My neighbors cat killed my chicken

[drumstick diva]

If you had a game cam (prices aren't that bad - you don't need top of the line) you could get the proof of what transpires. It may be a cat, it may not but it any case it would be proof of something.

 

[HenHouse4Life]

If a cat killed your chicken you would see feathers everywhere, not to mention the parts of the chicken that the cat couldn't or didn't eat. No blood anywhere, just gone? Probably an air attack, hawk or something similar. Game cam would be your best option as stated for proof.

 

[Alexandra33]

Considering I've had a total of two indoor cats and five barn kitties (plus feral cats who sometimes come visiting) who won't so much as touch Old English Game bantam chicks the size of my palm and smaller, I highly doubt a cat took out your full-sized hen. Especially if it belongs to someone and is being fed. I've even allowed mine to sleep IN the coop at night without problems. Not to mention I've brooded many batches of day-old chicks the same room as my pair of indoors, and never once has a chick who happened to fly out been hurt or killed.
It isn't unusual, though, for cats to chase, stalk, or jump out at chickens just for the fun of it. This is their way of playing. They aren't actually trying to hunt them. Though when mine try this, they get put in their place with a sharp peck.
Like others have said, cats like to perch up high, and your coop probably looked inviting.
I'm so very sorry for your loss!

~Alex

 

[cholmberg]

I took in the feral cat who was here when we bought our place. He is a champion killer. He brings me rats, mice, voles, pigeons and occasionally. . rabbits. He has never, ever bothered or shown any interest in my chickens. In fact he is afraid of them. He does go to the barn, but he is killing rodents, and he is very leery of the hens. Now the chicks, when I have them, I wouldn't trust him around at all. I had the chicks in the house with a brooder with a mesh lid and he didn't even bat an eye at them after a cursory inspection. I would be sure it was the cat before you do anything. Cats like barns because they are usually full of mice. . . which he is welcome to. I wish he would become an all indoor cat, but he obviously had been on his own for years before we moved in and refuses to adapt to indoor only.

 

[Hyroler]

I took in the feral cat who was here when we bought our place. He is a champion killer. He brings me rats, mice, voles, pigeons and occasionally. . rabbits. He has never, ever bothered or shown any interest in my chickens. In fact he is afraid of them. He does go to the barn, but he is killing rodents, and he is very leery of the hens. Now the chicks, when I have them, I wouldn't trust him around at all. I had the chicks in the house with a brooder with a mesh lid and he didn't even bat an eye at them after a cursory inspection. I would be sure it was the cat before you do anything. Cats like barns because they are usually full of mice. . . which he is welcome to. I wish he would become an all indoor cat, but he obviously had been on his own for years before we moved in and refuses to adapt to indoor only.

Sounds like great cat.I have had several cats like yours from my experience its waste of effort trying to make indoor cat.Im sure he will decide on his own to become indoor cat sometime in his or her twilight years.I know mine did but till then they need there independence.