chickens and cats

[rhetorician]

how do they get along? dd is 3.6 and we are currently looking after a neighbour's chickens - she is 'in charge' and really enjoying it (her dad has lots of chickens, but doesn't live with us). I'd be open to having 2-3 chickens, but was wondering whether they would be troubled by our cat. I'd like them to be able to roam about at least some of the time. Thanks

I think the cat is more likely to be troubled by the chickens ime.

never had a problem!! Oscar used to pretend to be a lion and attempt stalking them but they would always spot him and e would have to slink off. It was never serious stalking, more noseyness!

Current baby cats are proficient hunters and have never even looked twice at the chickens.

Our neighbour has chickens and he encourages our cats into his garden. They catch the mice who are attracted to their feed.

there are lots of cats around, and neighbours didn't suggest they were a problem - we don't have many urban foxes here, but I have been putting them in at night, even though I know their owners don't always

We have 9 cats all wusses and the one we thought would be a problem with the chickens (he killed a neighbour's pet chicken) was very firmly put in his place by our smallest, bossiest evil bitch Pekin Bantam. He stalked her and she turned around and chased him up the garden, giving him several good pecks on his bottom.

He's been scared shitless very respectful ever since! The other cats are great with the chickens in the garden - everyone happily ignores each other, to the point one chook will come in through the catflap and help herself to cat food.

Mine tried stalking the hens too....they were soon told what's what. And they are bloody big maine coons.

2 cats here and at the moment about 130 chickens. They're a bit outnumbered

was thinking of 2 chickens, maybe 3, not 130!!

Two cats here. One will attempt to hunt but never even gets close. He'd run away even if he did get close