Live trap it is.

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Sorry to hear about your chickens

I'm very lucky because we have lots of cats around, LARGE tom cats, and so far all they do is go in the coop to drink water and the do watch the chickens but none have ever attacked any at all. I have seen at least four different cats in my yard and I believe they think of my chickens as a great movie. I don't care if they hang around just as long as they don't chase the chickens...so far nothing. In fact I seen one cat laying in the grass and one of my chickens walked right up to it because it was sitting so still just watching it. This has been going on for two years...always the same cats over.

ETA: I totally agree that killing/torturing the cat is surely not the answer. I would get proof before killing/harming the cat and then get photos to give to animal control and let them handle it.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Quote:
x2 I agree 100% Plus you may have found the cat inside the coop and may have infact seen the cat with a dead chicken, that doesn't mean the cat killed the chicken. I have a 11 yr old 15lb dog that will pick up a dead chicken in a heartbeat and chew it up if given the chance, BUT she has never killed or even chased a live chicken.

I don't think talking like a smart A$$ about how to handle the neighbors cat is appropriate on this board. There are members of all ages here and abusing an animal, in this case the neighbors cat, and killing it inhumanely is not setting a good example for them. Sure it is not a good thing to find your chickens have been killed no matter what killed them but to get pleasure out of tormenting or killing the predator, cat in this case, is sick and makes you no better then a predator yourself.
When I think about people that get pleasure out of killing animals of any kind I think about how Jeff Dahmer started out as a young boy getting pleasure out of killing animals. Let's not set these kind of examples for our children or young adults.

I hope you can get your coop secure because even if you deter the cat from entering you will soon find another predator waiting their turn at your hens.

Well said. A secure coop eliminates the problem as well as being a long term solution.

I think that we, as a group, need to be careful about how we approach predator control and how we report about it on this forum. We don't do ourselves any favors as a group promoting backyard chicken ownership and legality by talking up or bragging about the killing of whatever wildlife or pets is after your chickens at the moment, as well as some of the less humane ways of going about it. I haven't had to kill anything for years but if it has to be done it should be viewed as an unfortunate last resort and certainly nothing to brag or post pics about.

Of course pet owners should be responsible for their pets but we cannot control each and every one of them. What we can control is our own situation and that should start with providing secure housing for our own animals.

 

[1livelychick]

So Sorry for your loss. I live on a farm. We have all kinds of predators. It is my responsibility to make sure my animals are safe...all of them. My chickens go into a secure coop every night. I walk the perimeter of the coops every night to make sure that nothing is amiss. Just two months ago, I made the choice to start allowing my chickens to free range..then they started to disappear...one by one.....it didn't take me long to realize that it's my responsibility to protect them which means no more free ranging. I chose my chickens, they didn't choose me so it's my responsibility to keep them safe. We've dispatched one coyote that had gotten way too comfortable in our presence.
Secure your coop, this allows the chickens to be safe and live in peace, you'll be peaceful and let the cat live in peace. Just my input...Good luck!

 

[millebantam]

The cat lovers always jump to the defense of their beloved felines in these threads, and make excuses as to how a cat couldn't possibly have done that. The truth is, a cat is no more a noble creature than a possum, skunk, or raccoon. Some cats DO in fact kill and harrass chicks and chickens. I have witnessed it with my own eyes. I have also seen cats spook young birds into flying into fencing and overhead wire just by "harmlessly" walking over the top of a chicken run. A predator is a predator, no matter what clothes he's wearing. If it's on your property doing damage, it should be dealt with as you would any other vermin.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I have not seen any post here that implied anyone was getting pleasure from killing a cat, nor any post that implied killing one humanely. Please read the rules for THIS forum. It is up to the individual to determine what is and is not legal where they live. My only concern about the cat is whether or not it is the actual predator, and my second concern is that if the cat can get the birds at night, either they are not locked up, or their coop is not secure--dispatching the cat will not really solve the problem.

 

[1livelychick]

The bottom line is the chickens are not safe and sound and.... coop is not secure. It's that simple...

 

[Heathero617]

Why are we killing the cat and not fixing the coop?

I have a cat who shares the barn with the chickens, they've been caught more than once eating together. Yes cats bird hunt but that is the nature of the beast, just catch it and take it to the shelter. But for the love of all thats good, dont kill it! sheesh.


http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754438

 

[msbee]

Quote:
x2

x3

 

[krcote]

Quote:
I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[babylotzahenz]

Quote:
"LIKE"