BeckyBoo Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Don't ask me how, but my ferocious tabby tiger, otherwise known as Frank has managed to kill a little owl (little s*d!) and altho it's obviously much smaller than a chook, I would imagine it's also much quicker. He's previously caught squirrels and all sorts, I know everyone has said that chickens win over cats every time but I'm a little concerned now - planning to let the chooks out for the first time this weekend. What do you reckon, who will win, it needs to be the chooks cos I don't want them confined to the run the whole time. Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 My original cat Mog The Mouser was a dab hand at bring back all manner of wild life, including wild rabbits and pigeons, all of which were of a similar size to the chickens. The first time he saw the chickens he though all his birthdays had come at once, however, the chickens chased him and gave him a swift peck on the nose which soon sorted him out, and they lived together happily, all off them in the garden at the same time. I don;t think I've heard of anyone here who has lost a chicken to a cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 When I first let my chooks out to meet Frankie they were very inquisitive. Frankie was ok until they got within two feet of her then she started hissing at them! Chickens, however, cannot understand "cat" language and so carried on getting closer at which point Frankie turned and ran I dont think she realised just how big chickens were close up. Since then they have had a healthy respect for each other's space - chooks will sound the alarm at seeing the cat and cat will hiss if chooks get too close - does nothing for the chooks but tells us humans she's not a happy cat Keep a close eye on them at first - they are bound to be curious about each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Hi there, Well I'm sure that all cats are different and so are all chickens, so I don't want to make any promises, but one of my cats is a lethal hunter, she drags birds of all sizes through the catflap and I end up trying to rescue them in a storm of feathers, but she doesn't attack the chooks. We were extremely careful the first time we let the chooks out while Shadow was around, we basically stood right by the chickens the whole time to be ready to intervene, and Shadow did try to get to them at first. The chickens first reaction was to run away, which unfortunately made her chasing instincts wild, so it's a good thing we were there to shoo her away. After trying this a few times though, she started to observe them from a distance, and they got less startled when she'd move to them, and when they stopped running away, she got a chance to assess them better (size, beak and all) and now although she goes to sniff at them occasionally she never tries to do anything to them. If she goes too close, the chickens stand up really tall, look down on her with threatening beak and flap their wings a bit, and she instantly retreats. They often share the garden now, the chooks walking about looking for worms and the cats lying down watching them calmly. I have not yet seen a post on these boards that mentioned a chicken hurt/killed by a cat... everyone I've read seems to find that, if supervised at first, things go smoothly... I hope it will be the same in your case... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted June 26, 2007 Author Share Posted June 26, 2007 Thanks everyone, will be on standby with water pistol and camera! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 What is it with tabbies and hunting ... mine can't resist. However, I'd agree with everyone else on here - chickens are just a bit too big to take on. Mine began by being scared of them, and then he just ignored them - I've seen him lying outside the run, and when I let them out he didn't even flinch despite their stampeding towards him (he was between them and the dust-bath ). There's been one incident where he forgot they were his friends, I think it was the sight of little chickeny feet scrabbling behind a bush which was concealing the rest of the chicken - he tried pouncing, and the resulting flapping and squawking left him very shame-faced. I wouldn't have any worries. Shame about the little owl, though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridgy chooks Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 My inlaws have a dog, cat and chicken all living together in 'harmony' Maisey the chicken sometimes tries to get the dog food and nearly gets her head bitten off! They're all friends really though and sit on the lawn together Our Maggi has however been attacked by a cat One of our neighbours cats jumped off the top of our fence onto her back and dislocated her hip. She stilll walks with a limp sometimes and she is a lot more cautious now and 'bock bocks' a lot when she is worried. She's a lot better now than she was and is possibly back to being top hen again after a roll reversal. She gives Gabbi the odd peck when they are getting treats I wouldn't totally trust a cat to be left alone with them until it has become clear that the chickens aren't food! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Both my cats are voracious hunters - they have both been seen off by the bantams! Evene Fat Leo from 2 doors down gives the chooks a wide berth (literally in his case) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 I agree with Bridgy Chooks... although my cats, even the super-hunter one of the two, leave the chooks alone, a neighbour has a cat that is more like a horror-movie extra than a cat... he scares even me... I tried to push the catflap one day, in the dark just before heading to bed, to see if I had locked it, and the monster was waiting on the other side and pounced on my hand (the catflap hadn't been locked, and I got the fright of my life and a scratch and bite too). If he came anywhere near the chooks I'd be worried, he scratches and bites everything, including my kids and my cats... So I never leave the chooks to freerange unless we are also in the garden... foxes have come to visit in daytime too recently, so I have to keep a close eye on them anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Our own cats don't bother the chooks.........in fact Jack Cat is scared of them and Poppy is far too regal to lower herself to be seen anywhere near a chook However about 4 months ago a new cat arrived in the neigbourhood and visited us.................it has attacked Twinkle twice (in close sucession) but hasn't tried again as it set upon by all the other girls after the last attack. Fortunately Twinkle wasn't injured.............just a few lost feathers and no egg the day after the attack............the only day since we got Twinkle last september that she hasn't laid an egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
