Sorry Dumb Question Time.

[Ribh]

Our Koda was not raised with chickens, but has been fascinated since we got them. Of course we were careful with him and the chicks initially.

That is not to say nothing can happen, but Australorps are not exactly tiny.

We have 2 other cats and a stray, with no issues.

Exactly. My avatar has 1 of my ragdollXs watching my chickens. Mostly he ignores them.

 

[Rammy]

My cats dont bother my adult chickens. Now, when the chicks are small, I do keep an eye out as the cats are fascinated with them. I even caught one stalking a baby chick. But once they got bigger, the cats didmt bother them.

 

[red horse ranch]

One of my guinea hens was brooding eggs in a patch of tall grass this summer. During the night she was attacked and killed by a feral cat. And mostly eaten by the cat. In more than 15 years of poultry keeping this is the first time I've ever had a cat bother one of my birds. But it can happen...

 

[1cock2hens]

My cat brings birds, mice, voles, snakes, ground squirrels, chipmunks and everything else it can get its paws on but is scared to death of my chickens after getting too close and getting the tar beat out of her by two miniature american game hens. I personally would only worry about a cat around chicks with no momma around

 

[gimmie birdies]

I took the baby chicks and made them swoop and chase the cat. I was holding a chick and doing the chasing for the chick of course, my cat never wanted anything to do with even the baby chicks after that, yet alone a big chicken. Plus the rooster would chase her off if she was in the run.

 

[BELLAPURPLEWOW]

Do I need to worry about a cat attacking my girls?? I have 5 Black Australorps, can they keep a cat at bay? I want to let them scratch around in the yard and there are cats around the house 1 mostly.

Depends on the cat... A lot of cats hang out around chickens..You will just have to test and see...

 

[dalasgalas]

When mine were chicks they would have made a tasty snack for any of our four cats. They aren't outdoor cats so now they just look out the window with cat longing.

That said, we have a number of neighborhood cats that prowl but leave our back yard alone because of the constant presence of dogs, 5 of them. The dogs leave the chickens alone but I still keep a close eye because dogs will be dogs right?

 

[WindingRoad]

Foolish Maine coon cat from next door hangs around the coop like I'm gonna open the door for him. My 2 SLW are pretty big and have long talons. When the weather gets warmer and they can be outside I'll see if they wear them down or I will have to clip a little. I'd bet but not my bottom dollar that they would sink those talons in that cat. Cat love to sleep on top of the hen house too. But only on a sunny day when the shingles have warmed up.

 

[Kalimak]

I have a big cat (she eats a lot) and she free ranges with the chickens. Given that she wasn’t raised with chicken, they are more interested in stalking her than the other way around, she just keeps her distance. But everyone’s experience is different. I would monitor the cat’s behavior for a hot minute before I let my guard down.

 

[Kris5902]

I took a sick chicken I was treating into the building with my cats to get a pair of cuticle scissors and better lighting. My 3 cats (15) were mostly just confused, came up to investigate, one got a peck on the nose and that was that, offended and grumpy cats... a pissed off chicken and nothing much further.

Granted, my cats have zero hunting instincts. I took the kittens out of the barn when they were little, and clearly that “cured” them of their cat-ness. Except for squirrels, if only they could get through that invisible barrier... they would catch those! Mice? Nah. chickens? NOPE, they peck me!, Big dogs? Hiss, flufff, ATTACK!!! Curse the invisible force field that saves the mutt from my feline wrath! When they were allowed outside my little girl did run off a husky once.

Depends on the cat and it’s temperment and desperation levels I would say...