Do domestic cats kill chickens?

[LauraG]

Quote:
omg that is adorable.

My cats get their butts kicked by the chickens too fyiw

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Quote:
omg that is adorable.

My cats get their butts kicked by the chickens too fyiw

That picture put a big smile on my face. I agree with all, feral cats will kill chickens. Domestic cats that are fed have no reason to bother with it.

 

[RedReiner]

I have a pet cat that kills anything he can jump on top of, he is well fed in the house. So far he has about wiped out the rat population, no more moles in my yard, brought me two full grown rabbits one of which he beheaded on the porch and numerous red weasels. He stalked my chickens the first time I let them out to free range and I went ballistic on his butt and he hasnt bothered them since. but I know he could kill one if he so chose.
I read another poster on here locked their cat in the run at night to kill rats, so as soon as my indoor roost is finished the cat will spend the night in the outdoor run

 

[Yazzo]

I've had feral cats AND pet cats around, but they have NEVER touched the chickens. The chickens are much more likely to chase them.
I'd be careful with chicks, but the cats here don't seem to show any interest in them. I don't keep chicks by cats of course, but the hen with chicks I have right now runs around all over the place, including where a feral cat lives, and there's never been any trouble. She would probably attack the cat if it so much as blinked in her direction.

 

[70monte]

We have tame and wild barn cats here and they never bother the chickens.

Wayne

 

[Katy]

I've had several barn cats over the years that killed chickens every chance they got and others that could care less.....so yes it is possible that they'll kill them if they get the chance.

 

[featherz]

my outdoor cats are scared of the chickens. my little leghorns chase them around!!

I'm sure they'd eat a disabled or dead chicken but no chance they'd kill one that wasn't ill. They are just too lazy.

 

[western edge]

adult chickens are a formidable foe, roos and hens alike. The cats don't want to get hurt. Laws of nature.

 

[newchik715]

My fat cat loves to stalk the chickens and get oh so close but always runs if they come over to investigate her!

 

[WhoopiePie]

from personal experience, yes a cat can kill a chicken. i'm not sure if it was a stray or not but it ran in quickly and grabbed the chicken by the neck, we chased it away and the chicken subsequently died. that was a long time ago, nowadays i check on the chickens often while they are free ranging and listen for any alarming clucks. i see my neighbors' groomed and collared cats STALKING my chickens at times so i don't agree with the "feral cats only" theory. i caught one after an alarming cluck near my birds with feathers flying around so who knows what they are capable of! this could absolutely be a racoon or hawk attack but i'd try to keep the cat away just in case.