Live trap it is.

[FrenchToast]

Quote:
I don't think this is humanely taking care of the problem? Cat lover or not. We all pay taxes so why not use the shelters that are available. A simple phone call or two an you can get some help regarding stray cats.

 

[Moochie]

I live in the Mojave Desert, no coons. Uhmm I'm not gonna put it in a can of water... >:[ Jeez.
It's not a feral cat.. It looks well fed. I've never had a cat problem before until the neighbors moved here, ofcourse only about a month after they moved in. It never comes around during the day. And my chicken dog only barks. I tried to leave Bruno with them but he pushed the door open, the latch is broken but there is an alternative closing thingie I made. Bruno pushed right through it and he's a medium sized dog.. Skinny and tall on the legs.

I'm NOT going to kill it!!! Stop posting these things on my thing-ahmah-hoozits!! I didn't actually read everything but seriously stopp.

Anyways it's not a broken coop... I can't really put a roof over the entire area because one wall is my house. And I'm not a construction kinda person.. It's a pretty clever cat...
A friend suggested the BB gun because she said that the cat will learn "i should stay away from that house because if i go there i get hurt", uhmm like how a dog learns? Like if my dogs chew on my tomatoes they get sprayed with water and a firm "NO" is told. And they don't go near my tomatoes.

 

[Moochie]

Quote:
No it's not ridiculously unsecure. I honestly believe that the neighbors should have some consideration for others' animals. I don't let my dogs get out and poop on others' yards or kill others' chickens/ducks/geese. And I know cats don't absolutely need to be let out. One neighbor about 3 houses down has a cat that never leaves the house unless in a cage to the vet.
I think my neighbors don't care

I will try to talk to them again... My coop has carpet type stuff all over it so it's nice and cozy in there at night by the way. There is a door that closes but I'd prefer it be open because my chickens are up and around at about 5 AM and I'm up at like 9, 8, or 10 AM. It gets hot here so I don't want them in there and get overheated. I've never had a predator problem before so I'm not quite used to this. I want the best for my chickens and I know that it isn't the cat's fault, it's just doing what nature intended. And the neighbors could be a big help but they don't seem to like me very much.

 

[Moochie]

It is really a cat. The only other predator I could think of is a snake, but I haven't seen one since the mojave green smushed in the freeway lol.

 

[1livelychick]

Hi Moochie, It's really a shame that your neighbors will not accept responsibility for what their cat has done, if indeed he/she is the culprit. You're right, you accept responsibility for your dog(s) You're neighbors behavior is a hard reality to accept but seriously is it worth getting all upset over what they won't do when you can resolve this once and for all? What if you purchase the bbgun and shot the cat in question, the the cat gets an abcess from the bb....do you really think these wonderful responsible neighbors will take the cat to the vet? I seriously doubt it.. I'm a chick myself and not the handiest person when it comes to construction.

My brother has shaken his head many times at some of the projects that I have attempted to do on my own!

Something as simple as hardware cloth will prob. do the trick. I don't know your set up.... You can drive yourself crazy and continue to loose more chickens because you want to be right..those wonderful neighbors are not going to change.... put your precious energy into you and your kids with feathers. Maybe post some pictures of your setup. Lord knows we all love to share our thoughts!

A chicken will not go into the dark....5 am it's generally dark....I have a bucket of fresh water for my chickens in their coop. So if they start milling around before I get out there, they will have something to drink to keep them cool. If you don't have a roof for your chicks..it's just a matter of time before a "real" predator" figures it out. Furthermore, maybe your friendly neighbor's cat is trying to do you a favor..... chicken feed attracts rodents=rodents eating said chicken feed= attracting cats=cats love to hunt rodents and play with said prey......just sayin'
I am sorry and I totally agree with you and the others on this post but I think it is absolutely insane to trap and drown a cat.... Torture is the word that comes to mind..... period....
I hope that I have helped with my thoughts and opinions because ultimately that all we have are those... We are here and responding to your post because we care just like you do....just hoping for the best for you and your chickens. Kindly, 1livelychick

 

[Moochie]

Thanks... So there's no smell that will keep it away?

Garlic? I don't enjoy the smell of garlic.

 

[bobbi-j]

Nope - no smell. If you want to keep the cat out, you need to put up a physical barrier over your run or shut the coop door. If you want to let them out earlier, either get an automatic door or get up earlier. Since your neighbors won't take responsibility to keep your chickens safe, you have to. The only way your situation is going to change is if you make it happen.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Agreed. You have to protect your chickens. The only way to do that at night is to lock them inside. Make sure you have enough ventilation and if you do not, then you'll have to rework your coop so they can ventilate moisture and odors and still be locked in at night. There is no other solution. If it's not the cat, it will be something else eventually.

 

[baldessariclan]

The problem is that it's generally pretty hard to get other people to do what you want if they don't want to or don't care.

On the other hand, you generally have complete control over what you yourself can do, so good way to solve the situation is look at the options you can accomplish yourself. Asking for them to take care of it, or forcing them via law or otherwise should usually be your last resort, just because it generally doesn't work that well (or at all, in some cases).

If you truly want to solve the problem, my guess is that best bet is to secure the coop -- something that you can probably figure out a way to do if you give it enough thought/effort. Otherwise you can sit around and ask/hope that they'll do something, but suspect you just may end up wasting a lot of time and effort in the long run, with no real change in the situation after all is said and done.

 

[Heathero617]

Quote:
I posted you a link to petsmart that carries several repellant at relatively low cost. Some work, some do not. Other than securing your coop so nothing can get in, it's all going to be hit or miss. I just lost several in the past month to something, i am not handy at all when it comes to construction, we were to rebuild my coop to make it more secure but things happened and the time was just not as it was supposed to be with my husbands last visit home. I quickly masterminded a temporary secure shelter for them and so far so good. I'm still not 100% relaxed, but i'm better. I even reassembled my peep pen inside the run for my 2 babies yesterday, it was NOT penetrated by the intruder any of the 3 times it came around and yet I still for the past 2 nights cant bring myself to leave the babies out for the night

You say it's secure, and yet it really is not if it is not fully enclosed where others can "visit" and the birds can get out on their own accord. If you pen them up for the night you might just have to learn to wake up earlier than 8,9 or 10am. Get up, let them out and go back to bed if need be, or leave them in untill you wake up naturally. Chickens, I have found will not attack you for making them stay penned up until 7 or so. Even if they're used to being let out between 530 and 6am. I slept in once and i survived, and so did they. I have a waterer in their coop so they arent dieing of thirst until i get out in the morning.

You said you dont have raccoons or other predators where you are, but you being where you are, you have a TON of predators that will get your birds!!!!! Here is a list I found with a simple google search of those in your neck of the woods. MANY of them will climb a fence to get what they want. I honestly do not seeing a simple domesticated house cat going in and attacking your chickens all the time. Like i said in my last post, all these people saying kill it???? Makes me question their compassion for any animal. ESPECIALLY those who say to torture it by drowing etc... if it's that much of an issue and you are certain its the cat doing it, catch it and carry it to the shelter or call a feral cat rescue in the area. There are tons out there. Forget the neighbor at this point, they are useless IMO and don't care about not only your animals but their own. Maybe its not their cat? Maybe it adopted them and they didnt fully agree to taking him on? I dont know but do what you think you need to do, but do it informed and fully aware that just because you rid yourself of this cat, your set up as you describe is not ideal for an area with Bobcats, Coyotes, Badgers, snakes, lizards, and hawks. Saw a redtail hawk carry a rabbit off from our field that was bigger than one of my dogs one day. Do not underestimate the abilities of ANY predator and good luck!

Mammalian Predators
Badger
Bobcat
Coyote
Kit Fox
Mountain Lion
Ringtail Cat

Reptilian Predators
Snakes and Lizards
Mojave Rattlesnake
Black-collared Lizard
Mountain Kingsnake

Avian PredatorsRaptors and other Birds
Red-Tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
Great Horned Owl
Barn Owl
Roadrunner
Raven