Feral cat!

[Skip]

I was out doing my chores the other day and I saw a feral cat lurking around my free-ranging chooks. The moment it saw me, it ran, but I'm worried. Could a cat kill a chicken if it tried? The cat seemed rather on the small side, and also, my chickens are trained cat-fighters. I have a couple barn cats and the chickens dominate them.

Should I be worried?

 

[rachiegirl]

I would be. If the cat is hungry enough it may keep trying, even if the chickens put a good smack down on it. It may not be able to kill one, but it could give them a nasty injury that can get infected. Trap or shoot; don't take a chance.

 

[Skip]

I'll shoot it on sight, but my chickens free range dawn to dusk. I'm not always there to watch over them and to listen for squawking. Any tips? Ideas?

 

[twzlrwho]

I just lost a roo to a cat this morning. I also just got back from the pound with a trap. So hopefully no more losses. It erks me how people just turn them loose when they are done with them. GRR

 

[OSUman]

.

 

[gkeesling]

I have a problem with stray cats coming around from time to time, as well as other critters like 'coons, and 'possums. I got one of those live animal traps and bait it every time I have a critter come around that I don't want. I leave it over night where the critter has been feeding (usually in my barn). The next morning, there he is, all caught in the trap. I did catch a skunk one time too. I'll take them at least 10 mile away (farther if I happen to have a trip scheduled that next day), and drop them off at a nice woods that can be their next home. Well, the skunk didn't get taken away like that. He had to be "dispatched".

 

[Chirpy]

Some people HAVE lost chickens to cats so it IS possible. We had a huge feral Tom cat here a few years ago (before my chickens) - he would easily have been able to take on my rooster and either kill or do serious damage. I rehomed him to the pound.

Right now I have barn cats and they stay well away from my chickens as I have a few chickens that love to play "chase and peck the kitty!" Two of my chickens actually go around looking for my cats to chase them around.

 

[roosters97]

SHOOT IT! I havw lost a chicken to a cat

 

[LynneP]

This cat may be eating pellets or crumbles in your discarded bedding too. She sounds pretty desperate. They're easy to live-trap and a great resource to have if you're set up to manage one- we have no rodents whatever. Also, if your district has a feral cat rescue group, they may offer to find a home for it. I'd take if if I lived closer...

 

[bgreen65]

I have a problem with the feral cat rescue group, they catch cats around the area then put them on my acreage where they have killed one quail, and two guines. They think that if they fix them they are harmless.