Should we be worried about a cat?

[vjbakke]

We have seen a couple of times in the evening a cat close to our coop. It scared the girls last night and DH chased the cat away. Should we be worried about this cat?It's a " city" cat.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

It depends on the cat. I would encourage it to go hang out elsewhere, just in case. Good luck.

 

[chicken_chik]

I would guess it would depend also on the size of your chickens.
My cat "went after" our chickens when they were about 10 weeks old. Now that they are bigger, the cat pays them no mind.

Also, if the cat is ferral might make a difference in its drive to hunt.

Good luck.

 

[outdoor junkie]

Couldn't be good. Even if it can't kill them, it could stress them pretty badly. Pellet gun usually works, far too many stray cats in this world anyhow.

 

[Nicole01]

Yes, they have claws that could hurt. Their scratches/bite could also infect where they puncture the bird. Our cat went after our chicken while they were free ranging in the woods. When the chickens were in the house, the cat could care less about them. I do see cats as predators.

 

[jimmythechicken]

Quote:
agree when we get strays around here we take care of them.you could try to live trap it an bring it to the animal shelter good luck

 

[turbodog]

With young birds they can be a problem. Generally not so much to adults. The cat can't get into the coop right? He's probably curious about the strange birds but if he can't get in then no harm done really.

 

[Jschaaff]

When one of my cornish x's wandered up the hill and towards the house this summer (she was about 4 lbs), my cat Bandit (my usually mild mannered, 8 lb kitty) attacked her. Luckily I had seen her low crawling, stalking her, so I FLEW oh my goodness and made to the chicken within a second of Bandit, but Bandit literally bowled the hen over she pounced so hard, and had I not been there, would have most certainly hurt her. I was shocked as Bandit had never "appeared" to pay attention to the larger broilers (little chicks of course, but that's expected)...she used to watch the full grown layers several years ago, but lost interest quickly and hasn't even glanced at them since... yet 2 months ago attacked my broiler?!?! So yes, in short, you do have to worry about cats.

-Jessa

 

[vjbakke]

Thanks, our girls are about 20-021 wks old. Can't use a pellet gun due to being in town, We do have a dog that loves to chase cats though !

We may use his skills!

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Good plan. Let the dog discourage the cat from hanging around.