what do you do with a neighbors cat.

[jjthink]

The pet cats I've had and have and the ferals I've befriended have all been wonderful to my chickens. Two of the ferals (around in different years) fell in love with the chickens and just wanted to be near them. Slept outside the coop door anxiously waiting for their feathered friends to come out in the morning. I teach all the animals that the others are family (by being nice to the cat and then showing the cat that I'm also nice to the chickens they comprehend that the chickens are part of the family) and as a result, they never show ill intent. In my case, I think they added/add protection. I smile every time I think of these 2 beautiful ferals (I got them neutered of course - and I fed them) laying belly up by the chickens and purring to beat the band. They LOVED them. Hen Betty used to catch feral kitty Floppy's tail in her beak, just to be a smart a55. Floppy stood patiently, gently, waiting for Betty to let go. Once she did, he sat down near her and purred.
JJ

 

[Lunachick]

I have three cats and three chickens. One cat is 'indoors only'. The other two come and go as they please. They never bother the chickens, all it took was one nosey cat that got to close to inspect the hen and he got a hard peck on the nose. That's all it took and Oliver the cat doesn't bother them at all, if anything he creeps around the yard spots the chickens, then runs over the fence and into the woods to play.

That wasn't much help for your situation, but it does show from all these posts, that most cats are just curious, most likely, and just go on there merry way.

I would certainly be more cautious if they're were baby chicks, tho. Cats will be cats.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

For some reason, yesterday, my rooster decided he didn't want Patches (one of my chicken farmer stray kitties) around his hens. He ran her out of the fence twice. Finally she came back in and slowly crawled over to him, stretched out in front of him and put her head down. She sat and waited while he stood over her like she was saying alright, beat me up, I just want to be with my chickies. He left her alone after that.

I just can't imagine not wanting my precious little stray cats around my chickies.

 

[jdypat]

moth balls work wonders// unless you just like to kill and see blood and guts around the place..

 

[soonerdog]

Tell them to keep the cat at home. If anyone makes the decision to get animals they should keep the animals on their own property and in their control. If they can't do either, for whatever reason, then they do not need them. Otherwise, they loafer where they are not wanted. I keep my animals confined on my property! Unfortunately, some of my neighbors do not. I know the burden you feel. It gets frustrating dealing with these kinds of neighbors.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Guitartists]

We have like 8 different cats that hang out in our driveway on any given night. Some belong to the nieghbors and some are strays....... they keep finding ways into our garage and have peed on many of the things we had stored in there. Not to mention the unkept ones are always trying to rip open our trash bags. Ggggrrrrrrrrr

 

[jjthink]

Quote:
I never have the peeing problem because everybody gets neutered. The homeless kitty problem is so enormous that we need to spay/neuter like crazy....(some cats will still spray after neutering but it's much less of a problem then).
It also sounds like you have starving kitties - going into your trask bags - they are just hungry.
I befriend (food and TLC), then catch, spay/neuter, and find homes for every one I encounter. There are also organizations that do this - you may want to contact the ones in your area to see if they will help.
JJ

 

[Guitartists]

Feral cats have been deemed feral wildlife here in Michigan, and the shelters will no longer take them in unless they are "pet" cats. I'm pretty sure some of the peeing cats are actually owned by our nieghbors... if I had the extra money I would capture them and get them fixed, but I have more pressing money needs like baseball equip for 2 boys. Really my DH needs to cat proof the garage. It just burns me up that they let them all out at night. Knowing that they get into the most trouble at night, keep them in! I've seen the cats hanging out, it's not that they're starving, it's that this is how they have learned to find food here in town. We have a few "hot spots" where the cat pop is out of control. My friend's nieghbor has a cat that has back to back litters year after year and they have dozens of kittens at a time roaming their block.

 

[jjthink]

A thought....around here there are animal organizations that capture, spay/neuter and re-release cats (hence no need for space in a shelter) - it's not ideal but at least they stop spraying and they stop breeding. It breaks the cycle. You may well have similar orgs there, though no doubt by different names than the ones here.....Sounds like the "hot spots" could at least use the attention of the spay/neuter re-release organizations.......They don't charge money for this service.

So many people are irresponsible - grrrr indeed - sounds like your neighbors are in this category!. Seems to be no shortage of irresponsiblke humans in the world. And your friend's neighbor - good grief! Sometimes when I'm stuck in traffic I like to imagine a world where every household spayed or neutered even one homeless kitty to help mitigate for all the irresponsible humans out there- what an improved world it would be, with less hungry, cold, sick and homeless cats (created in the first place because of irresponsible humans). Friends of Animals gives discount certificates that help a lot - I finally got wise and started getting those because each spay/neuter for my rescues was costing me a good $300+. With Friends of Animals certificates, it was just a fraction of this amount. Participating vets accept the certificates. Some of you reading this may be interested in or know folks who would be interested in this sort of thing.
JJ

 

[mangled]

We feed and provide shelter for lots of stray kitties, and several ferals. The strays will come up to you, wanting to be loved on, the ferals, well, they eat and run. We keep a oil pan full of cat food available every day. I would say, total, we peobably feed a dozen cats.

We have no rodent troubles, and the only feral we have ever dispatched humanely was gravely injured and came to our porch to seek aid.

The strays hang around the coop. The chickens basically ignore them, except the occasional misunderstanding about a tail, LOL, and the ferals haven't bothered ... yet.

I was feeding the kitties long before we were given our chickens, so the cats were definitely here first. I'm not niave enough to think these lovely kitties would never harm a chick, but they definitely give the full size girls no trouble.

Hope you are able to find a peaceful solution to your kitty troubles.
Em