HELP!!! We think the next door neigbors cat is eating our chicks. We have caught her in the chicken yard (although the fence is 14ft high) and caught her climbing the fence. Last night we were missing a chick. When I let them out this morning, I counted them six times to make sure I wasn't just miscounting last night. Had 27 of them - just went to check on them and now only have 26. Is there anything short of killing the cat that I can do to make her leave my chicks alone? (I am willing to try almost ANYTHING!) The cat's owner doesn't feed her and she has always torn into our garbage. We thought of taking her to the humane society (since her owner does'nt seem to care), but she is basically wild and can not be caught. Please shoot your ideas my way! I can't afford to lose my chicks this way (they are suspose to be MY supper, not a cats!!!). Thanks for any and all ideas!!!!! Lisa B.

-- Lisa B. (J5diecast@aol.com), October 03, 2001

Answers

If you have a live trap, you can try to trap the cat, and then take it to the humane society. Sardines makes a good bait. Personally, I would just shoot the cat, but I understand that not everyone feels the same way I do about such things! :-)

We've never had any trouble with cats bothering our chickens. Our barn cats were raised around chickens, and they get along very well. We do have one cat, however, who loves to lurk in the bushes, and jumps out when a hen walks by. The hen jumps, squawking into the air, and the cat stands there looking thoroughly pleased with himself! He'll do it over and over again. Sort of a kitty way of saying, "BOO!" I suppose!

Best of luck to you!! Please keep us posted and let us know how it turns out.

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 03, 2001.

We caught a cat that had gotten into the garage(where I'm still brooding the chicks at night) recently, using a live trap, the size designed for squirrels. We used a piece of steak for bate...After spending the night in that little bitty trap, this cat was happy to go home and not come back. Still, I suggest that if you do catch it, and if you really think the owner doesn't care about it, you consider the Humane Society.(My dad would've just killed it, and, philosophically I have no qualms with that solution, if it is indeed killing your animals.) Good luck.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), October 03, 2001.

If the cat is wild the chances are the humane society will put it to sleep. It is very difficult to domesticate a wild cat. I would shoot it. If you dont have the heart to do it do you have a dog that can be put outside the pen that would chase her off? What about feeding her? My barn cats[some are wild] never mess with my chicks. They have free choice cat food available 24/7. Maybe she is hungry.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), October 03, 2001.

I love cats, but you should not have to deal with one killing your chicks. You could try live trapping it and,while it is still in the trap, squirt it thoroughly with water. It may scare it so badly that it won't come back. If it isn't being fed, it looks at your chicks as food, poor thing. If the water thing doesn't work, take it to the Humane Society. Have you talked to your neighbor about the cat?

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.

Live traps can often be borrowed/checked out from animal control. I have traped several wild/feral cats every one of them was tame, not a 'lap cat' but could be petted/picked up, after being fed & spending a night in the cage in the house. They know who can open cans in the house!

-- bj pepper in C. MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), October 03, 2001.

Lisa, I know I am not the only person who has to protect my chicks from cats, cause one lady at work has the same problem. The problem is it is our cats!!! I am talking about baby chicks, the little fluff balls that my cats think of as chicken nuggets. I have chased my cat around the yard and slapped a chick out of it's mouth. They do not really bother them when they feather out. So, I keep my itty bitties in a rabbit hutch until they they get some feathers. My broody hens with little chicks, take care of the cats all by themselves. Can you put a cover over the top of the pen? Can you feed the cat somewhere away from the chicken house? I do feed my cats but some just have to try out a fuzzy chick. I did get rid of a cat that kept catching my hummingbirds at the feeders. She went to the big litter box in the sky and you might have to send the neighbors cat there too.

-- Karen in Kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), October 03, 2001.

I have never had a problem with my cats once the chicks are larger .I would pen them up at night because the cats aren't the only ones out for a free meal.You may have to keep them in during the day too until they get bigger.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), October 03, 2001.

I beat my cat with the dead chick. He no longer kills the chicks. He doesn't even like to chicken cat food now. I know it would be hard to hit the cat with a dead chick (if you can find one dead since he is eating it) but it was something that worked for me. Maybe you can feed the cat?

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), October 03, 2001.

I hate to tell you this but once a cat starts killing chicks it's pretty hard to stop it. Cats are natural hunters and they hunt and kill whether they are well fed or not. It's their nature. I guess you'll have to evaluate this info and then decide whether to permanently rid yourself of the feline hunter or not. Good luck.

-- (schnauzee@mstar2.net), October 04, 2001.

I vote "Bon Voyage" Kitty....Now that that cat has tasted your chicks, it will keep tasting them until you have none. Harmony

-- Harmony Bullington (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), October 04, 2001.

Feed the feral cat so as to eliminate that reason for it going after the chicks, put out dry food for it.

If a cat can get into your pen, then so can weasels, raccoons and other predators, keep your chicks in a more secure area, it may not even be the cat that is getting your chicks. I would suspect raccoons, they love chicken in any size!!!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), October 04, 2001.

Put bird netting securely over the top of the chicken yard. I keep net over my chicken pen all the time since we have a really bad owl problem. My own cats have once got some baby turkeys I was raising and since my son had left the shed door open where the brooder was, I figured it was my fault (well, the sons fault..he bought mom some new baby turkeys!!) my cats won't bother chicks that are feathered out either. I would get rid of that cat too. How ever you have to.

-- Jenny Pipes (Auntjenny6@aol.com), October 04, 2001.

We had this problem & did everything everyone suggested above (not killing), but the cat dug under the fence. I know this sounds really strange, but it turned out she was a mama kitty - someone dumped her off & she had kittens somewhere around our property. We caught her in a live trap & took her to the big barn, showed her a huge bowl of cat food & fed her & the killing stopped. She disappeared shortly after that - kittens & all. Not sure if it was a predator or not.

Farm dogs work great for keeping critters out of the barnyard, but if yours are like ours, they know that terrorizing cats is not allowed, so consequently . . . the cat just walked right into the coop, completely unmolested! Shoot, the dog probably ESCORTED her! "& herrrrre we are, Ms. Kitty . . . the chicken coop! Enjoy your visit! & let me know if I can be of any assistance. I'll be right over here, guarding the farm from predators!"

I think you'll just have to start trying things till something works. If worse comes to worst, I'd opt for the Humane Society. At least the cat would be euthanized humanely & you wouldn't have that on your conscience.

Regards, Sarah/MI

-- Sarah Sanders (chilechile@hotmail.com), October 07, 2001.

I'm not sure this will work, but you might want to contact your local "Chinese" restaurant. I've heard they (cats) are quite tasty, a claim you might possibly want to check out yourself! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), October 09, 2001.

BRAD! That is a horrible thing to say. I can't say I disagree with others who have voted to destroy this little vermin, but really!!!!!

I agree that if you have a problem with this cat having already killed a chick, you aren't going to get rid of that problem by feeding it. It's just going to think it has a choice, now -- as it kitty buffet.

Have you talked to your neighbor? Although if the person isn't feeding the cat it's unlikely they're the type to listen. Otherwise, call animal control and have THEM trap the damned thing. If it's causing problems on your property and it doesn't belong to you, it's their job and they can deal with the irate neighbor when kitty goes missing!

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), October 10, 2001.

Why dont you try blowing the chicks up in the cat's face? take an m-80 or two when the cat comes light the m-80s and chuck the chick/chicks at it! the explosion will scare it away for good because it will think the chicks are fighting back when really you are vaporizing them with m-80s! I do that when ever the stray cats try to eat my chicks.

-- John L (mr_bigglesworth@the-police.com), January 28, 2002.

We have a Hav-a-Hart trap. They make several sizes.

Husband is currently making a more secure chicken pen for when chicks are small. Right now, we are keeping our two half-grown cats in the garage in the day so chicks can go out.

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), January 28, 2002.