Feral cat in my coop. What to do.

[MistyValley]

My ducks keep my cats in line. Really funny to watch them chase a young cat around and boss it. They never bother the chickens. I I do have one that has killed wild birds before.

 

[emys]

My only concern would be how did he get in there, and what other animals can get in there? Might want to secure that coop a bit more.

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:

 

[horsejody]

This one was actually adopted by a rooster as a small kitten. We had him and another little feral kitten. Both were little orange fuzzballs. We only had one chicken at the time. He was roo that was dropped off. He saw the little fuzzballs and must have thought they were chicks. He made the kittens follow him all day and protected them from the big cats. The roo was mortally injured protecting his kittens from two dogs. That was 10 years ago. We still have both cats. This one despises dogs. He will attack any dog, except mine, that approaches him and on at least 4 occasions he has attacked dogs that have touched me. I can't even pet friends' dogs if they bring them over in front of that cat because he will slice and dice the dog as soon as contact is made. I know it sounds wierd, but I think his deep hatred of dogs comes from witnessing the attack that killed his adopted father.

 

[Joyryder]

Did you figure out how he got in? But I would keep him. Actually I need a cat like him.

 

[PortageGirl]

Quote:
OP said in the first post that he left and presumably came in through the chicken (pop) door. Mine's wide open during the day too, I only lock it up at night when coons and such are marauding.

 

[crobi13]

What about lice/fleas? Is there a chance that the chickens could catch parasites from the cat?

 

[PortageGirl]

Not fleas, fleas are usually mammal specific so I don't think they'd bother the chickens, I've never heard of this happening. lice? Again, I don't think so, they're much more likely to get those from wild birds which can spread them from flock to flock rather than a cat. I don't think I've ever heard of cats getting lice in fact, though I suppose it's possible. I think

you're over-thinking this.

Barn cats have been around forever! In fact, those things could be spread by rats and mice too!

 

[cmjust0]

Dude, I need that cat. Seriously. I think our LGD has made life easy for mice by displacing certain mousers, but he's not much of a mouser himself. Couple that with the fact that yellowjackets decided to build a big nest in some old hay in the loft this summer, which meant I really couldn't disturb things to clean up...which means there are old grain sacks laying around...and bale string...and hay.

Basically, everything a mouse needs to live like a king.

We don't have a mouse problem, though...indeed, we've got some of the finest mice you've ever seen!!

 

[crobi13]

Quote:

I had no idea that fleas only infected mammals, thanks! I'm not much of a cat person because I'm highly allergic but those things are good to keep in mind.