will my barn cats harm my ducks once they're full grown?

[tazzy]

we have three barn cats, and I am wondering if my ducks, once full grown, will be safe from them. we have two mallards and two pekin ducklings.

I didn't realize that mallards were such small ducks. I am especially worried that they will be at risk with the cats around. The pekins seem like they'll be big enough to hold their own against the kitties. But what about the mallards?

 

[Omniskies]

It's hard to say. I have two barn cats that won't even bother the chicks when they see one running around in the grass. I'm sure other cats would happily take on whatever they thought they could eat.

Your best bet is to see how the cats act around them as babies and try to teach them that the ducklings aren't food. If the cats don't bother them at this age then odds are they won't bother them when they get older.

We're pretty strict with our barn cats. The only thing I let slide is their obsession with thinking pigeons are tasty.

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

My female khaki was taken out by a house cat

...i wouldn't trust them

 

[crazy cat lady]

My cats totally are afraid of my chickens and ducks. Well, not all of the cats. I have one cat who likes to go into the chicken coop with my girls. So far, knock on wood, he hasn't killed any chickens yet. I think he thinks he is their guardian. That same cat also likes to sleep with our baby goats.

 

[pirtykitty]

Of my three cats I have two that run from my 3 whistling ducks and one that comes to them for duck massage.. He even lays down with them when they are resting... I still keep an eye on him when he is with them.. If they get to ruff I break it up.. but then 5 minutes later he's walking back up to them.. I keep him combed and brushed but he still likes the ducks to groom him..

 

[TheDuckCrew]

when i got my pekins as babies, i made it clear to the cats that they were NOT food. they'd even look at them, and i'd chase them away. now the ducks have picked up on that habit! the cats stay far away from the ducks, and if they do get to close, they get attacked. the ducks jump onto their backs and bite them. i'm not sure about mallards considering they are much smaller. maybe if they stick with the pekins they will have their own personal body guards.

 

[Wifezilla]

My ducks do not take any crap from the cats. When we first got the ducks (adults) our 1 year old male kitty thought he was barnie-bad-ass and he was going to stalk them. Well, my female khaki (with back-up from the other girls) chased him under the wheel barrow and he was trapped there all day until hubby shooed the ducks away so he could get out.

 

[tazzy]

oh, that's funny about the ducks bullying the cats! that would make a good youtube video!

 

[Wifezilla]

Janet passed away, but tormenting Zeus was her favorite hobby.

 

[SportTees]

It depends on the cat. My cat chases the wild birds but protects my ducks/ chickens. My dogs run from my full grown duck.