cats!!!!!!

[dacjohns]

Domestic cats being covered by game laws (trapping)?????

 

[jerseygirl1]

OK, Suffolk County I believe is a very urban area, I would check before disposing of any animal in any way.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

I'd just put an automatic pop door on the coop to make it cat-proof at night and have a rooster to protect the girls by day. voila!

no?

 

[jjthink]

Not sure why you hate them. We should be disgusted with the humans that failed to responsibly spay/neuter, thus causing a bazillion homeless, breeding, hungry cats. I humanely trap them, spay/neuter, get them medical care and find them good homes. I know not everyone is willing to do this but maybe an animal rescue group can step in. There are many of them and they do this sort of thing.

It is amazing how tame and loving toward humans and chickens a feral cat can become with TLC and being taught that chickens are family. The ones I kept became inseparable from the birds, they loved them so much. And never ever would hurt them. I was kind to the cats and the cats were kind to my feather-family. I had had one feral who my hen Betty loved to torment. She would grab his tail in her beak. He gently stood still and silent until she tired of the game and then would roll over belly up at her feet, purring. This cat started out as feral as they get and morphed into a total sweetheart when it felt safe and loved.

I am not saying there aren't exceptions to this perfect picture. There are always exceptions to everything, except maybe death and taxes! If you pred proof your run and coop all will be well in any case.
JJ

 

[gsim]

Some use catch and release traps and just drop the whole trap into a pond or lake to drown the critter. In my location, I would just use a .22 pistol to shoot them in the back of their head at base of skull. Quick and painless. Releasing them somewhere else is just giving someone else your problem. Do whatever is expedient for you unless you have a neighbor that would "rat" you out to some critter constable. Be careful who you tell what about the situation. Also be aware that all govt offices have and sometimes log origins of all calls automatically.