Cats that kill rats but not chickens? possible? i WANT one... now!

[Bowen4Horses]

I was thinking of rescuing an outdoors/farm cat. As we have a mouse problem... and i suspect there's a few rats out there too.

Is it possible to find one that will kill rats... but not my chickens?!? how on earth do you train a cat? especially if i rescue one, it'll be a grown up... and i suspect quite feral... anyone have any ideas? would it be easier with a kitten? any breeds renowned for rat catching?

 

[Nailed]

Never known a cat attack chickens?!

Lou x

 

[TheresaW]

We have a cat at the yard who I have seen catch a couple of rats. Yard next door has chickens and ducks. Not seen him go anywhere near them.

 

[hellybelly6]

My cats were rescue and although they pretended to stalk the hens, they were really too scared of them.

Not all rescued cats are feral.

The best thing to catch rats would be a terrier, they are bred to go ratting without any training.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]
Never known a cat attack chickens?!

Lou x

[/ QUOTE ]

really? i sort of presumed they would as they're like birds... but, come to think of it, i was brought up on a farm with chickens and cats... and i can't remember problems... even with baby chicks...

perhaps i've invented a problem... just to give myself something to worry about!

 

[Hippona]

Loads of semi-feral yard cats on our yard...plus loads of chooks....cats never bother them TBH.

Plus I have NEVER seen a rat on our yard.....or any evidence of one.

I used to have the farm cats use my shavings bed as a toilet though

 

[3Beasties]

My cats never show any interest in ours, we've never had any really small chicks though!

 

[Tiggy1]

Terriers will kill rats & chickens!!!

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]


Not all rescued cats are feral.



[/ QUOTE ]

i didn't mean it to sound like i thought rescue cats are feral. i know they're not.

i mean that i am deliberately looking to rescue an outdoor/yard cat. not cuddly lap cat, so would presume it'll be fairly feral... and i mean feral in the nicest way, it's exactly what i'm looking for. x

 

[whitewood]

Got two feral cats who keep the vermin down and they have never shown any interest in the chickens.

 

[Archangel]

My stable cats never touch the chickens, they did try to tackle a pheasant though and got duffed over

 

[karenjj]

My cats are scared of the chickens and the chickens chase them away if they come near! My dogs are scared too actually, I think I have guard hens!!

 

[dobbin27]

Cats potection league (Not sure if they are called something else now?) always have loads.. There used to be a centre at stowbridge/stowmarket? Whichever one is near Bearts/Downham Market??

If not borrow Nathan and my dog for the day... They cleared my straw shed of mice at the weekend!!

L
x

 

[bj_cardiff]

Same as everyone above, cats don't usually bother with chickens, unless their chicks of course!

My cats don't bother with Rats, their to big for them and have sharp teeth! Terriers are the best, however, my 3 terriers don't bother with rats either, I recently lost my cheif ratter terrier...

 

[ladyt25]

I think cats would be far to scared of chickens unless you ahve a real brute of a cat! Lol

Our cat watches pheasants etc with interest but he knows what his limits are when it comes to prey! However, in the 13 years we've had him he's a pretty useless ratter - my dog's caught more! The rats seem to just steal the cat's food!!!!

He does however gorge on rabbits through the spring summer - they put up less of a fight than a rat. Honestly we have the most useless cat!!!

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]

Cats potection league (Not sure if they are called something else now?) always have loads.. There used to be a centre at stowbridge/stowmarket? Whichever one is near Bearts/Downham Market??

If not borrow Nathan and my dog for the day... They cleared my straw shed of mice at the weekend!!

L
x

[/ QUOTE ]

woohooo! someone else that gets stowbridge/stowmarket muddled up. i never know the difference. i was trying to explain where Bearts was to someone the other day, and i must have used the wrong town name because i somehow told him it was in suffolk... which i don't think it is...?!?

i love Bearts.... mmmm.... shopping... mmmm....

 

[Jericho]

woebetide a cat that tried to catch a chicken! We have a couple of cats near us and one of those cats is a master rabbit catcher -- he wont go near the chickens as they can be very agressive and boy do they hurt if they peck you! And I think that a chicken is quite strong - I struggle to 'contain' mine if I ever need to get hold of them

 

[dobbin27]

Yep.. Am hopeless!! I know where it is (Past Bearts over railway line, turn left somewhere down little lane, follow it to the end)

But please don't ask me for an address..... I'm sure thats what men are for!!

 

[BobbyMondeo]

We have two feral cats at our yard who sort the rat and mice problem out, we have loads of chickens and they dont really go near them.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

thanks guys

*scuttles off to find a cute little cat, oops, i mean a big hard, slightly scarred cat with half an ear, grrrr... *

 

[Clodagh]

I had a feral cat who I had to rehome as he was constantly stalking the chickens. He didn't attack one but would stalk them all day, and then sit in their house and night to wait for them to come in, so they wouldn't go to bed.
BUT most people I know with chickens have no problems with their cat at all.

 

[nijinsky]

Blazegate Kennels in Long Sutton - you will find more than enough cats/kittens who would probably love the opportunity to chase mice/rats I'm sure

 

[camilla4]

Shouldn't be a problem - we had several cats who were fab for dealing with mice, and one kept hard control on our rabbit population, but they never bothered the chickens (the ones that the fox left!)

 

[nicelittle]

Our cat catches squirrels (no rats round here) and stalks my neighbours chickens until he gets told off by the cockerel. He has never caught one though, he's too scared of the cockerel.

 

[MissGem]

The Scratching Post regularly advertises in H&H to find homes for feral and semi-feral cats. Might be worth contacting them. www.scratchingpost.co.uk.

 

[625]

I have 2 feral cats on the yard although they are tame ish!! Great for catching the mice not so great when they leave them on the doorstep to show how clever they are!! Have never had a problem with cats and chickens x

 

[Shantih]

My cute little yard cat was stalking next door's chicks this morning - she will also catch the odd rat but not all the time. The chicks were fine, their mother soon saw the cat off! One cat I used to know would catch pheasants but most of my cats have never even looked at a pheasant.

625, you're honoured your cats are leaving you presents

 

[Aru]

iv never come across a cat that killed chickens and there were dozens of hungry ferals knocking around the farm at home...
oh and if you can get a female cat they tend to be much better mousers!iv seen male cats sit back and watch a mouse run acoss in front of them with no reaction whereas our 6 month old female kitten has already killed mice...shes from a good line of mousers tho....

 

[PapaFrita]

We've got cats and chooks on our yard. Never had any probs