Please help, Feral cats

[ImAngel]

Does anyone know how to keep feral murdering cats out of your yard? I have two that came in and got my chickens during the day time and I am very upset. I had been letting my chickens run around in my fenced in yard and the cats figured they couldnt get them at night so started comming in the day time. I am heart broken. Today that cat came in while I was outside. I let them out this time ONLY because I was out there...one chicken strayed away and I went to direct it back with us and that cat jumped my fence right in front of me and snatched my chicken so fast I couldnt catch him. PLEASE HELP ME!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

That get to be a touchy subject with cat lovers here. Keep your birds penned up until you can get the cats under control. You can either shoot them or live trap and relocate them. If you can't do it yourself find somebody willing to help you. Somebody also mentioned fox urine as a repellent...

I can't think of much else outside of those options.

 

[ImAngel]

OH I COULDNT KILL IT!! Im not a cat hater or nothing but GEEEE. Im totally heart broken over this. I wont be letting my chicken out till I figure out what to do about those cats. I saw the fox urine while doing a search online. Does anyone know if it actually works?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

They have no problem killing your birds... You could always live trap them. Live trap cages aren't that expensive and are eay to use. You just have to figure out what to do with the cat once you've trapped it.

http://www.havahart.com/cats/cats.asp

When I went to find that link to the live traps I noticed that Havahart sells some repellents that you may want to look into. It looks like they are all based on pepper sprays.

 

[ImAngel]

THANK YOU! No they sure dont have a problem killing my birds and Im sick of it dangit! Those cats arent starving cats either...good sized fat cats. RRRRR Ill check that link right now. If I can trap those cats Ill take them to animal control or something.

Angel

 

[PurpleChicken]

You've had 2 chickens killed by feral cats. They should be eliminated. Sorry
to the bleeding hearts out there but the cats are a menace and do not belong
wild in the environment.

Check out http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5913352

A strong air pellet gun will kill a cat. The air guns are relatively quiet and you don't
have to worry about "discharging a weapon" law. In my opinion this is
your best option. Shoot it, bury it, forget it.

I have neighborhood cats that come in my yard. My pellet gun is loaded and ready.
I have not shot one yet and hope I don't need to. The cats around here are
domestic cats and don't have any interest in my chickens. The guns that shoot
plastic bb's get rid of these cats quickly and don't hurt them. I hope I never have
to kill one but I am prepared to do so if they threaten my animals.

 

[silkiechicken]

I say keep trapping and bringing them to the shelter. You'll never have to know what happens to them there, just know they are not attacking your birds.

 

[ImAngel]

Ive lost 5 chickens to two cats!! Im totally freeking out over it, these chickens are my babies, follow me everywhere, peck on the door when they hear the microwave turn on. LOL When I sit on my steps, they roost on my shoulder...to have them murdered like that has me devestated!

My husband mentioned a pellet gun also!

I have 7 two day old bantam chicks in my bath room and three week old americana chicks in my bathroonm...now Im scared to ever put them out because of this.

Angel

 

[PurpleChicken]

Whatever you do you ned to do it quick. If not for your birds than
for your own sanity.

Trapping sounds great but is not very easy. You may catch animals
you really don't want or none at all. The pellet gun isn't easy either.
Getting the right opportunity isn't that easy either.

If your husband likes the idea of a pellet gun then he should be the
one who does it. In fact tell him to get off his a** and take care of
the cats for you. Tell him I said so.

If an animal attacked something that belonged to my wife I'd be ticked.

Just one last idea... Try calling a pest control guy or exterminator.
They may be able to help.

Good luck!!!

 

[rufus]

Slingshot, quiet, discrete and safe.

Electric fence, effective, just remember to turn it off when your wife goes out to hang laundry.

Korean neighbors, they take care of the problem. Just be mindful of what they bring to pot luck.

Rufus