HasSumAmi Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 My neighbour's cat has a love affair with our garden. He's a lovely cat, and my children adore him, so the fact that he spends more time our side of the fence than theirs isn't the problem... It's just that he has taken a fancy to chasing the chickens. Omlet - who is one big bird (!) - stops, raises her neck feathers and hisses at him in a VERY scary manner. Ginger however runs for it and then the cat chases her thinking it to be a wonderful game. I'm worried that she is going to have a heart attack or fall over when she's being chased and hurt herself. I have scolded the cat, but I am not convinced he's listening. Does anyone have any ideas of what I can do? The girls just love free-ranging and I don't want to keep them in the run all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Maybe you could supervise their free-ranging for a while, and shoo him away when he chases Ginger? I'm willing to bet that sooner or later Omlet will give him a good peck and he'll change his mind about chasing chickens! Our old moggy is a fearsome mouser, but she has learnt to avoid chickens - the other morning I saw her take the long way round the garden rather than run the gauntlet of three bantams! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Maybe you could supervise their free-ranging for a while, and shoo him away when he chases Ginger? I'm willing to bet that sooner or later Omlet will give him a good peck and he'll change his mind about chasing chickens! I tend to agree Meanwhile have you tried the old "water pistol verses the cat" trick?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanbb Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I was going to suggest the water pistol but it does sound like Omlet will show him who is in charge soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 i have the opposite problem, my girlies chase the cat and because she runs i think they like it and do it even more i would try the water pistol trick, they will soon learn to leave each other alone i would think sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasSumAmi Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Thanks all - I'll be getting a water pistol this weekend. Son is over the moon and wants to know whether we can get a high-pressure water bazooka(!) More worrying than the cat however is the fact that when I got home this evening my sister-in-law says that a very ugly fox was lazily strolling through our garden this afternoon. Chooks were a bit agitated, but I am just thankful that they were securely locked up in their run. Will be building a scarecrow this week, getting stockings of hair and will attempt to get some friendly male to do his duty round the place!! I hate foxes!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I intend to use the water pistil to get the cat thats bothering us and i will use it if the hens get rowdy. read from some on here it helps with noisey chooks too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 ...will attempt to get some friendly male to do his duty round the place!! Took a moment for me to twig what you meant there - I definitely need another cup of tea to wake me up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...