Cat v Sheep?

Tally-Ho_2

Hi all,

Sorry if this seems a daft question, but my brother has a 4 year old female cat (very tame - she would lick you to death).

He is disabled and shortly moving to an adapted bungalow in a rural village. At the immediate rear of his new bungalows garden is a field of sheep. He is a bit concerned as to how cats behave with sheep, ie do they chase them?, do sheep chase cats etc?

Has anyone any knowledge of cat v sheep interaction? Obviously he doesn't want the cat worrying the sheep (or the other way round) and particularly doesn't want an irate farmer with a shotgun as a neighbour (as could happen if a dog got into the sheep field). If necessary I would take in his cat to avoid any bad situation, but his cat is company for him so he would rather keep the cat.

Many thanks
Tally

geri1965_2

I don't know for sure, but I think the cats would probably ignore the sheep as they are too big to be prey. My mum has two outdoor cats and she lives opposite a field full of sheep and never had any problems.

Sagz_2

My cats used to live next to a field of sheep and they never took any notice of each other at all. The young cows used to be a little intrested in the cats but the cats soon legged it if a cow came near.

Hintza

More likely the sheep will chase the cats (or just stand and stamp their feet showing their displeasure if the cat get's too close). Cats move completely differently to dogs and would not panic the sheep. I wouldn't worry about it.

Paradigm

I can't imagine either would be interested in the other, apart from some initial curiosity.

SnowyOwl_2

My friend's garden is divided from a field of sheep with a fence. Her cats just go and sit on the fence and stare at the sheep. Sometimes come along and try to have a sniff of the cats, but the cats then the cats put their paws out towards the sheep's noses and the sheep back off. It's funny seeing this interaction between the two species. There is no hostility at all, just a bit of curiousity.

Your brother's cat and the sheep will be fine and give him some extra free entertainment!

Tally-Ho_2

Thank you all, my brother is quite relieved.

Tally

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

This non molestation relationship goes out of the window once the larger partner is slow roast at gas 4 for a couple of hours though - then the cat will definitely attack the sheep!

lostinrates

Again, we have no problem with cats and sheep...and my cats are really determined hunters who hold their own against our giant breed dogs, they are very respect ful of the sheep, and the sheep tend to ignore them.

c6h4m1

We've got sheep in the fields behind us and often joke that one of the cats will bring a lamb in one day. But the cats ignore the sheep and vice versa. The cattle next door wander over and look at the cats, and the cats run a mile

louisdog

Hiya

I own sheep and cats, if anything it's the sheep that chase the cats! Mostly they ignore each other though, or a sheep might chase a cat and then sniff it. I find the cats like to get out of the way of the sheep but seem to like spending time in their paddock.

HTH
A