stray cats

[falconertomt]

It always fascinates me that "animal" lovers have no problem condemning entire populations of small animals to death by supporting feral cat colonies. Why are feral cats ok but all the birds , mice , chipmunks , squirrels, rabbits etc they kill such vile animals that they should be wiped out. Feeding and protecting feral cats ( an invasive specie) establishes populations far in excess of a given areas carrying capacity, which allows them to devastate the small animal population in a given area. I would remove the cats if possible. Please note that i dont want to start a debate on this subject and wont respond to any rebuttals as i know this can become a contentious issue.

Thank you for putting that into words, I tried about 3 times and then gave up.

 

[enola]

When it comes to who lives and who dies, I am sorry but my chickens are going to win out!

I too don't want to start a debate, but the problem with cats is caused by other people who don't spay/neuter their cats. My cat is spayed. Why should my chickens suffer?

 

[blucoondawg]

When trapping stray cats please be certain of shelter rules as most no-kill shelters will put down any cats that do not seem tame (I'll admit to being a cat lady with 8 cats of my own). Most cats will hiss and growl when shoved in a small cage and shook around, put in a car, and handed off to strangers. All of mine would. Don't let innocent animals die out of ignorance.

The people who let the cats roam or go feral are the ignorant ones, cats will devastate native wildlife, songbirds, small mammals etc, they don't belong in the wild, they don't belong wandering anyone's neighborhood, I don't bother with traps and shelters, I prefer a shotgun.

 

[Eva Haley-Lock]

thankyou so much! you all have been very helpful. i will make sure not to trap any of the strays.

 

[Eva Haley-Lock]

i don't think a shotgun will help. as long as the strays stay their distance, my hens will be fine. i really don't think killing is the way.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I have two barn cats that came with the property (caught, neutered, wormed and vaccinated! I have the scratches to prove it!) that live very happily side by side with free ranging chickens. I agree if your chickens are adults and a fairly big breed like Orpingtons or Americaunas etc the average well fed barn cat will probably leave them alone.

 

[blucoondawg]

Feral cat populations are a wildlife management nightmare. I live in the country I prefer to look at songbirds in feeders and watch squirrels chase around the woods not watch feral cats stalk and kill everything that moves.
You want a bunch of cats around good for you, I will deal with them the way I always have as do all of my neighbors. Also a hungry wild cat will easily kill a chicken especially when hunting at night or if you keep banties or smaller hatchery hens.

edited by staff

 

[LostNConfused]

Another thing you might think of, Eva, is a predator fence. Especially if you have raccoon s through the summer like I do. The outward angle of the fence is designed to keep climbing and jumping predators from crossing it. This can be done a few different ways and usually can be done inexpensivly.