hammy72 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Does having chickens attract cats to your garden? In the past few days when I've been working at home and sat in the garden we have had 2 separate cat visitors. Tikka has alerted me with a cluck and before the dogs have noticed them. Could a cat do the chickens any harm or are they just being inquisitive of the new smell? btw. I know that one of the cats visits next doors rabbits so perhaps it is just being friendly, it looks quite young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sootydog111 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 i dont have eny chooks yet but from what i have researched cats are harmless to full grown hens and probably most bantams exept maby sermas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millie Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I was really quite nervous letting the banties and hen FR with my cat as he is a hunter. I kept them in the run for a week or two for them to see each other safely. When i let them out i put the cat on a lead for a couple of supervised meets. They seemed fine together, and touch wood have been ok since (1 yr now). As for other cats with them, non would dare come in our garden, but i have read of cats being atacked by full grown hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 a cat appeared in our garden the other day - I hadn't noticed but my FR chooks had and started making a huge din. They flapped their wings around and that was it ... the cat was off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammy72 Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 I think they are just curious too, and I can always shout "pussycats" to the dogs and they'll give a warning bark of "get off my land"!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 We did have a cat that used to come and have a nosey around. The girls always sensed/heard/saw it well before I did and in fact if I am out in the garden I can judge now by their behaviour that the cat must be near. Within 30 seconds the cat will appear Cat doesn't come so often now since my OH started squirting it with the garden hose whenever he saw it However, I suspect this cat did do away with the mouse that used to live in the compost bin as I haven't seen it for ages now. Anyway, I've just got myself a kitten who I am going to train up to be "protector of the chickens" and "killer of mice" He's not big enough to go out yet and he hasn't met the girls yet, but I plan to introduce them as soon as he's allowed out so he can get used to them. Hopefully he will keep unwanted cat visitors away too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 A couple of kittens belonging to our neighbour were really intrigued by the chooks. But were also scared stiff of them! The kittens would sit on the fence, and watch the chooks, too scared to climb down into the garden despite their curiosity. The chooks weren't bothered in the slightest! After a while the kittens were bored (took them several weeks mind!!) and I don't see them much anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I have 3 cats and had them before chickens, the chickens rule the garden. Occasionally the youngest cat will get really adventurous and try and saunter past the girls but they give him the beady eye and he runs We did have a bit of interest in the first couple of weeks from the other neighbourhood cats but they left them alone pretty quick and never come into our garden now. The only thing my girls don't like is the squirrel running along the back fence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j00lz_12366 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 However, I suspect this cat did do away with the mouse that used to live in the compost bin as I haven't seen it for ages now. Mightnt have been the cat, my girls 'disposed' of a chicken that made its way into their WIR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 However, I suspect this cat did do away with the mouse that used to live in the compost bin as I haven't seen it for ages now. Mightnt have been the cat, my girls 'disposed' of a chicken that made its way into their WIR I REALLY hope you meant Mouse and not chicken that was disposed of....!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 My 2 cats are quite large (part Norwegian Forest cat) but are both kept well in check by my girls! I was very careful when the babies were young as that would be a complete different thing..... but now even my Lemon Pyle Brahma bantam is enough to make them get up from their comfy spot & move on if approached When my Ex-Batts were still alive they positively used to pursue the cats & peck beak fulls of hair out given half a chance I have seen TC bring home a fairly large Pheasant hen in his younger days - but I never knew if he did the 'deed' or just found it somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatalieC Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 We have two cats and six chickens. One of the cats is Dandy "the ripper", he's only three but his kill count is absolutely off the scale. I've had cats all my life and have never known a cat to kill like him - his claws and teeth are like razors - however, in the house he is a big soft dollop. He has never shown the slightest interest in the chickens even though he's happy to have a go at the ducks which come into the garden. I think the noise and kerfuffle are probably what deters him - that and there being six of them and only one of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 I've got 3 big hunting cats who show a very healthy respect for the hens. We get neighbour's cats in our garden, too, and there's never been a problem in the 3 years we've had the hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 We have 3 cats and they are scared of the chickens - although one, Willow, is friendly and always wants to make friends. A couple of times, we've been working in the run and suddenly Willow has appeared out of the Cube - I guess she just likes having a sniff around. If the cats are flopped in the garden, they are fine but will move if the chickens get to within about a yard. i swear the chickens approach them deliberately just for the nuisance value! I've seen a neighbour's cat in the garden checking out the chickens but so far I'm not worried about cats especially as we have lots of neighborhood foxes and even a buzzard attacked last week. Luckily everyone escaped unharmed! Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 My cat Chilli loves to snooze in the Eglu,so long as the hens aren't around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Love that photo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 So sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
