My cat finally escaped and met my pullets...

[DraftXJumper]

We have 9 & 11 week old pullets - and are new to chickens. We have been doing our best to keep our indoor/outdoor kitty inside while the chickens free range, and/or not letting the chickies free range while kitty is outdoors. She finally escaped one day and ran under some cover to stalk the chicks (fyi - she's a rescue kitty who topped out at 7.4lbs...). Well, our lead pullet came up to investigate and basically turned the tables on the cat! She stalked the cat right off of the deck! I don't even think the pullet meant to be mean - maybe just make a friend - but the cat was having none of it, haha. Nice to know we no longer have to worry about the cat getting out when the chickens are out. The only problem I have now is that our hand-raised pullets apparently have no fear...

 

[Chickiemom25]

pullets should have respect for you alone. but I have never owned a cat that didn't eventually get it that MY birds are off limits. I cant speak for the wild birds in the yard, but the guineas travel in a flock so the cats leave them alone, the ducks are totally respected without question, and well, the teenage cats are learning that the pullets are off limits although occasionally they will chase one just to make it fly. I expect that will be ending soon enough as the roos continue to mature. All in all, everyone gets along in the yard pretty well.

 

[Sparrowsong98]

Let those hens have a healthy respect for cats. Otherwise you can have problems with not a freindly cats (or cat like creatures) not making them run. Our roo attacks kitty when he sees her near the hens. Kitty and chickens shouldnt be mixing

 

[DraftXJumper]

Not sure how I'm supposed to make the hens afraid of the cat if they're just not. We can't have roosters, and we hand-raised our pullets, so they're generally friendly and trusting. I realize this makes them less likely to run when they ought to, but not sure that I can do anything about that.

 

[Folly's place]

Most but not all cats won't tackle a bigger chicken, but little chicks are fair game. Broody hens can scare off most cats, but chicks alone can't . It's a size thing! Mary

 

[Chickassan]

I can't say a word, my chickens are the reason the neighbors cat is an indoor cat now. They chase the poor thing and pull out wads and wads of fur, she's too old for that kind of harassment. My own cat is afraid of wrens her own fault though mama wrens aren't nice so those chickens are pretty safe from her too.

 

[Melodychick]

My cats and chickens get along fine, but I would never trust the cats with the chicks!

 

[DraftXJumper]

I think out cat is just so petite that the pullets are already bigger than her, and she is threatened by *them.* I've kept an eye on her, but she wants nothing to do with them anymore. Heck, when we first moved to our new house on the edge of town, she set her sights on some cranes until she actually got somewhat near to them and realized they were far bigger than she thought!

 

[Sparrowsong98]

Not sure how I'm supposed to make the hens afraid of the cat if they're just not. We can't have roosters, and we hand-raised our pullets, so they're generally friendly and trusting. I realize this makes them less likely to run when they ought to, but not sure that I can do anything about that.

Well, all chickens are afraid of something like a waving piece of cloth or something like that. So, suppose they are afraid of like a waving blanket. well, when the cat comes out, wave the blanket, and they will run. eventually they will associate the waving blanket with the cat, so they will run from it. Not out of fear of the cat, but out of fear of the blanket that seems to come when the cat does.