madchickenlady Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Someone in my neighbourhood aquired a kitten in late summer, and unfortunately for me it appears to be a hunter. I have seen it stalking the girls from the fence before, but it has now gotten braver. I watched it slink along the fence, and then drop into the garden behind the greenhouse. The girls were all on alert, but lost sight of it. I went out and found it crouched low in the shrubbery, peering out around the corner. I chased it off, and it shot over the back fence. About five minutes later, though, it was back on the fence. I ran out and hissed at it, and it again took off. I keep bantams, so I am concerned. My garden is fully enclosed with 6 foot fences. Does anyone have any tips on deterring the cat from coming into the garden? I don't want to have to restrict the girls to the run. They are used to free ranging during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 there are a few ideas at this site http://www.deteracat.co.uk/index.htm I didnt look at prices though! there are also alot of plants that deter cats but you may need to do a bit of online digging as well as reall digging. I have a waterpistol filled with water and vinegar as my cats are more chicken that the other girls, and get bullied in their own garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Hello Madchicken lady I have two cats a full grown female we have had for 4 years, our girls arrived in May and she was very interested in them and she is very big, but if she overstepped the mark they pecked her. I now have a five month old kitten who is doing all of the things that you say the hunter cat is doing but I dont think it will come to anything, my kitten stalks the girls and hides in the bushes or hovers over them in trees that they are all pecking under. When the chicken comes face to face with her, either they both run in opposite directions of the cat feels threatened and runs. Hopefully it will get bored and nothing will come of it. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 There's some plastic strips of 'spikes' you can put on top of your fencing, it would probably coast a fortune though to do the whole fence! I think everytime you see it scare the life out of it and hopefully it will give up eventually and learn it's not a very nice place to visit, I have a neighbours cat that likes to stalk my girls, am still on the scare-the-life-out-of-it phase....hoping it'll work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I would let them free range with your supervision until the cat "has a go". I know it is really hard to watch, but my cats had to be chased down the garden 3 times and up a tree once and then they learnt respect and boundaries . I don't think they realise the scale of chooks even batams until they get up close, and then when chickens flap and chase, they soon make a sharp exit. For the sake of your nerves though, let this happen when you are around to monitor and keep an eye on things. In my case, I had to step in and house the hens and rescue the cat . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I don't think they realise the scale of chooks even batams until they get up close, and then when chickens flap and chase, they soon make a sharp exit. Yes, definitely do as mostin says. Our youngest cat, Ozzy, went into a hunting crouch and started stalking the chickens the first time we let them FR. We were out with them in case anything happened. What actually happened was Ozzy started stalking them, went all low and flat and started wiggling his bottom to pounce. Megan simply put her beak down, started run-flapping at him, and Ozzy was terrified! Dinner isn't supposed to fight back. Now he carefully looks each way when exiting the cat flap to see where the chickens are so they can avoid him. And he is a very good hunter of other prey, including a very good mouser/ratter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 We have a visiting ginger cat that made the mistake of trying to catch one of the girls. He now gives them a very wide berth, so does our other regular visitor, Burberry. I think he may have come off worse once as well. I think we probably only need to worry with very young hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 One of my cats used to stalk my chickens until the day he got into the run with them. We had one frightened cornered cat and three scary looking chickens [before we got the ex batts.] We had to rescue the cat, he keeps away from them now. My three girls aren't very big, one of them is not much bigger than a bantam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 A master blaster full of water - but it needs to be to hand to squirt them with. A cat attacked Squirt a couple of months ago - and she was fairly big then. We haven't seen it since and luckily her feathers were so thick that no damage was done. I have to say the rest of the girls were yelling, but "Ooops, word censored!"ody went to her rescue except my daughter and the cat ran off up the road (not one of our neighbours so don't know where it came from). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 Thanks I should probably say that five of my girls are pekins, so very small and not very fast The silkies are bigger, but not very bright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I had this tomcat stalking one of my girls, it came to the garden a few times. I stared it out and ran after it barking, never seeen it since xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Thanks I should probably say that five of my girls are pekins, so very small and not very fast The silkies are bigger, but not very bright Hey I've got three pekins and was really concerned when we recently got a siamese rescue and at one point i thought she would have to be rehomed however eventually we let her stalk and waited to see what would happen. She crouched and got really close and then the pekin turned round and looked at her and she ran. She now reguarly gets chased down the garden by my smallest and silliest pekin and is terrified of them. Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky chicken Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Our big fluffy cat thought she'd be a bit brave one day and went to investigate the hens whilst freeranging, not long after we got them - they took one look at her and chased her back up the garden flapping and squawking - it was very funny and she hasn't been near them since - we should give our chookies more credit - they'll soon chase any cat if they take a dislike! So I wouldn't worry too much... just keep an eye out, and watch what happens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 A cat killed one of my chickens last year. The cat made the big mistake of coming back for more. I have not had any cat problems since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 I don't want to hurt it, I just want a way of keeping it away from my garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
