how do i teach two indoor cats to get along with chickies

[write2caroline]

I have cats and dogs - I don't trust either around the littlest chicks. I keep them seperated. About 4 weeks they are big enough to be outdoors and I use a water squirting bottle to encourage them to leave the babies alone.
Caroline

Oh...My cat is ringing the bell ...I feel compelled to get up and bring her some food on my best china and brush her fur....Yes my cat has me trained!!!!!

 

[Ravie]

I'm going to take exception to anyone who says a cat can't be trained to do anything. I'm especially qualified to argue this point since I'm a professional cat trainer! 0.0

When it comes to cats and chicks though, I'd probably err on the side of chick safety and not leave them alone together or with less than two (closed!) doors between them. A dead chick is a tragic thing, and the whole business of killing, eating and/or playing with the chicks is wonderfully reinforcing for the cat. I'm not trying to discourage anyone here. I'm the cats' biggest advocate when it comes to training and socializing. But (in general) cats haven't been bred to be anything other than what they are. Their predatory natures are still strongly intact.

Anyway, I've included a few pictures of one of my cats (a rescue) at work. We travel all over the Midwest doing demonstrations and performances.

Yuki gives me an enthusiastic high-five!

Yuki plays piano on cue.

 

[OwensMom]

We have a total of 5 cats-2 outside and 3 indoor-and have never had a problem with cats preying on chicks. I brood my chicks in the house in a farm water trough kept especially for that purpose. I cover the top with a collapsed dog exercise pen(with weight, if necessary). The pens fine openings don't let chicks out or cats in. Also the water trough is deep enough that wandering cat paws cannot touch chicks. Good luck