UGH.. What to do...

[mommto3kiddos]

I just went out to let my 7 girls and 6 chickies out to range for the day.. We live in a subdivision, yet our lot is over 1 acre and privacy fenced and we are zoned county and not city!!

Well I walk out the door only to see a cat ontop of the coop trying to get in! We just moved our chicks & broody to the coop 2 days ago and they are "noisey" and I know thats what brought this cat in..

I know he cant get into the coop, but now I am worried to let them out to range in the yard! The cat had a collar on but would not let me get near it, or it would now be at our local animal shelter.. My husband said shoot it, but I dont want to do that if its a neighbors cat.. This is the first time I have ever seen this cat, we do have neighborhood cats, but they stay out of our yard b/c of our dogs I think!

What would you do?? I don't think I will be able to catch it... UGGGGHH

My girls are pi$$ed b/c I wouldn't le them out today b/c of this cat!!!

 

[chicmom]

Do you have large fowl, or bantams? The bantams could be killed by the cat, but cats usually don't bother large fowl. Chicks too would be vulnerable.

Can you just shoot the cat with a paint ball gun? That will teach it a lesson and it might not return...It's owners would notice the mess and maybe keep it in for a while.....

Sharon

 

[mommto3kiddos]

I have all fullsize chickens & chicks, minus my banty broody.. I never thought about a paintball gun.. hmm might have to go get one of those!!! Thanks

 

[mondotomhead]

I think the cat was just curious. When my little bantams "surround" my cat he scuttles away and is actually terrified of the chickens. I've had chickens and cats for years and not once has the cats gone after a grown chicken. The chicks are a different matter though. They are to small to "scare" the cat. I'd keep the chicks in but let out your grown chickens. They will be fine.

Please don't shoot the cat. If he has a collar he is a beloved pet of someone..........

 

[BlazeJester]

My full size girls take on cats with a pretty nasty peck. When they gang up and flap their wings, the cat learns its lesson.

Now if only I had a dog to keep these girls in the yard. It's time for fencing... sigh.

 

[jessicayarno]

My cats don't bother my chickens.. They are female hunters too, but I think they know not to mess with them.. I would wait til your babies are at least 8-9wks before letting them free range.. I let mine out at that age and my cats didn't bother them..

 

[T-Amy]

First let me say I have both chickens and have been a lifelong cat owner and lover. But I think they both have their places in this world...

In MY opinion, cats are house pets & do NOT belong outside. EVER. Not only for their own safety (cars, dogs, predators, other dangers that can kill them) but cats kill too many critters (birds especially) & disrupt the natural environment.

Chickens belong outside. They are birds. But with that, there is always risk of other predators. Some you can control & this is a situation that merits more investigation & discussion.

I understand there are people who feel differently but when people make the choice to let their cats out, they take the risk of what can happen to their cats. I feel awful when I see a cat splattered on the road & one time I called animal control for a stray cat- they didn't get there in time & a neighbor's dog shook the cat til his eyeballs literally were shaken out of their sockets. I'm a firm believer that if you love your cats, keep them safe. Inside. or don't be surprised when they get run over or shot by a neighbor). Again, just my opinion- no hate mail needed. That being said, I don't recommend killing the cat. Esp if it hasn't hurt your animals and remember you need to live near the people who potentially own (and love) that furball. But you need to be proactive- NOW.

First of all, cover your butt before you make calls. Just confirm you have the right to have chickens in your area.

The next thing is to confirm what your local laws are regarding a "leash" law for cats? Many cities do not permit cats to roam free & you can call animal control for advice or to come get the cat (assuming they can trap it... it's handy to have a live trap & if you do, put cat food or other goodies in it to attract the cat & give it to animal control). if it was my cat who didn't belong somewhere, I'd want to know but I realize that folks who let their cats out have a completely different perspective than me.

Anyway, if he's on your property, I would suspect you have certain rights to protect your yard & animals. But you should check the local ordinances before you act. Better to ask permission than forgiveness here...

Please no poison pen letters if you let your cat out- remember, it's just my perspective.

 

[stephanie1992]

i woukdnt do anything to the cat. where i lve cats are free to roam and do as they please, and sending it to animal control is wrong cuz its ganna cost the owners to get it out and if they dont get it it could risk getting put down. kt just sounds like the cat is curiouse. i dout it will do anything. i have bantam chicks in my backyard and i own 4 cats. the cats just sit there on the fence and watch the chicks run around, i have never lost a chicken to a cat. and u say u have large birds. if the cat even came close to a chick the chicks mother would chase that cat off. ive seen bantam mothers run hawks off. soo id just leave it be. if it does go after ur birds then i would take action and do something but right now id just leave it alone.

 

[johnson215]

most cats usually stay away from large chickens.. i would worry about the babies though. my outside cat is scarred of our chickens:

.. she runs from them!!!!
i guess it depends on how hungry the cat is. it's probably just curious though!!!

 

[T-Amy]

Quote:
I respectfully disagree with you about the animal control issue. If a cat, fox, dog or any animal poses a threat to my chickens, I will do whatever I need to to take care of that threat. Killing a cat is the last option but if someone needs a wake-up call about keeping their cat out of MY yard, I will do it- if there is no one responsible for the cat (meaning it's feral or wild), it's safer in a shelter where it has a chance to have someone adopt it into a safe environment.
That being said, I have 3 dogs and a cat. 2 of my dogs are 'bird' dogs & would kill the chickens so when I let the chickens out, the birds are in their coop. When the chickens are let out to free-range, the dogs go inside. It's about common sense. Animals are unpredictable, even cats.