Murderous cats

[nia2311]

This morning, in broad daylight, one of my lovely hens was attacked and killed by a domestic cat. I couldn't believe a cat could cause so much damage,let alone carry/drag such a large bird. My next door neighbour's dog scared the cat off, leaving my hen clinging onto life. She died in the car on the way to the vets to be humanely PTS. Why do they do it? She was clearly far too big to carry any distance, and I think she died of the shock rather than the injuries. Marjorie was a rescue hen from a place who rehome ex-battery hens. She was only 18 months, had YEARS of free ranging ahead of her, and had settled happily into our little flock. She was friendly and very docile, considering the lack of human contact she'd had until earlier this year. I am just so angry. We've kept hens for just over 3yrs now, and have not had a single one killed through attacks. One died of natural causes in February, but that's it. And of all creatures, a unremarkable domestic cat!!!! We have cats come into the garden at all times of the day/night and not one single cat has ever tried to do anything before - they have a look and then go away. My husband is very upset - he is Chief Keeper of the Hens. I don't know if we'll go back to the rescue for more hens once this episode has blown over.

Big thanks to my next door neighbour who saw the initial attack and tried to scare the cat away. She is as upset as we are - she enjoys watching them through her kitchen window and has looked after them for us when we've gone away. I just hope the b*****d creature doesn't come back and try again

[lisadundee]

If it comes back get a bucket of water over it!

[nia2311]

It may well get more than that Lisa!

Well to add insult to injury, our beautiful Flopsy bunny has died tonight. She went to the vets for a routine dental, had a fit coming out of the anaesthetic and never recovered. We rescued her 4 years ago and she was the most adorable little thing. I am heartbroken. I can't believe today and will be glad its over

[lisadundee]

Yea I'd probably shoot it! What a crap day for you, hope your luck changes soon xx

[elvenkeep]

get a grip! Cats kill birds and things, chickens are birds....they don't distinguish between domestic birds and wild ones....anything fluttery near my three and it's dead! Don't advocate shooting cats..thats illegal!

Better fencing required methinks!

[09rebel99]

Unfortunatly it is the way of nature :-( we have had a cat turn up by us and that took next doors guinea pig!!
Then one of the chickens from next door has been over in to our garden 3 times. 2 weeks ago one of my dogs got one, she just plucked a few feathers and thought it was a toy, I managed to catch her and put her back over and told the next door neighbours to keep an eye on her then last weekend she moved them up thd garden. One just the fence and my dog killed it :-( I wasn't there and the OH was gutted but what can we do?
Sorry to hear about your chicken and rabbit. At least the little girl got to know what freedom and hapiness was before she died

[ruftytuftyrider]

Cats catch birds, mice and other small rodents it is in their nature. Our cat is not allowed out without her collar on which has a bell on in the hope that will give birds fair warning and luckily no neighbours have chickens. Saying that our cat is tiny but will still stalk pigeons much bigger than her although I have never known her catch one.

Personally when deterring cats I would throw water in their direction but would not actually throw water at them - it usually scares them off if you throw water close to them.

On our village there is a spaniel that has killed a number of cats - not only ones that have strayed into his garden but has also jumped 6ft fences to get out of his garden to kill a cat.

Nature is nature and is not always kind.

Sorry to hear about both your hen and your rabbit, sending you cyber hugs x

[lisadundee]

Jun 7, 2013 22:07:27 GMT elvenkeep said:

get a grip! Cats kill birds and things, chickens are birds....they don't distinguish between domestic birds and wild ones....anything fluttery near my three and it's dead! Don't advocate shooting cats..thats illegal!

Better fencing required methinks!

Illegal or not, if any animal came on my property and killed any of my animals it would get shot! As a cat can climb a tree and pretty much anything it wants, a fence is hardly going to keep it out!

[gilbertgrape]

Glad I don't live near you then! You are actually choosing to kill a living thing to punish it.

[Milliesmum]

The thing is, if people kept their cats in sensible numbers, there wouldn't be a problem. People near me (3 different households) have cats in double figures. My garden is covered in their mess, as is my concrete drive. I do use a water pistol to deter them, if I catch them - I wouldn't do them any harm as I believe it's the owners who are irresponsible.

I'm sure if I took my dog round to theirs, allowed her to mess in their garden, and walked away leaving it for them to clean up, they'd have something to say about it! One or two cats, fair enough, but ten or eleven? In a residential area, and allowed to roam, breed, hunt, fight and foul wherever they like? Not on IMO. If I ever catch the one that keeps pooing on my driveway the owner is getting their poo back through their letterbox!

[lisadundee]

Jun 9, 2013 20:56:03 GMT gilbertgrape said:

Glad I don't live near you then! You are actually choosing to kill a living thing to punish it.

No I would be choosing to save my animal which is living on MY PROPERTY! Would you allow a dog to come in your field and kill one o your foals??

[delfachhighwayman]

Jun 9, 2013 21:27:32 GMT lisadundee said:

Jun 9, 2013 20:56:03 GMT gilbertgrape said:

Glad I don't live near you then! You are actually choosing to kill a living thing to punish it.

No I would be choosing to save my animal which is living on MY PROPERTY! Would you allow a dog to come in your field and kill one o your foals??

Sorry but this makes you sound silly. Don't know why humans feel the right to be angry at animals following instinct

[Milliesmum]

Domestic cats aren't wild animals though are they? I mean if you choose to own an animal, you are then responsible for it's care, likewise any damage it causes? It's not the same as a fox taking lambs or chickens, a domestic cat is being kept by choice and therefore it's owner is responsible for what it does, just the same as any other domestic pet or a horse for that matter.

[lisadundee]

Jun 9, 2013 21:35:30 GMT delfachhighwayman said:

Jun 9, 2013 21:27:32 GMT lisadundee said:

No I would be choosing to save my animal which is living on MY PROPERTY! Would you allow a dog to come in your field and kill one o your foals??

Sorry but this makes you sound silly. Don't know why humans feel the right to be angry at animals following instinct

I'm not angry at all, a cat like any other animal will do what's in it's nature like you say, many cats come through my garden which I don't mind because I don't own any animal that they will kill, however like I said if any animal came on my property to kill one of my animals in their own home and their own territory then no I wouldn't think twice about shooting them, and not out of anger or revenge but simply because I won't have my animals killed by other animals trespassing on my land!! Whether it be a dog, a cat or any animal, if its going to harm one of my animals then its not leaving my land alive!! I couldn't really care less what any of you think about me to be honest!

[delfachhighwayman]

Jun 9, 2013 22:11:23 GMT lisadundee said:

Jun 9, 2013 21:35:30 GMT delfachhighwayman said:

Sorry but this makes you sound silly. Don't know why humans feel the right to be angry at animals following instinct

I'm not angry at all, a cat like any other animal will do what's in it's nature like you say, many cats come through my garden which I don't mind because I don't own any animal that they will kill, however like I said if any animal came on my property to kill one of my animals in their own home and their own territory then no I wouldn't think twice about shooting them, and not out of anger or revenge but simply because I won't have my animals killed by other animals trespassing on my land!! Whether it be a dog, a cat or any animal, if its going to harm one of my animals then its not leaving my land alive!! I couldn't really care less what any of you think about me to be honest![/quote


You sound like a red neck!! You have named your post "murderous cat" as if the cat was committing murder (an act of immorality) when it's hunting as nature intended).

Maybe you should consider cat proofing your animals.

Also do you eat meat?

[lisadundee]

Jun 10, 2013 8:29:27 GMT delfachhighwayman said:

Jun 9, 2013 22:11:23 GMT lisadundee said:

I'm not angry at all, a cat like any other animal will do what's in it's nature like you say, many cats come through my garden which I don't mind because I don't own any animal that they will kill, however like I said if any animal came on my property to kill one of my animals in their own home and their own territory then no I wouldn't think twice about shooting them, and not out of anger or revenge but simply because I won't have my animals killed by other animals trespassing on my land!! Whether it be a dog, a cat or any animal, if its going to harm one of my animals then its not leaving my land alive!! I couldn't really care less what any of you think about me to be honest![/quote


You sound like a red neck!! You have named your post "murderous cat" as if the cat was committing murder (an act of immorality) when it's hunting as nature intended).

Maybe you should consider cat proofing your animals.

Also do you eat meat?

Lol so funny, well considering I am not the original poster so not my post at all and not my animal that was killed, I don't need to cat proof anything as stated in my comment, many cats come through my garden and I don't mind as they pose no threat to any of my animals. I like cats as I like dogs and all animals, just commenting on a thread and putting my opinion across and that is my opinion, for example if there's a dog in my field running round having fun causing no harm then that's fine by me, if there's a dog in my field trying to savage my foal then it's going to get shot!! And as for being a meat eater, what relevance does that have to anything??? Are you going to stereo type me in to a category because I may or may not be a meat eater and because I would not tolerate any animal praying on my animals??? Lol whatever

[delfachhighwayman]

Jun 10, 2013 8:54:39 GMT lisadundee said:

Jun 10, 2013 8:29:27 GMT delfachhighwayman said:

Lol so funny, well considering I am not the original poster so not my post at all and not my animal that was killed, I don't need to cat proof anything as stated in my comment, many cats come through my garden and I don't mind as they pose no threat to any of my animals. I like cats as I like dogs and all animals, just commenting on a thread and putting my opinion across and that is my opinion, for example if there's a dog in my field running round having fun causing no harm then that's fine by me, if there's a dog in my field trying to savage my foal then it's going to get shot!! And as for being a meat eater, what relevance does that have to anything??? Are you going to stereo type me in to a category because I may or may not be a meat eater and because I would not tolerate any animal praying on my animals??? Lol whatever

No I was simply entering into a debate.

I apologize as I did think you were the op. That was my mistake.

The "whatever" comments just ruin your argument for me, I followed you until that point.

[christine1056]

Oh for goodness sake! YOu cannot 'police' a cat like you can keep track of a dog. Yes shooting a cat is an offence as its causing 'unecessary pain and suffering to an animal' and taking revenge on a cat for doing what a cat does is daft to say the least.

Sorry OP that you lost one of your chickens. I have three cats, all of them lovely and all of them have collars with bells on, BUT even they as lovely as they are are sometimes furry coated murderers...........mice baby rabbits voles etc, so are you suggesting I shoot them as well please?

[lisadundee]

Jun 10, 2013 20:41:21 GMT christine1056 said:

Oh for goodness sake! YOu cannot 'police' a cat like you can keep track of a dog. Yes shooting a cat is an offence as its causing 'unecessary pain and suffering to an animal' and taking revenge on a cat for doing what a cat does is daft to say the least.

Sorry OP that you lost one of your chickens. I have three cats, all of them lovely and all of them have collars with bells on, BUT even they as lovely as they are are sometimes furry coated murderers...........mice baby rabbits voles etc, so are you suggesting I shoot them as well please?

I'm not suggesting you do anything!!! you can do what you want as can i... I'm saying what I would do, I don't care if a cat kills a wild rabbit, a mouse or a vole, and I am getting rather tired of repeating myself as you seem to be missing my point, a rabbit or a mouse or a vole would not be a pet of mine, and I would not shoot a cat or any animal out of revenge, I would shoot it to save the lives of my own pets, only if it was coming on my land with the intent to kill one of my animals!! I'm not sure which part of that you find hard to understand.

[delfachhighwayman]

Why wouldn't you just chase it away?why would you need to kill it.

[nia2311]

I am the OP. A few things,

1) I have not mentioned shooting cats. I do not have the means to do so, and I do not want to do so.
2) This is the moaners area. I was having a moan.
3) I have kept hens for over 3yrs. Cat come into the garden. It is impossible to stop them. Not one single cat has ever so much as approached our enormous hens in that time.
4) Having spoken to the rescue centre where Marjorie came from, she has never heard of a cat killing a hen in over 10,000 rescues she has rehomed. She was shocked, and she has pretty much seen/heard it all.
5) The cat was approached with a dog. It did not let go of the hen even with that provocation. It dropped her when it attempted to jump my back fence, but she was too heavy.
6) One the same day, our oldest rabbit also died suddenly. Having witnessed this scene in the morning, and the rabbit dying in the evening, it had become a pretty crappy day. I needed a moan as my husband was at work late.
7) If anyone is offended by my original post, I suggest they re-read it, as I did not say anything apart from the cat murdering my hen. Which it did.
8) If this sort of over reaction is what you get to a good old fashioned moan, I won't be hanging round much longer. I have better things to do, like try to stop my remaining rabbit from dying of depression and loneliness.

[delfachhighwayman]

Jun 10, 2013 21:37:13 GMT nia2311 said:

I am the OP. A few things,

1) I have not mentioned shooting cats. I do not have the means to do so, and I do not want to do so.
2) This is the moaners area. I was having a moan.
3) I have kept hens for over 3yrs. Cat come into the garden. It is impossible to stop them. Not one single cat has ever so much as approached our enormous hens in that time.
4) Having spoken to the rescue centre where Marjorie came from, she has never heard of a cat killing a hen in over 10,000 rescues she has rehomed. She was shocked, and she has pretty much seen/heard it all.
5) The cat was approached with a dog. It did not let go of the hen even with that provocation. It dropped her when it attempted to jump my back fence, but she was too heavy.
6) One the same day, our oldest rabbit also died suddenly. Having witnessed this scene in the morning, and the rabbit dying in the evening, it had become a pretty sh1tty day. I needed a moan as my husband was at work late.
7) If anyone is offended by my original post, I suggest they re-read it, as I did not say anything apart from the cat murdering my hen. Which it did.
8) If this sort of over reaction is what you get to a good old fashioned moan, I won't be hanging round much longer. I have better things to do, like try to stop my remaining rabbit from dying of depression and loneliness.

Sorry nia... I have been in a bad mod the last couple of days and have been arguing with everyone about anything.

I don't mean to upset you with my posts . Sorry

Also sorry to Lisa.... As I said to nia I have been looking for reasons to argue and vent

[lisadundee]

Jun 10, 2013 21:53:40 GMT delfachhighwayman said:

Jun 10, 2013 21:37:13 GMT nia2311 said:

I am the OP. A few things,

1) I have not mentioned shooting cats. I do not have the means to do so, and I do not want to do so.
2) This is the moaners area. I was having a moan.
3) I have kept hens for over 3yrs. Cat come into the garden. It is impossible to stop them. Not one single cat has ever so much as approached our enormous hens in that time.
4) Having spoken to the rescue centre where Marjorie came from, she has never heard of a cat killing a hen in over 10,000 rescues she has rehomed. She was shocked, and she has pretty much seen/heard it all.
5) The cat was approached with a dog. It did not let go of the hen even with that provocation. It dropped her when it attempted to jump my back fence, but she was too heavy.
6) One the same day, our oldest rabbit also died suddenly. Having witnessed this scene in the morning, and the rabbit dying in the evening, it had become a pretty sh1tty day. I needed a moan as my husband was at work late.
7) If anyone is offended by my original post, I suggest they re-read it, as I did not say anything apart from the cat murdering my hen. Which it did.
8) If this sort of over reaction is what you get to a good old fashioned moan, I won't be hanging round much longer. I have better things to do, like try to stop my remaining rabbit from dying of depression and loneliness.

Sorry nia... I have been in a bad mod the last couple of days and have been arguing with everyone about anything.

I don't mean to upset you with my posts . Sorry

Also sorry to Lisa.... As I said to nia I have been looking for reasons to argue and vent

It's ok sorry to the people I may have offended too, we all have different opinions, each to their own, take care xx

[nia2311]

Thanks for the apology, it is accepted. I don't hate all cats. I used to have one of my own as a young girl, but she was too lazy to kill anything. My Dad's cat used to kill all sorts of creatures, but I didn't approve. I was just so gutted. We look after our hens really well. We lock them in at night, and assume in the day they will be safe in our secure garden. Three years experience confirmed that, until Thursday. What upsets me most is that Marjorie was a rescued ex-batt. She was about 20 months and had only experienced 4 months of freedom before being cruelly killed. We ARE going to rehome 2 more ex-batts at the weekend. Thanks again delfachhighwayman.

[lisadundee]

Jun 10, 2013 22:09:17 GMT nia2311 said:

Thanks for the apology, it is accepted. I don't hate all cats. I used to have one of my own as a young girl, but she was too lazy to kill anything. My Dad's cat used to kill all sorts of creatures, but I didn't approve. I was just so gutted. We look after our hens really well. We lock them in at night, and assume in the day they will be safe in our secure garden. Three years experience confirmed that, until Thursday. What upsets me most is that Marjorie was a rescued ex-batt. She was about 20 months and had only experienced 4 months of freedom before being cruelly killed. We ARE going to rehome 2 more ex-batts at the weekend. Thanks again delfachhighwayman.

I like cats too, we've always had cats, at least you hen got a few month of a nice life x

[nia2311]

Jun 7, 2013 22:07:27 GMT elvenkeep said:

get a grip! Cats kill birds and things, chickens are birds....they don't distinguish between domestic birds and wild ones....anything fluttery near my three and it's dead! Don't advocate shooting cats..thats illegal!

Better fencing required methinks!

Thank you for your concern, it is noted. Next time someone's beloved horse dies, I shall tell them to "get a grip". After all, its only natural, isn't it?

A girl named Jade Anderson was murdered by a pack of dogs about 2 miles from me a short while back. Now, what's all the fuss for? The dogs were only following their instinct as bull mastiffs, after all. (PS - this is firmly tongue in cheek, to make a point).

The point is, I should not need to get a grip. One of my pets was killed in a nasty manner by an animal hell bent on simply killing for the sheer hell of it. I would have been just as upset had she died a natural death, but to see the carnage was awful. I hope you would not also tell my 10yo son who helps care for our hens to "get a grip" when he realised his hen had been killed, closely followed by his rabbit dying?!

This the moaners area. I moaned about a very depressing day when I had no-one else to moan to. I did not mention shooting anything at all, if you bother to read the sequence of posts. Might I suggest you "get a grip" and follow the thread?

I also hope none of your pets meet a violent and painful end. I'm afraid I may run short on my supply of sympathy.

[ruftytuftyrider]

Nia my thoughts are with you and your son because I know how upsetting it is to loose a pet to natural causes let alone to unnatural ones.

As you say this in a moaners area and surely the whole idea of it is for people to come on here and have a moan.

I was outraged when I found out about a dog on the village that has been killing cats and I do everything I can to prevent our cat killing anything - only goes out with a collar, is kept in if the garden is full of birds, only goes out after being fed so not hungry and not allowed out after dark.

As has been said milliesmum (I think) owners of all animals have a responsibility for their animals.

[gillwales]

Folks you may not agree with everyone but a little kindness goes a long way.

when a farmer has his/ her stock worried.. not killed.. they have the right to shoot the offending animal.

Not certain if chickens come into this category, nor is it a good idea to use a gun in a suburban area.

By all means point out the forces of nature but telling someone to get a grip is a very spiteful and churlish comment and totally unnecessary.

Sorry about your chocks Nia, not sure I can offer any advise except maybe a guard goose or a cockerel... Flee did have some........

[nia2311]

Something tells me Janette is no longer up to the job Gill

We are rescuing another 2 ex-batts on Sunday. My son has selected the names Dorothy and Nora for them. We are also looking at getting Bob the bunny a new pal, as he is very down in the dumps.

[gillwales]

unless you want the patter of tiny feet make certain it isn't a Babs..... hehe.