Curious Kitty?

[RM44]

I'm worried about my cat. We moved the chickens out into their coop a few weeks back and completed the construction of the run about 2 weeks ago. The chickens (14 weeks old this Wednesday) enjoy coming out into the run throughout the day. The run is constructed of chain link fencing all the way around, with sheep wire (or dog wire - whichever the 2" x 4" is?) on the top.

I have 3 cats, but one has a very strong prey drive. She is only 9 pounds, but successfully hunts mice, rats, moles, voles, snakes, wild birds, etc., around my yard all year. She doesn't offer them to us either; most of the time she eats some if not all of her kill. Ever since we moved the chickens outside she stays camped out around the run, crouching and sniffing right beside the chain link. I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before the chickens peck her in the eye.

Does anyone else out there have a curious kitty? I'm looking for some reassurance that she will not sustain an injury from sticking her face too close to the chicks. Her eyes are light green, so I don't think they'll mistake her eyeballs for "grapes" like we humans are warned about, but I think the chickens will not tollerate much of her sniffing.

 

[kitaye]

They'll peck her nose before they get her eyes and that will teach her to keep her distance.

 

[chickeepoo]

I used to worry about my pullets when they were young because of the neighborhood "ratter" kitty… then they grew bigger and you know that anything that moves is a potential food source… "Kitter" was laying in the bushes nearby with the tip of her tail moving, and the hens decided to investigate. Kitter decided they were too big and turned to walk away, and one of the hens ran up and pecked her right on the tail- I never saw a cat run that fast! She did keep her distance after that, so one peck on the nose should teach your cat. Or put a roll of half inch hardware cloth around the bottom of the run so the hens' beaks won't reach too far past it.