues with my animals, that's for sure, so that hopefully I can come up with a solution to the problem.

They have a cat door to get back in, but not out, so they're not trapped outside for extended periods, though Monster does occasionally get stuck up on the roof somehow and holler for assistance.

Back to the original question, though...I think any bantam is fair game for a cat if it or the cat is roaming free, but the larger birds have got to be too big to handle.

 

[Chickenhatcher89]

My barn cats are my biggest predators to my poultry. They have taken down almost full grown chickens and try for my guineas so have to keep them locked up. I feed my barn cats,guess they just want some fresh meat.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I have 2 cats that go in and out, and I also have a stray cat that has been comming around for a couple months. They never bother the chickens at all.

 

[Bridgette1221]

I'd set a trap, catch the cat and return it ONCE to the owner... nicely telling them that if you catch it again they won't be getting it back, set the trap again and if the cat comes back take it to the pound.

 

[Momma_Cluck]

We are now "Co-owners" of a beautiful long-haired outdoor cat... I say "co-owner" because he is our neighbors cat- but they pretty much left him to fend for himself over the winter (along with his brother who did not make it!)

This cat follows us everywhere--
and tries like heck to get into the coop-- cuz he likes to SLEEP with the chickens!
He ignores them pretty much other than for "heaters" lol!

It really Yanks My Chain when people think it is OK to leave their cats to roam around; getting sick then spreading the illness around, creating MORE unwanted strays etc... and they think it's wrong to keep em as indoor pets? It's called RESPONSIBILITY!! Too little of it around these days!