I will be getting these two adorable kittens tomorrow. I plan for them to be my barn cats and pets of course. We have a great barn and my chicken coop is right beside it. I plan on raising the kittens around the chickens, but my friends says when they are "cats" they will want to kill the chickens. I don't think that, but I am more of a "dog" person, than a "cat" person.....what can I expect????? These were bumped on a ladies property and she cannot keep them...they are so cute and I have been wanting barn cats....... I will be getting them altered at a local Humane Society, S/N Clinic for $45.00 each.....what a great service.
My cats were told when the peeps were chicks that they were MINE and to leave them alone. They could sniff them and nuzzle them but were bopped on the head if they acted aggressive. Did the same thing when my DH had hamsters. And Jezebel would fetch us and show us where to find any escapees. She knew they were not prey. But when she caught a feild mouse she CLEARLY knew it WAS prey and she gobbled it up. She could've gobbled the hamsters, one she could've eaten more than once. But she was taught they belonged to Mom. I wouldn't leave the cats alone with cute fluffy chicks. But my cats don't mess with the adult chickens much. Jezebel stalks them, but knows not to actually catch one. Callie just likes to romp up to them and watch them scatter. There are pics of my cats on my personal pages...
I have 3 nameless yard cats that come to HERE KITTY KITTY, and they don't mess with my chickens, they are too busy hunting mice in the woods beside the house.
If they grow up together, they won't know that they're not supposed to hurt them...unless they are just an evil kitty. My cat and two kittens (no, not momma & babies) leave the baby chicks in the brooder alone. They never have messed with them. The kittens will chase Rootbeer around the house and then it's vice vera. Then it's Rootbeer's (GLCP) turn to chase the kittens. It's hilarious to watch. Here's our two kittens. Cali is the calico and Roxy is the one that looks like she fell in a mud puddle. Edited for spelling cause my fingers go to cotton picking fast.
Generally speaking, I think cats would prey on chicks, but not full-grown chickens. There are exceptions, which you can read about on this forum, but I think it's safest to keep chicks away from cats.
My friend Freebie had 2 female kittens for her barn cats. It is good you are getting them fixed-female cats that are neutered will stay around the barn more than roaming toms. They will probably be taught by the rooster(if you have one, who is boss). You might want to watch out for little chicks tho when your cats get older. They probably won't want to go after your older hens. Just remember when you feed them their cat food the chickens will try and scarf it down! They love dry cat food and it gives the chickens protein. Poor Freebies cats down't have a chance to eat their food when those hungry hens around lol. I hope your kitties grow up to be good mousers.
We moved into our farm with 4 cats who'd spent most their lives in a condo. Within 24 hours, we realized we'd be feeding an additional 12 cats, kittens, toms and strays. We did have a clinic and got them all trapped and spayed last Summer. So, we're standing firm at 16 cats. Most of them prefer the barn to the house; but we're soft and they pretty much all come in when it's raining or stormy.
So cute! When they are kittens they will be curious and want to play, so they will be unpredictable. Introduce them to your birds, but keep a close eye on the kittens and teach them to behave themselves. My cats were grown when we started keeping ducks. They were VERY curious about our first ducklings, but never allowed near them. When the ducks were bigger, they were introduced and learned quickly that they did not want to mess with the ducks. The ducks could hold their own ground and would nip at the cats if they got too close. There was never any stalking though, from my cats. We were amazed. It is as if they somehow knew that they had to all get along on the farm (which at that point was actually just a city lot). Now we have a duck with trailing ducklings and the cats have been amazing. I'm very proud of them, because I know how tempting those little birdies probably are to them. I think it'll all work out for you.
I have cats that are serious hunters, they catch & eat rabbits, squirrels, mice, birds, chipminks etc... They've never given our chickens a moments trouble, and they weren't raised around chickens. It might be different with baby chics, I haven't had any chics yet. GAhen. if these work out and you want more kittens free let me know. You're just a few exits West of me.
I have 6 pet cats and 3 feral cats that live on my property. My chickens never free range but they do have a 40' x 50' chicken yard. My 4 male cats and 3 ferals are outside all the time, except my 4 males come in at night. They will go to the fence during the day but if they get to close they get a peck on the nose. My cats even know how to climb the chain link fence that surrounds the chicken yard but they have need want or need to climb in. Dogs are more of a threat to chickens than cats are. Edited to add: My 4 males do hunt and eat squirrels but they don't care much for chicken I guess. Chicks are another story though. They're small and can't defend themselves as well as an adult can. Don't let cats near baby chicks...that's just stupid.