My neighbor has 15+ cats and I'm afraid to let my chickens free range!

[Impress]

Have you looked up your local animal laws? Most States and Counties have laws against how many cats and dogs a person can have.

 

[Stacykins]

My neighbor a 1/2 mile down the road (my closest neighbor, fyi) has waaaaaay more cats than that. He cares for all the dumped cats in the area, rehoming kittens and ones kind enough to be handled. Honestly, I've never seen a kitty whisker here at all, day or night. Maybe a 1/2 mile is too far, but I don't think so since unaltered toms have huge territories. My birds are large fowl, but young, and easily 'snack size' for a cat if the kitty was tenacious enough.

 

[silkiechicken]

I have a feral cat colony fixed and kept for rodent control... haven't touched my birds yet, including banties and month old chicks out on their first grass runs in a semi fenced area. Cats can get over fences easy so that won't necessarily solve the problem. I find some on top of the 2nd story part of our house on occasion. Of course, our cats seem to know their place... can't say for yours. I would not worry about adult chickens, especially if these cats are being fed by someone and not desperate for food.

 

[secuono]

Can you use a 'jet stream' setting on the hose and hose the cats when you see them?
If the cat is trespassing, I would catch it and send it off the the pound and not tell anyone about it.

 

[RHRanch]

My chickens actually follow, stalk and harass any cats they see. lol

 

[weesy68]

Spray the cats with your hose EVERY time you see them near your yard. They will get the point. Fastest way to train a cat, and I'm a lifelong cat owner/lover. It's the one thing that always works. I have free range chickens including silkies, and three cats. The chickens now chase the cats, not the other way around. The jet setting on my garden hose was a fantastic deterrent.

 

[BHyder1]

WOW.. some of you are really mean, I have stray cat that has lived in my coop for 2 years, she eats the mice and never bothers the baby chicks.. Cats are usually not your enemy, unless they are starved ....

 

[saddina]

Quote:
Cats climb fences dear.

Most cats will look but leave full grown chickens alone, however banties and chicks may be more tempting. Mine coexist just fine.

 

[phasianidae]

That is a problem, I would not leave my chickens unwatched in a situation like that. I have had many feral cats from time to time that have hung around the chickens, I know from experience that they will gladly kill young chickens and bantams. There is one sure way to solve the problem...but likely to disturb your neighbor... One way that has helped me is keeping domesticated cats around, the Tom will take care of all other tom cats but the females can still be a problem.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

We always know when a stray cat wanders through the area because the ruckus the entire coop causes would raise the dead. It is unmistakable. Last week we saw an Orpington hen chase a stray cat far out of the territory. She was protecting her 15 week old chicks who are due to start laying in a few weeks. The not-so-little-ones weren't even in the area of the flock!
I think there is a chicken learning curve with this as any issue. Ours free range daily under the guidance of 2 roos. They have learned about hawks and fox and it's good to watch the hens scratch and look for goodies while the roos are always maintaining a close watch. I am not worried about any stray cats. The flock will take care of any cat silly enough to approach and our two roos are watching!