I need advice. my housemate wants to get a cat.

[BarkerChickens]

Of course it depends on the cats age and temperment. But...my cat submisses to the chickens.

First time we let him out with the chickens, a hen stood tall in front of him ready to peck...he laid down. He likes to hang out under our trees with the chickens and he avoids our 3 month old roos because they chase him. I think if she rescues a mellow cat or a kitten, you could probably teach the cat to not eat chickens. (We let our chickens free-range when we are outside with them). My cat personally prefers lizards and mice over birds, so he leaves the chicks alone too.

 

[lukewride]

Well we've had a talk tonight and it seems we'll be getting a kitten, probably this weekend. hopefully that way it'll be easier to train to leave the birds well alone (i have a kakariki and cockatiel too).

thanks for all the replies and stories, much appreciated.. and interesting!!..

thanks alot

 

[Akane]

but why have a "pet" that you cut loose to only see every now and then

Because these "pets" are pretty much just strays being fed. We like them but if someone offered to take most of our barn cats we'd give them up right away. Even if we do like some of them too well for that there's no way we can take care of all the cats inside and we don't want to clean litter boxes that much. The only other option for them though is death. Shelters are packed wall to wall with kittens from unaltered barn cats and house cats given up by people. Advertising even a very adoptable cat won't get you anywhere unless it's a kitten. Either we keep them, neuter them, give them their shots, and let them live outside or they die. These cats are also very use to being outside and trying to break them of outside time is difficult. I have talked to people who think it's cruel to keep a cat inside all the time and most of them it's because they've seen how hard it can be to convince some barn or stray cats that have lived most of their lives outside to stay inside.

I do think it is completely irresponsible to adopt or decide to get a cat rather than just giving a home to a stray and then let it outside or put it purposely out in the barn.​

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Because these "pets" are pretty much just strays being fed. We like them but if someone offered to take most of our barn cats we'd give them up right away. Even if we do like some of them too well for that there's no way we can take care of all the cats inside and we don't want to clean litter boxes that much. The only other option for them though is death. Shelters are packed wall to wall with kittens from unaltered barn cats and house cats given up by people. Advertising even a very adoptable cat won't get you anywhere unless it's a kitten. Either we keep them, neuter them, give them their shots, and let them live outside or they die. These cats are also very use to being outside and trying to break them of outside time is difficult. I have talked to people who think it's cruel to keep a cat inside all the time and most of them it's because they've seen how hard it can be to convince some barn or stray cats that have lived most of their lives outside to stay inside.

I do think it is completely irresponsible to adopt or decide to get a cat rather than just giving a home to a stray and then let it outside or put it purposely out in the barn.

Well said.

Cats are closer to the wild than dogs. Raising kittens indoors is no guarantee they will be content to stay indoors all their lives. If the cat is content to be indoors, does not try to escape, and you want to keep it indoors, fine. I never had one who was.

For the most part, cats only want to see us every now and then.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

My D'uccles used to flog the outdoor cat. She learned to walk far away from them. Unluckily the neighbors dog killed both the cat and the D'uccles.