There are benefits to having a coop cat but there is a downside too. Cats who are raised around chickens usually will not bother them, however, even the very best coop cat may not be able to resist snatching up a baby chick. Baby chicks have jerky movements which trigger a cats natural instinct to hunt prey.
Cats are good at keeping, mice, rats, snakes, and other kinds of rodents away. Male cats who have not been neutered spray their territory which makes rodents, snakes, and some other predators, not want to come around. Unfortunately, a male cat who has not been neutered, will also spray you, your chickens and their feed. From my experience, rodents were not deterred by the spray from neutered male cats.
Chicken feed served in feed pans can end up being used as a litter box by cats. If you have farm cats you should keep feed in a feeder at approximately chest height to your birds as this will deter cats from defecating in it. Female cats are know for their prowess as great hunters but they may also use feed pans for litter boxes. Both male and female cats especially those who hunt have a few weaknesses, such as the inability to resist chasing a small chicken or a baby chick. If you do get a cat for mouse control in your coop, make sure they have no access to the baby chicks. Observe your cats behavior around your chickens with a hidden camera because most cats will not attack in front of humans. Don't be surprised if your cat brings you a dead baby chick as a trophy kill. Never leave your cat unsupervised around baby chicks or small bantam chickens and never leave your cats hungry. Even a well fed cat will usually hunt and kill mice and rodents which are a major attractant for snakes.
Cats have been known to eat eggs if they are hungry. Once they start eating eggs it is hard to break them of this habit.
Stray cats
Stray cats may hang out around the coop watching the chickens letting them get a false sense of security before they attack. They are agile, quick and aggressive hunter's that will wait patiently for their prey. The best way to stop stray cats from harming your chickens is to feed them and then catch them in a live trap and take them to your local animal shelter or rescue sanctuary.
House cats
House cats that are raised around chickens and are well fed will rarely attack a full grown bird but young cats will sometimes become playful and hurt the birds unintentionally. House cats have been known to play with and kill baby chicks and even eat them. It is best to keep baby chicks and small chickens in a secure coop and run until they are big enough that your cat no longer considers them as prey.
One house cat owner reported that his house cat appeared to love his baby chicks. The cat allowed the chicks to climb on her and peck at her fur as if she loved the attention, even purring at times. A few days later the owner of the cat and chicks found his baby chicks laying in a row on his porch with the cat looking up at him as if he were proud of his accomplishment and had brought the chicks as a trophy that showed the cats prowess as a hunter (Through a cat's eyes). A hen can and often will defend herself against such an attack but a baby chick will be snatched, carried off and eaten before anyone realizes what happened. Cats will very rarely attack when they can be seen by humans or if the hens are accompanied by a Rooster.
See how to protect your chickens from predatory cats below
Cats are good at keeping, mice, rats, snakes, and other kinds of rodents away. Male cats who have not been neutered spray their territory which makes rodents, snakes, and some other predators, not want to come around. Unfortunately, a male cat who has not been neutered, will also spray you, your chickens and their feed. From my experience, rodents were not deterred by the spray from neutered male cats.
Chicken feed served in feed pans can end up being used as a litter box by cats. If you have farm cats you should keep feed in a feeder at approximately chest height to your birds as this will deter cats from defecating in it. Female cats are know for their prowess as great hunters but they may also use feed pans for litter boxes. Both male and female cats especially those who hunt have a few weaknesses, such as the inability to resist chasing a small chicken or a baby chick. If you do get a cat for mouse control in your coop, make sure they have no access to the baby chicks. Observe your cats behavior around your chickens with a hidden camera because most cats will not attack in front of humans. Don't be surprised if your cat brings you a dead baby chick as a trophy kill. Never leave your cat unsupervised around baby chicks or small bantam chickens and never leave your cats hungry. Even a well fed cat will usually hunt and kill mice and rodents which are a major attractant for snakes.
Cats have been known to eat eggs if they are hungry. Once they start eating eggs it is hard to break them of this habit.
Stray cats
Stray cats may hang out around the coop watching the chickens letting them get a false sense of security before they attack. They are agile, quick and aggressive hunter's that will wait patiently for their prey. The best way to stop stray cats from harming your chickens is to feed them and then catch them in a live trap and take them to your local animal shelter or rescue sanctuary.
House cats
House cats that are raised around chickens and are well fed will rarely attack a full grown bird but young cats will sometimes become playful and hurt the birds unintentionally. House cats have been known to play with and kill baby chicks and even eat them. It is best to keep baby chicks and small chickens in a secure coop and run until they are big enough that your cat no longer considers them as prey.
One house cat owner reported that his house cat appeared to love his baby chicks. The cat allowed the chicks to climb on her and peck at her fur as if she loved the attention, even purring at times. A few days later the owner of the cat and chicks found his baby chicks laying in a row on his porch with the cat looking up at him as if he were proud of his accomplishment and had brought the chicks as a trophy that showed the cats prowess as a hunter (Through a cat's eyes). A hen can and often will defend herself against such an attack but a baby chick will be snatched, carried off and eaten before anyone realizes what happened. Cats will very rarely attack when they can be seen by humans or if the hens are accompanied by a Rooster.
See how to protect your chickens from predatory cats below
Ways to Protect Your Chickens from predatory Cats
How to protect your chickens from your cat
If the cat that is preying on your chickens and/or eggs the only way you will be able to stop them is to keep them indoors, put them in an outdoor cat house with a run, or find them another home. Never allow your baby chicks to roam freely on your property.
How to protect your chickens from stray catsIf you have stray cats roaming around you should set live traps for them. Use cat food or sardines for bait. Once captured you can bring them to your local animal shelter. If the cat appears feral you may want to call the animal shelter and ask if they can pick it up. Do not pick up the cage without heavy protection on your hands and arms. If you are unable to trap the cats or cannot afford a live trap, call your local animal shelter. Most shelters will either loan you a trap or come and set one up on your property to catch a cat, raccoons, skunks or other wild animals. Keep your chickens in a predator safe chicken coop and run which is covered top to bottom and reinforced at the bottom to prevent digging under.
Cat Repellents
You can purchase cat repellents and use them around your chicken coop or you can make your own. Cats do not care for strong smelling stuff like garlic, citronella, citrus oils, vinegar, and red pepper. Do not use ammonia based products as cats identify this smell as urine.
If the cat that is preying on your chickens and/or eggs the only way you will be able to stop them is to keep them indoors, put them in an outdoor cat house with a run, or find them another home. Never allow your baby chicks to roam freely on your property.
How to protect your chickens from stray catsIf you have stray cats roaming around you should set live traps for them. Use cat food or sardines for bait. Once captured you can bring them to your local animal shelter. If the cat appears feral you may want to call the animal shelter and ask if they can pick it up. Do not pick up the cage without heavy protection on your hands and arms. If you are unable to trap the cats or cannot afford a live trap, call your local animal shelter. Most shelters will either loan you a trap or come and set one up on your property to catch a cat, raccoons, skunks or other wild animals. Keep your chickens in a predator safe chicken coop and run which is covered top to bottom and reinforced at the bottom to prevent digging under.
Cat Repellents
You can purchase cat repellents and use them around your chicken coop or you can make your own. Cats do not care for strong smelling stuff like garlic, citronella, citrus oils, vinegar, and red pepper. Do not use ammonia based products as cats identify this smell as urine.
References:
1. Photo. Cat, Chicken, Chickens, Hen. (2018). Pixabay.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018, from https://pixabay.com/en/cat-chicken-chickens-hen-animals-2112627/
2. Photo. Cat with bay chick on it's head - Illustration, Color, Design. (2018). Pixabay.com. Retrieved 19 July 2018, from https://pixabay.com/en/illustration-color-design-freehand-1518342/
1. Photo. Cat, Chicken, Chickens, Hen. (2018). Pixabay.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018, from https://pixabay.com/en/cat-chicken-chickens-hen-animals-2112627/
2. Photo. Cat with bay chick on it's head - Illustration, Color, Design. (2018). Pixabay.com. Retrieved 19 July 2018, from https://pixabay.com/en/illustration-color-design-freehand-1518342/
