[nic_28]

Im getting a cat, a big handsome fella. I have noticed the presence of more and more rodents here and dont want to poison them as we have nesting buzzards nearby and a few owls. Anyone got cats with their chooks? Mine are all large girls and chase my Schnauzer away, wondered if the cat would stalk them? try eat them ? :blink: any advice would be GREAT. Happy Wednesday everyone. x

[DD.]

A similar recent question:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=88794.0

[Casey76]

I have two cats.  My chickens and my cats tend to ignore each other.  I only have to be careful when I have chicks, as they can prove to be too tempting.

[Beano]

If our cat gets anywhere near our chickens, they shout at him which sends him scuttling off.
Not that he stalks them the poor thing. They are the bosses and he will avoid them when they are both out in the garden at the same time.

[GrannieAnnie]

I agree, after a peck or 2 on the nose, the cat will leave the chooks alone!  Ours did! lol

Mind you, you did say it was a 'big' cat, so as long as its not a tiger or something you should be okay!   

[Raven81]

Both of our cats are hunters but neither of them have bothered the chickens, like others have said the chickens are in charge and chase the cats (and the rottweiler), the neighbours cat only comes in the garden when they are shut away in the run too.

[zarazara]

Both my cats are good hunters. My chooks have the upper hand though  . The cats dont stand a chance.

[nic_28]

great response folks!   Now I can stop worrying and start getting excited about Merlin coming to stay!

I agree, after a peck or 2 on the nose, the cat will leave the chooks alone!  Ours did! lol

Mind you, you did say it was a 'big' cat, so as long as its not a tiger or something you should be okay!   

haha! he's a big cat, definately not a Tiger lol. just a beefcake and also a hunter. Glad to hear similar blood thirsty moggies dtill dont bother with the big girls

[evie2]

Our ginger is a natural born hunter and from a kitten he's been quite happy to drag living or dead, not much smaller than himself animals through the cat flap.  So when we had the chicks last year we were a bit concerned but we needn't have worried, he knows a chicken peck hurts.  Even now he leaves the tiny Dutch bantams and Lavender Sabelpoots alone even though they, the poots, look very much like his favourite prey, collard doves and since he was bitten by the rabbit, he steers clear of them too

[asd1]

We have four cats three of which are good hunters only one has tried it with the chickens and didn't succeed! Since then we have a very angry Sussex bantam that chases he cats

[JaK]

My chickens ignore/ tolerate my cat but will chase and peck at any other cat that comes into the garden.