If you have a cat but are considering adding chickens to your household, you’re likely pondering the wisdom of that move. After all, cats are predators, so surely, they would attack the chickens or try to eat them. Right?

Actually, no, or at least not for the most part. Unless a cat is starving (actually starving, not just “I haven’t been fed in two hours” starving), it’s very unlikely it will attack an adult chicken. Cats are aware that chickens come with claws and beaks that can be quite painful, so they want to avoid any run-ins! However, other than hunger, the other reason a feline might attack a chicken would be in self-defense.

But it’s a different matter with baby chicks. Baby chicks can make a tasty little snack in between meals for our kitty friends. And even if your cat isn’t attacking a baby chick but instead trying to play with it, there’s still a chance kitty could play too rough and accidentally kill the chick.

So, cats will rarely attack adult chickens (though it’s always a possibility), but it’s wise to keep them far away from baby chicks.

Can Cats and Chickens Coexist?

Felines and adult chickens can absolutely coexist. But until your chickens reach full maturity, it’s best to keep them in a separate, secured area far away from your cats, so they can coexist in the future. You’ll also want to ensure young chicks only roam in an enclosure or with supervision.

Once fully grown, though, your cats will likely have very little interest in your chickens. It will be helpful if you introduce your cat to any chickens when your kitty is young, though, so it can become properly socialized with the birds. Once used to their new feathered friends, your feline will be even less likely to want to attack them.

You can also help keep your pet from being tempted into trying to fight with your chickens by ensuring it has plenty to eat so it doesn’t become ravenous enough to want to go up against the birds. It’s also smart not to leave food near your chicken coops or enclosures as that will tempt not only your cat to that area but also wild animals.

Of course, the best way to ensure your chickens are always safe is by having them in an area your feline isn’t allowed into, just on the off-chance kitty decides to attack.

Benefits of Cats and Chickens Coexisting

Not only is it nice for you when all your animals get along, but there are also a couple of benefits to your cat and chickens coexisting peacefully.

First, having a feline prowling around means you’ll have less of a rodent population (mice and rodents will try to go after your chickens’ feed). Having fewer rodents around means a lower chance of snakes coming around looking for a meal, which equals more safety for your chickens.

Next, cats being around your chickens may help deter wild birds from hanging about. The wilder birds around your chickens, the higher the chance they could catch a disease or get mites. If you have a feline chasing away the wild birds, though, it’s much less likely your chickens will catch anything.

One More Thing to Know

There’s one more vital thing you should know about cats and chickens being around each other. Your chickens can make your kitty sick. Chickens sometimes carry salmonella, which can then be passed on to your feline. And while your cat may show no symptoms of having salmonella, it could also end up with symptoms such as:

So, this is something to watch for if you have the two species in your home hanging out together.

Final Thoughts

You’d think our feline friends would be more than eager to attack chickens, but this is rarely the case when it comes to adult chickens. However, baby chicks are entirely too tempting to our cats, as they make tasty snacks and fun playthings, so keep the two apart while your chicks are growing up. Cats and adult chickens should be fine together for the most part, with likely little interest in each other, but you can keep your chickens in an enclosed area to be on the safe side if you prefer.

And though there are benefits of cats and chickens being friendly with each other, there’s also a downside as your chicken could pass along salmonella to your cat. Just be careful when having these two animals together!

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Featured Image Credit: Yuriy Kulik, Shutterstock