Possible Feral Cat - what to do?

MikeC101

Hi guys,

I was going out to shut in the hens tonight - they're free to roam around during the day, but there's a coop that we shut at night when they go in, in case of predators. Noticed something white moving in the field, and thought one of the hens had yet to go in. It was getting fairly dark at that stage, so hard to make out what it was. Shone the torch on it, and it was a cat. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a rabbit making a dart for it. I had the shotgun in my right hand, but I wouldn't risk taking a shot at the cat in case it was someones pet that had just wandered in.

So I'm not sure what to do. It's the first cat I've seen anywhere around the place in years - we've always had a load of dogs, and none of our neighbours have cats, so it's possible it's feral. He didn't look as beaten up / scrawny as I'd expect a feral cat to be, but I assume it was attracted in by the rabbits that infest the field - should have explained, the area the hens have is a big field / garden that's fenced off from the rest of the place. Of course now I'm regretting not keeping a tighter control on the rabbit population, because they could attract a fox around too.

We've a few young chicks at the moment as well, that a cat would make short work of. I haven't a clue about the habits of feral cats - apparently there were a lot of them around a few years back - would they come around during the day? Is he much of a danger to full grown hens, or just the chicks? What's the best way to deal with him, if he does come back? There's no way of stopping a cat getting into the field, and I'd want to be 100% sure he was feral or a danger before considering other methods....

Spunk84

Cats can attack chickens too, so treat it like a fox

Dusty87

Im not that knowladgeable on feral cats but to answere two of your questions (In my experience) they dont have to be scrawny. There is a couple of them around the aunties place, that i have only ever seen whilst lamping, and one is one of the biggest rough looking cats i ever seen!! I have seen the local cats ( 2 cats) during the day quite often but never the ferals. I have seen a feral cat in another place i shoot during the day though. I think where there is houses a feral will like to stay out of view as much as possible. Keep an eye out.

seoirse1980

Call it in using a distressed rabbit call and shoot it! Tried and tested.

Seoirse

Vegeta

A live catch fox trap, with food and water (if you could get a lend of one) and you might be able to catch him and ask the neighbours if he is theirs

I've never trapped a cat before but you might be able to tell by his behaviour in the cage, as you approach, if he is feral or a pet.

If it is a feral cat he will have no problem taking a fully grown chicken, they hunt night and day and best removed before breeding and multiplication can take place

round tower huntsman

execution is the only solution!

MikeC101

Thanks for the advice all! It's something I've no experience of at all, so good to get informed opinions on it.

I'm reluctant to go the route of rabbit call and shooting him, in case he's owned by someone - it's possible he might just wander around the general area and was drawn in by the rabbits.

So I'll keep an eye out, and have a look at getting a live fox trap off someone. He really bolted as soon as he realised I was there (and I was a fair way off), but that in itself is no guarantee he's feral. Worrying to hear that they hunt by day as well, at least at night the hens are shut in (ever since a fox got into the coop some years back one night and killed all but three of the hens), but during the day they have free reign and he could easily snatch one without much commotion.

If nothing else it's hammered home the point of keeping the rabbit numbers down - they left the vegetable garden alone, or couldn't get into it, this year so we got lazy and let them be, but it goes to show the real danger is the predators they attract into the place.

Dusty87

If its trapping your doing and cant get a trap, the SPCA rent cat traps, 30e deposit plus 1 euro per day rental AFAIK

clivej

No. 6 shot and say nowt

landkeeper

S.S.S.

jwshooter

a word of caution .

a guy in the uk trapped a grey squirrel ,he drowned it in a barrel of water .some one seen him and reported it .

he was fined and now has a criminal record

Dusty87

jwshooter wrote: »

a word of caution .

a guy in the uk trapped a grey squirrel ,he drowned it in a barrel of water .some one seen him and reported it .

he was fined and now has a criminal record

No one mentioned drowning JW, and trapping cats is well within the law

kildare.17hmr

jwshooter wrote: »

a word of caution .

a guy in the uk trapped a grey squirrel ,he drowned it in a barrel of water .some one seen him and reported it .

he was fined and now has a criminal record

also if that guy had of trapped it then shot it, or even hit it over the head with a shovel it would have been perfectly legal!!

shot it, only way to make sure he doesnt come back for a free easy meal!

fodda

Correct way would be a proper enclosure with electric fence then you shouldnt have a problem with anything including your chickens going awol.

Dusty87

fodda wrote: »

Correct way would be a proper enclosure with electric fence then you shouldnt have a problem with anything including your chickens going awol.

Easier said than done though. Not always possible

fodda

Why's that then?

MikeC101

fodda wrote: »

Correct way would be a proper enclosure with electric fence then you shouldnt have a problem with anything including your chickens going awol.

There is an electric fence around it already - but I don't see that it's practical to enclose half an acre to the extent that a cat won't be able to get in - the cost would be astronomical.

Could build a smaller run for the hens maybe, but during the warmer months we usually give them the run of the half acre or so and just close up their smaller pen and coop at night.

If it comes down to having to lockdown the whole place, or start building a run, I think I'll weigh the cost of that versus the price of a shotgun cartridge.

Dusty87

fodda wrote: »

Why's that then?

Cost no 1. Chicken wire not cheap. Depending on how many birds you have it can cost a lot believe me. Then you'd have to enclose the top of the run.
You can get wire for 50e a roll but its not worth a ****. Two terriers ripped holes in mine in seconds.
I have a 6ft fence around my fowl, but they are let out to roam about an acre. Even if i didnt they find a way out anyway. They are locked in every night too. To make a run big enough for around 30 hens and 3 cocks, 6 ducks and a goose would be very hard and very big, if you wanted them to to free range and not argue

fodda

I do know about costs and what you have to do and the laws on keeping them, but just because something attacks or may attack your poultry does that mean it is legal to shoot it?

Dusty87

fodda wrote: »

I do know about costs and what you have to do and the laws on keeping them, but just because something attacks or may attack your poultry does that mean it is legal to shoot it?

What??
If its within the law to shoot it in the first place it makes no differ.
Not sounding smart fodda, but im not sure i understand what you mean.

fodda

Well all i am talking about is legalities.

As far as i know or i may be wrong?

Poultry Where poultry is kept has to be registered with goverment depts?

Poultry keepers have to have a legit flock number?

Poultry keepers have to have proven knowlege of keeping poultry?

Dusty87

fodda wrote: »

but just because something attacks or may attack your poultry does that mean it is legal to shoot it?

Im talking about this. Are you asking is it legal to shoot a feral cat??

Dusty87

fodda wrote: »

Well all i am talking about is legalities.

As far as i know or i may be wrong?

Poultry Where poultry is kept has to be registered with goverment depts?

Poultry keepers have to have a legit flock number?

Poultry keepers have to have proven knowlege of keeping poultry?

Not unless you've a big or commercial set up AFAIK fodda. We've kept birds long before i was born, have entered comps with them etc and never a problem.
If that was the case would gun clubs not need something for rearing pheasants?
My friends father is in the commercial side of it. I can find out for you if you like.

fodda

No need to i will post it here as it applies to everyone now including sporting birds maybe

MikeC101

Dusty87 wrote: »

Cost no 1. Chicken wire not cheap. Depending on how many birds you have it can cost a lot believe me. Then you'd have to enclose the top of the run.
You can get wire for 50e a roll but its not worth a ****. Two terriers ripped holes in mine in seconds.
I have a 6ft fence around my fowl, but they are let out to roam about an acre. Even if i didnt they find a way out anyway. They are locked in every night too. To make a run big enough for around 30 hens and 3 cocks, 6 ducks and a goose would be very hard and very big, if you wanted them to to free range and not argue

Almost exactly the same set up here - it's smaller than an acre, it's already fenced off, about the same height (lower in parts). Only have twelve hens and three ducks though. A fox (I assume) chewed through the wire to get to the hens some years back (couldn't believe how easily they'd managed it).

fodda wrote: »

Well all i am talking about is legalities.

As far as i know or i may be wrong?

Poultry Where poultry is kept has to be registered with goverment depts?

Poultry keepers have to have a legit flock number?

Poultry keepers have to have proven knowlege of keeping poultry?

Not sure what any of this has to do with the topic - they're my fathers really, I don't deal with any of that, but he is registered with a government department, and he does have years of experience keeping poultry (not that they've ever asked for proof). They're not used for commercial purposes either, but I suppose the government depts need something to keep them busy.

I'm not sure why you seem to think an electric fence will be effective at keeping predators out either - we have a two strands of electric wire, but from what I can see it's really only good for keeping cattle from rubbing on the fence.

The whole point is that they're free to roam the whole area, a run would defeat that.

jap gt

fodda wrote: »

Well all i am talking about is legalities.

As far as i know or i may be wrong?

Poultry Where poultry is kept has to be registered with goverment depts?

Poultry keepers have to have a legit flock number?

Poultry keepers have to have proven knowlege of keeping poultry?

any source for this, im keeping fowl a few years i have bought and sold countless times and never once came across that law

MikeC101

Dusty87 wrote: »

Not unless you've a big or commercial set up AFAIK fodda. We've kept birds long before i was born, have entered comps with them etc and never a problem.

We got something in the post about it, and as far as I know my father registered with some government dept. Seemed crazy for what was at the time ten hens and a couple of ducks. I'll have to ask him for more details.

Edit: Asked him there - he said he was told all flocks have to be registered, and he did so because his worry was if there was an outbreak of something, an unregistered flock could be culled without any warning. It's the Dept of Agriculture (no surprise there I suppose!) you register with, and it's free. Nothing about having to prove appropriate training or knowledge to them, though it's listed as a requirement.

fodda

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/avian_influenza/informationonthepoultryindustry/

download top document. Information for Keepers of Poultry (August 2009) (doc 63Kb)

AND

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/si/0677.html


Want more? Laws are changing all the time.

fodda

For quick reference go here a good info site continually updated.

http://grow-your-own.ie/poultry.html

Dusty87

Didnt download top one because the computer is slow. Laptop being repaired.

But is it not just for like i said commercial birds??

“poultry” means-

(a) birds reared or kept in captivity for the production of meat, eggs or other commercial products, for restocking supplies of game or for breeding these types of bird, or

The uncle is a farmer, where my birds are kept and nothing was ever mentioned before.

fodda

Sorry Mike i know we are off topic but i thought you had were sorted on your decision on what to do but i thought as suspected that people didnt know this stuff.

Dusty here are two snippets

1. .....All poultry holdings within the state must be registered under S.I. No. 42 of 2008 and adhere to the requirements contained therein.

2. .....Anyone in charge of poultry must have appropriate training and be knowledgeable regarding the husbandry, care and welfare of all poultry under their care, to ensure that poultry do not experience any pain, injury or suffering.

MikeC101

No worries fodda, no harm to have a discussion about it!

(I'm going to keep an eye out for the cat, and stock up on some ingredients for bunny stew because if they attracted a cat in, Renard is also a likely visitor)

Dusty87

Will definately look into it.
There must be some grey area or something, i mean you need a herd number to buy cattle, pigs etc. Nothing about it at poultry fairs etc. Will ring department tomorrow to make sure. From what i got from your second link its birds kept for commercial purposes. Funny there hasnt been anything about it. Gun club were never asked anything and it states game too

fodda

Well it says all poultry holdings within the state and i think this stuff was made law late last year.

The 2005 one was bought in because of bird flu i think so they may want to know who has what and where.

I have seen this stuff on poultry websites aswell i think.

jwshooter

cats are evil

deeksofdoom

MikeC101 wrote: »

Hi guys,

He didn't look as beaten up / scrawny as I'd expect a feral cat to be...

Game keeper on the state I beat on, shot a feral black Tom in one of the pens before the birds came last year. He was enormous. I saw him one morning and in the distance he could have been mistake for one of them panther yokes. Anyway the game keeper who I would say is about 5'8" held him up by the tail, from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail , he was chest height to the gamekeeper in length.

kildare.17hmr

deeksofdoom wrote: »

Game keeper on the state I beat on, shot a feral black Tom in one of the pens before the birds came last year. He was enormous. I saw him one morning and in the distance he could have been mistake for one of them panther yokes. Anyway the game keeper who I would say is about 5'8" held him up by the tail, from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail , he was chest height to the gamekeeper in length.

thats a big mother fcuker cat!

Feargal as Luimneach

jwshooter wrote: »

cats are evil

Is that you in the photo jwshooter?

round tower huntsman

deeksofdoom wrote: »

Game keeper on the state I beat on, shot a feral black Tom in one of the pens before the birds came last year. He was enormous. I saw him one morning and in the distance he could have been mistake for one of them panther yokes. Anyway the game keeper who I would say is about 5'8" held him up by the tail, from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail , he was chest height to the gamekeeper in length.

i dug one a few yrs ago, it'd had been living in an old rabbit burrow.

deerhunter1

MikeC101 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I was going out to shut in the hens tonight - they're free to roam around during the day, but there's a coop that we shut at night when they go in, in case of predators. Noticed something white moving in the field, and thought one of the hens had yet to go in. It was getting fairly dark at that stage, so hard to make out what it was. Shone the torch on it, and it was a cat. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a rabbit making a dart for it. I had the shotgun in my right hand, but I wouldn't risk taking a shot at the cat in case it was someones pet that had just wandered in.

So I'm not sure what to do. It's the first cat I've seen anywhere around the place in years - we've always had a load of dogs, and none of our neighbours have cats, so it's possible it's feral. He didn't look as beaten up / scrawny as I'd expect a feral cat to be, but I assume it was attracted in by the rabbits that infest the field - should have explained, the area the hens have is a big field / garden that's fenced off from the rest of the place. Of course now I'm regretting not keeping a tighter control on the rabbit population, because they could attract a fox around too.

We've a few young chicks at the moment as well, that a cat would make short work of. I haven't a clue about the habits of feral cats - apparently there were a lot of them around a few years back - would they come around during the day? Is he much of a danger to full grown hens, or just the chicks? What's the best way to deal with him, if he does come back? There's no way of stopping a cat getting into the field, and I'd want to be 100% sure he was feral or a danger before considering other methods....

You missed the chance:mad: