Neighborhood Cats

[MissusC]

I live in a suburban neighborhood where people think it's ok to have their cats roaming all over. We have seven 9ish week old chickens that are in a big brooder box on the back porch at night and out in a temporary run during the day. The run is a super large kids playyard that I put screen over to keep them safe from a hawk that hangs out in the area.

I heard commotion out in the yard and ran to the door to find a neighborhood cat running around the yard and the birds freaking out. My fear is that the cat will get a paw in there and hurt one of the birds...but this is the only way the birds can be out of the brooderbox/temp coop right now.

We have a 220 lb dog that is in and out of the house, but that doesn't seem to be a deterrent. He is more of a house dog and gets whiny when I try to leave him outside to watch "his chicks".

What can I do about neighborhood cats in a suburban setting? This may be a dumb question, but can a cat scare the chickens to death? (When I was a kid I had a parakeet that dropped dead when a cat jumped on it's cage.) Help!

 

[Ibicella]

I suggest motion-sensor triggered sprinklers. They are pretty cheap to hook up, and if a cat comes along, they'll get a loud Tk-Tk-Tk-Tk! scolding and a spray of water right in the face!

 

[Mattemma]

Along with the spray you should trap and get rid of any that keep coming on the property.

 

[zazouse]

Is your Yard fenced?
What kind of dog do you have that weighs 220 pounds, i thought my Anatolian shepherd was big but i can't imagine one as big as yours.

 

[MissusC]

Along with the spray you should trap and get rid of any that keep coming on the property.

How would I trap them and what on earth would I do with them? I know they belong to neighbors.

Is your Yard fenced?
What kind of dog do you have that weighs 220 pounds, i thought my Anatolian shepherd was big but i can't imagine one as big as yours.

Our yard is fenced with the standard suburban 6 ft tall wood fencing. The fences are absolutely no deterrent to the cats in the area. I have at least four cats that hang out in my back yard regularly. Even with the giant dog.

He is a mutt, but we've were told he was a mix of English Mastiff and Anatolian shepherd. His photo is my profile pic. He's is the most wonderful dog ever, but he's got pretty bad arthritis in his hips.

I suggest motion-sensor triggered sprinklers. They are pretty cheap to hook up, and if a cat comes along, they'll get a loud Tk-Tk-Tk-Tk! scolding and a spray of water right in the face!

Would the sprinklers bother the chickens? I would have to put them near where the chicks were out roaming.

 

[hennyandpenny]

the chickens might like the sprinklers when they get hit with the water. my chickens go out side when there is a bad storm or remotly nice and get soaked!

they look so funny! but then they dry out and start scolding me as to why i didnt bring them in! i try! i really do try to get them in but they love the rain!

 

[Eggsoteric]

Use a hav-a-heart trap. Trap them and call your local AC to p/u.

 

[zazouse]

If the cats are scaling the wooden fence i would put a hot wire up there, you won't have to leave it turned on long for them to get the message if thats how they are coming into your yard

 

[linguafranka]

RE: cats

Can't you keep the small chickens contained until they grow bigger? I am no expert, but when we had neighborhood cats scaring our pullets, folks on this board reassured me an adult chicken (especially a gang of them) could protect themselves from all but the most vicious predator cats. So we kept the small ones contained, and now they are big chickens & I agree the cats probably can't hurt them... But, I guess I could be wrong.

I would NOT just up and trap my neighbor's cat & hand it over to animal control. They SHOULD be more responsible, but it will lead to feuding & besides it is mean to the cat. I would talk to them first & see if they can cooperate. The cat is acting normal. That's how I feel anyway. It's not like a wild coyote or raccoon, in my mind.

And if the neighbor can't/won't contain his cat, I would contain my birds till they are bigger, and maybe install that hot wire to keep cats out. Might keep coons away too. There's always gonna be another cat in the city to come around & I wouldn't want to kill them all via animal control. Personally.

The sprinkler idea is intriguing! Although wiring sounds easier to do than plumbing, to me.

 

[redhen]

Trap the cats and bring to the shelter as strays killing your pets..