how to get rid of stalking CATS fast - ideas please??

[PrincessGoodLife]

We have chickens. They're free range but have a large open-topped enclosure for when we are out. Over the past 10 days or so I've noticed a cat lurking in the long grass, getting closer to the chickens every time. Today the cheeky bugger was lying in the sun watching them from the other side of the fence, only about 3 feet away! It is not a domesticated cat but one of the 'wild' wandering types of cats we sometimes see around here, so doesn't belong to anyone. It's looks like he has a big chicken dinner planned in our garden, despite the fact we have a large noisy dog.

Could really do with some good ideas for scaring it off permanently. I keep going out and banging saucepan lids, clapping, shouting (very aware that I look deranged, but what the hell ) but clearly it hasn't worked after seeing today's cheeky approach. The dog barks if it sees it but I think the cat, being a cat, is very clever at sneaking up unseen. It would be very easy for him to jump over the fence and help himself.

Any thoughts???

curry plants!

dh has coke bottles 3/4 full of water around our flower beds. dont know why!?! he reckons they scare cats

really? [hopeful face]

ctas hate curry plsnts it stops them pooing a weeing in my garden

Squirt it with the hose every time you see it, then leaave the hose lying about so it can see it even when you're not there?

ok, hosepipe I can do

curry plants I want but they will have to be a longer term thing naturally.

anything else I can add to my Anti-Cat Campaign? the more the better. Can you tell I am on a crusade now!

Footballs. Every time.

will get ds on to it!

I'm just waiting for Lisaventouse to come on here and mention that her husband puts down poison to kill intruding cats and then act all shocked and offended when people flame her.

curry plants are good. Water pistol aimed at the back of the head between the ears even better. Cat may not associate it with you watching if you are good enough! Be very careful not to blind the cat by shooting face on though - you don't want to be cruel, just effective.

I think the coke bottles sound a bit nasty looking but can imagine a "fence" of water like that around your enclosure would be useful if you can manage it.

By the way, unless it is very feral it may well not be contemplating dinner as much as it is just entertained by your hens. Cats don't generally take on anything bigger than a pidgeon.
I had major issues with a cattery once because they had a hen coop/aviary dead in the centre of their cattery for the amusement of the cats. I cannot imagine what the hens' stress levels must have been like!

thanks for that

what's the logic behind the coke bottles then? Have never undersood it.

just saw your 2nd post, kiteflying. I would be very surprised if it wasn't fully or at least semi feral around here so think I am up against the real thing!
Your psot made me think though - a lot fo wild birds are always in the enclosure stealing the grain so mayeb it will stick to the smaller ones. [hopeful] Mind you, they can fly away and chickens can't... My only real hope is that the cockerel does his job and creates enough of a fuss that the cat thinks twice.

bumping for more good ideas from the evening crowd

I'd be impressed by any cat that managed to catch, kill and eat a chicken tbh. Their natural diet is mice and small birds.

Agree with kite, I suspect it's just watching. Even if it is a particularly ambitious moggy, I'm not sure it would manage to do any harm. Cats have a healthy regard for their own skin - not sure one would want to go up against your cockerel! And would it really be easy for the cat to get over the fence and back out again?

I imagine you have a vet, given you keep animals, why not ask them? Might put your mind at rest. Or give you tactics!

this is GOOD news thank you edam!

would be easier for it to get out than in because of the trees inside

want to also majorly discourge it from coming close at all really so that I can let them out again.