I knew this cat was no good.... UPDATE Men + Bud + Cat=LOL

[wolftracks]

Crude!
Been out checking for eggs since I've had one after the other going into the nest boxes. Was worried the cat would come back, but now I know why I don't get as many eggs as I though I should. I have an egg eater on top of everything else. Thought it was one bird and then saw another running with shell hanging and another chasing it.

Today s**ks!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

A feral cat is a predator and I treat them as one. However it isn't easy to shoot them because feral cats are sneaky. I had one that was actually stealing and eating duck and goose eggs. I caught it on spycam and could barely believe it.

I did manage to get a shot off at him but he limped off. I don't see him anymore though.

So, about this airgun from Walmart, did it really bring down a fox. I watched a fox run off with a broody that I kicked out of the coop. I chased it and got her back, albeit dead, but at least he didn't have a free meal.

They have dens all over here and I would much prefer something quieter than a shotgun and not as far reaching as a 22.

 

[LadyinRed]

Get a live trap and bait it with cat food and take the fat cat to an animal shelter. They always want donations but tell them that the cat is not yours and has already cost you enough money and let them have the cat and set your trap again.

 

[AquaEyes]

Quote:
Sorry, but not all cats that are outdoors are feral. Mine can't be kept indoors in the warm months, however she rarely leaves my property and has never attacked anything bigger than a mole. Unless the cat has done damage to livestock it should be considered someone's pet and not shot. Of course I have neighbors close enough to see my house. I might feel differently if I lived in the sticks with no neighbor house visable.

Um... yes they are. I own two cats and they are kept indoors. Any cat outside is feral, unless you are standing there with it. If I see it prowling my pens, it dies. It doesn't have to attack, it just spooks the birds into breaking their necks. Your pet vs. my family's food = Your pet loses.

It's my opinion that if you own a pet that you allow to "free-range" on other people's property (or in the woods, or wherever) and cause damage, then you are irresponsible. Lots of cat owners will likely chime in and say that they do it, but that doesn't make it right. If this was someone's dog running around and killing livestock, would you think differently? If so, why?

The OP has already stated that the cat had killed some of her chicks. That constitutes "damage to livestock" and thus, by your own logic, no longer is saved by being considered "someone's pet and not shot." Sorry if I appear harsh, and I admit I'm not a fan of cats, but I will never understand how it's somehow "allowable" for people to let their cats out while unattended, with no regard for property lines, killing whatever they can catch. It's all fine and dandy if you have barn cats to control pests on your property, but once they are in a neighbor's yard, now THEY are the pests.

~Chris

 

[Germaine_11.20]

And this will sound even worse, but my two outside cats decided that chicks tasted good. I could keep the chicks away from dogs, fox and coyote with my pen but the cats managed to climb up and over and in.

I said good bye to them and then treated them as any other feral animal. It did bother me but once they start they just won't stop.

My neighbors dog has been coming over here almost every night and stealing chickens with her male dog friend. I called my neighbor (who hadn't been aware of it) and the first thing she said was... "Well, shoot it" "please aim to kill not wound"

Now that is a good neighbor.

 

[bobbi-j]

I would get a .22 and get it over with. I know, you have a child in the house. Keep the gun LOCKED up, away from the ammo. You also get a trigger lock when you buy a gun. Show her the gun, teach her about it. Honestly, when it's a mystery, they're more likely to get into trouble with them. Not just guns - anything. Our kids were raised with firearms in the house, and got their first .22 when they were around 12. They all went to firearm safety classes, but had been exposed to guns and taught to shoot long before then. If you live in town or a residential area, then you probably couldn't use it anyway, but that would be my weapon of choice since I live in a rural area and can use one legally.

 

[AquaEyes]

If you don't want to kill, why not live-trap and bring it to animal control? If you think it might be someone's pet and feel bad, then take a picture of the cat in the live-trap and make a flier stating what's been going on, and drop off a copy at each of your neighbors' houses, along with the address and phone number of the shelter where the animal can be found. If no one claims the cat, then the town will do the deed for you, and you don't have to buy a gun. Oh, and that live-trap will probably come in handy some other time down the line.




ETA....whoops, just realized you "want to kill" so ignore what I just said....but anyone else can try it.

;-)

 

[keesmom]

Quote:
I would try live trapping it - maybe cat food as bait? - then "dispose" of it.

 

[wolftracks]

I've been offered the use of a trap. I'll see if I can catch it take it to Animal Control. I was so upset when it first happened, but I know I'm not going to kill that stupid cat unless I catch it again. I just want it gone. I really do think it was left behind here. It sleeps on my front porch at night. I come home and it's laying on the rug at the door. It wonders the back yard. I'm going to borrow that trap and kitty is taking a ride.

 

[cazyaniamllover]

i have tons of cats where i live freindely and unfreindely housecats and starys most of them are to fat to go after anything i have a couple that caghts mice and dumd birds but plese just trap it and hey you can drop at my house will even pay for a vet if its hurt plus if you shoot it in the spind by accent it will most likely be parzzel and well i dont like hearing people shooting anaimals and sorry i cannot spell a thing plus