JEAN Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 We very rarely see any cats around our house as we are in a rural location. Not sure if one of our neighbours has just got one or if one has been lured by the hens but a ginger cat (looks quite young) has been stalking the chooks in the graden for the last couple of days. Every time it sees people it runs off. Would a cat kill a chicken or is it just curious? Never had a cat myself so not familiar with what they get up to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I believe it's quite rare for a cat to attack a chicken. Someone on the forum did recently have a hen that was killed by 2 cats but I think it's very much the exception rather than the rule. There are lots of cats around my neighbourhood, some quite large ones. While I've seen them in the garden, none of them seem to bother my 4 chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEAN Posted February 15, 2009 Author Share Posted February 15, 2009 Thanks, that's reassuring. I will still keep an eye out in case it's the exception but hopefully it's just curious. Whenever the girls spot it they all crowd together and fluff up their neck feathers - I guess they are trying to intimidate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One_Box Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 We have 3 cats who took great interest in our chooks when we first had them and stalked them all the time. These days they take no notice however. We did have trouble with a stray cat some months ago who got into our back garden where the bantams were free ranging causing Betty to fly over a six foot fence to escape (luckily got her back that evening when we found her roosting in a tree adjacent to our property). My yardstick is this - a cat can easily kill a pigeon - if you have bantams beware Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Here's the link to the thread about the cats that did attack a chicken, as you might find it useful: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39236 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEAN Posted February 15, 2009 Author Share Posted February 15, 2009 I see somebody has recommended lion poo - where on earth would you get that?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 We just got some chicks and were very worried how our cat Smudge would react. She has turned into a total wimp and is scared of them! She will only go near them if one of us is holding her! Seems like all cats react differently! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Since having chooks in the garden none of the neighbourhood cats come calling anymore. Katie made such a fuss last year when one came into the garden I think it spread the word to all the other cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 We have three bantams and our cat, and the neighbouring cats, are terrified of them! The chooks chase them away as soon as they see them. It's quite a sight! They are pterodactyls you know........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillicat Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 My cat is too old to bother with the chooks, but I can see how younger cats would try it on................once! Our neighbours cats walk along the fence, but never come into the garden anymore. Our chooks go rigid when they see a stranger cat, and they start whispering to each other. Before you know it, the cat's legged it! Mind you, my chooks aren't little, so Bantums may need protection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bondinho Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I've had 3 or 4 different cats from around my way attempt to attack my chooks - they are all bantam sized though except for one medium sized Silkie. A cat could easily kill a bantam in my view - they only didn't succeed because each time I was by the door so I just ran out and chased them off. One very nearly caught my Poland once , but in turn I was very close to catching it and tossing it a good 3 or 4 gardens back to it's owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
