Aggressive neighbourhood cat

Bells · **Joined:** Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:29 am **Posts:** 37

We are, well our chickens are, being harrassed by an aggressive neighbourhood cat. We've had cats in our yard befoer and there's been little concern. They get curious about the chickens but essentially they all ignore each other.

This cat is huge. A massive, long thing that paces the chicken enclosure and despite our best attempts at security has still found a gap to get in - which we will fix. So far I've only seen it take down a pigeon it caught in the enclosure one day when the chickens were free ranging. I haven't seen it directly attack a chicken but that's only because I chase it off. What happens when we're not home is what I'm worried about. The girls are locked in the enclosure (not the coop) during the day (coop at night) but until we have the time to build an enclosure with top notch security, we're making do with a mostly secure arrangement.

My question is this - will a large cat take down a chicken? Or do they just view each other warliy? I sometimes think it's mostly there for the wild birds, not the chickens.

And has anyone got any suggestions for successful cat deterrant? We're thinking of trapping the cat and calling its owners (we think it's tagged).

Helen

Brownie · **Posted:** Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:55 pm

Bells, I wouldn't be wasting time. Those middle sized cage traps are about $65 from stock supply shops or some camping and hardware places have them. A cage trap placed near where it got in before should work. That's generous of you to think of returning it to the owners. I'd be taking it to the pound where they can pay to get it back or be fined by council.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:58 pm

We have cat curfews and restrictions though many irresponsible cat owners do not adhere to them and more often than not we have found dead and even worse half dead parrots, pigeons, doves and other native birds in the garden thanks to the neighbour's "free ranging" cats. So far they have left our chooks alone but we had a very vigilant rooster who would attack anything that went near his girls.

Another neighbour wasn't so lucky with a bantam of hers and the cat, so she trapped the cat in a possum cage and hosed him down and returned him to the owner. The owner wasn't happy about her wet puss and there were definately no apologies from her in regards to the dead bantam. Thus the chook wars began. The cat owner still lets her cats out, and they now poop in that other neighbour's veggie patch.

Trap the cat and call the local ranger in. It's owners will not like the fine when they are called into to collect their puss. I think you can remain "anonymous" as some pet owners can be very vindictive.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:59 pm

PS
You can get a trap from the local council.

Bells · **Joined:** Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:29 am **Posts:** 37

this is all really helpful, thanks. We think the cat has a tag but we've not been close enough to be sure.
Trapping investigation begins now.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:23 pm

Are the cats micro chipped in your area? Makes it easier for the council to track down it's owner.

Marrama · **Joined:** Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:14 pm **Posts:** 1

Our previous neighbor decided to leave behind they cats yes 2 of them so I had to hire a trap from the council and catch them both which was very easy as they were so hungry and handed them to the rspca I only hope they rehomed them in the end

WarmEgg · **Joined:** Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:40 pm **Posts:** 2

We have been trying to catch 3 wild cats that have killed a few of our birds so far but they stay clear of the trap so we now have to call in a pro to shoot them

WarmEgg · **Joined:** Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:40 pm **Posts:** 2

Did you get the cat sorted Bells?

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