Do Cats Eat Chickens?

[hooksetz]

Cats are cats, the natural instinct is more suppressed in a well taken care of house cat, but make no mistake a cat can and will feed on whatever it can catch if it has to.

 

[WriterofWords]

My evil Valentino!

He dangles his tail as bait,,, he lays next to the cage and puts his paw through the wires for the babies to play with. I trust him, he was raised this way.

 

[lovemychix]

This is my vicious killer.

 

[apukanski]

I think all animals like chicken.

 

[farmerlor]

My cats are terrified of the chickens and I have two semi-feral cats that live here as well as my own cats. Yesterday one of the feral cats was sitting at the chicken doorway to see what I was giving the chickens for a treat. She usually waits until the chickens are gone and I'm gone and then goes to investigate. Unfortunately, I wanted the chickens to come in a little early so I called them. There she was sitting in their doorway when this HERD of chickens come running at her. She jumped WAY up in the air which scared the girlies so the roo came running which REALLY scared the cat and I got to see a cat fly as she hurdled over all those chickens trying to escape.

 

[Swamp Roo]

Quote:
If animal control returns them, they will likely charge the owners. That might solve the problem.


Kinda sleazy, but you could always put cat in box and leave it at the shelter before hours start... Dumping in reverse LOL


Cats don't like electric wire either. Once or twice and you can take it down.


I hear you about a love of animals, I hate dealing with feral cats the permanent way. I just don't have the room for them, or I'd redomesticate them and find homes for them. The shelters are full, and the pound will euthanize anything that isn't ready to go to a home.


I'd try and talk with the owners first though, unless they are "those" kind of neighbors.

Swamp

 

[Sock Puppet]

Yes, I will see what I can figure out. Havent noticed them for a few days, hmmmm

 

[rooster0209]

My house cats stare at my chickens when they are close to the house but I am sure they would freak if they came in close contact.

My barn cats (my cats that live in barn & are tame) don't bother the chickens either. There is a stray tom (I haven't caught him yet to neuter) that was trying to catch a guinea once. After being chased off by some on attacked by others, he decided it was best to leave them alone. One female I got this summer, who came w/ kittens, caught a small chicken...she is now spayed & doesnt bother the birds at all. This cat is deadly on the gopher population.

The cats are all well fed and two will sleep in the coop once in a while. However, I do not trust them with little chicks. When I have little chicks I have all access to them (inside & outside the coop) completely closed off.

Just to note: neutering lessens the "marking" that toms like to do and also stops them from roaming. Spaying tends to stop some of the fighting by "gueens" and lessens the marking of females too. Along w/the added benefit of two litters of kittens each year

 

[ORChick]

I have 5 cats, and was worried at first how things would be with the chickens. One of the cats doesn't spend any time near the coop; the 3 neutered males are often out that way, but only one shows any interest - but only when the chooks are locked inside! If there is no fence between them he won't go close, and the other two are afraid of the birds. The newest is still a teenager, but her mom was feral, and so was she for the first 2 months of her life - she is very sweet and tame now, but goes completely wild if she has a mouse. So far she doesn't know about the chooks - and they are bigger than she is at the moment anyway. We'll see what happens when she finally meets them

. All that said, while I am not much concerned about my own cats, and my grown chooks, I would never trust a cat I didn't know well, and certainly not with little chicks or bantys.

 

[lovemychix]

I have a group of three neighbor cats that make their rounds on my land and my neighbors land and my chickens just go about their business in their run. They know they are safe. I only let my chickens out when under my supervision. I'm not worried about those cats so much but the dogs that run the area. I'm taking care of that with my Pellet gun. They don't want that stinging their bottoms any more. Dragging out my garbage or harrassing my chickens. Actually I just call the city if I have one hanging out around my place and they come get it within minutes. I live in a chicken loving community. Stray dogs get taken in in a second. I know I'm lucky!!!!!

I know nothing is getting to my sweet birds. I have fort knox!