Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[hutt]

Hi - we've had our two girls for just over a year. In the last few weeks we've also adopted a young cat from the RSPCA. They tolerate each other when the girls are in the run but I tried letting them out together today and the cat kept stalking the girls. The kids were worried the cat was going to attack the chickens so we put them back in the run. Our girls are quite big and the cat is quite small and generally well behaved, so I don't think they'd let her hurt them but if anyone has any advice about how to encourage the chickens and cat to get on we'd be very grateful. Thanks

[Egluntyne]

Our neighbours cat did this a couple of times with our chickens. After the hens gave him a good pecking, he now gives them a very wide berth.

[Mollie333]

A peck on the nose. Yep.

Big chickens can stand up for themselves, if the cat gets too 'playful' then call it off.

[Guest]

No matter what size chickens mature hens will sort cats out.

 

We have no cats anymore because they all have reminders of beak marks.

[sezra]

We have recently had a similar issue except I have had my cat for 12 years and my hens for two weeks! Milly (a male, ) is a large fella and has always been a hunter. He is quite funny around the hens, he stalks them and then kind of rolls around on the grass watching them. Then he stalks them again! It is quite concerning and at the moment I dont trust him alone in the garden with the chickens. I am sure they would be fine but until they have been together longer I am reserving judgement! If your cat is small I shouldnt think you have anything to worry about.

[THF Nick]

Our tom is a real King Cock - he used to fight dogs when we lived in the town.

 

He stalked one of our girls once. never did it again!

[Olly]

Agree with all of the above - let them carry on, your cat will probably make an attempt (those little chicken feet are just so tempting) and he will get well and truly told off! He'll never try it again.

[midori]

I'm glad I found this thread. My cats are kept indoors, so not a problem for my chooks. I have noticed a neighbours cat trying to stalk them a couple of times. He has been chased off once, so I am hoping he'll get the message pretty quickly.

 

I worry as my friend had a young (but fully feathered) pullet taken by a cat, but I am sure my girls are a bit big for a cat.

 

Good luck with the introductions.

[migsy]

I have 2 cats who are real softies so they don't really go near the chooks but there are a few young local cats who love to stalk them. I watch them with amusement. The hens don't care - they are used to the stalking. It is pretend. I don't think these cats would actually have a go. The hens are far too big - the cats are just daydreaming.

[whoopsie]

One of my cars tried to stalk the chooks once - never again! Good job they were actually in their run at the time too! Now she adores them and is very protective. She'll chase off any other cat that she thinks is too close!!!!

 

I'd let them get on with it.

[Tiggy]

we have 2 cats the older one 'Tiggy' is 22 and far too interested in her belly to chase chickens & just watches them, the other was a ferral kitten & now 8 years old, she did stalk one of the girls once ,i watched in horror as she crept accross the garden & then lauched herself claws out to grab one of the girls - just like a lion bringing down a deer, but before she could make contact, the hen up on its toes fluffed itself up wings flapping furiously and squarking so loudly went on the attack, cat in mid air did a 180 and ran for its life now with 4 girls chasing her accross the garden & under the gate. funniest thing Id seen in ages Molly cat never goes anywhere near them now. chickens can easily look after themselves around a cat

[migsy]

Wow! A 22 year old cat. I am impressed - what a fantastic age!

[Tiggy]

tiggy cat is a bit special,, a little deaf very freindly, not that Im impressed with the sunrise so early & her trying to get me to get up & feed her at 4 in the morning Im sure she is a bit senile too. The vet is amazed at how fit 7 healthy she is and we love her to bits