Cats and chickens – two familiar domestic animals that seem completely different at first glance. But how exactly do they compare when we analyze aspects like intelligence, trainability, cost of care and more? You likely have questions if trying to decide which pet is right for your home.

If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: Cats are smarter, more independent, and cheaper to care for. Chickens are more social and better for producing food at home. When it comes to trainability, chickens will learn routines and commands more easily than aloof cats.

In this approximately 3000 word guide, we’ll analyze all the key considerations in depth when comparing cats versus chickens as pets or domestic animals. Read on for a complete overview of similarities, differences and unique traits of felines and fowl.

Basic Biology and Behavioral Attributes

Anatomical Features

Cats and chickens have vastly different anatomical features. Cats are mammals with a skeletal structure designed for hunting and agility. They have flexible spines, sharp teeth and retractable claws used for catching prey.

Chickens are birds with lightweight bones, wings for brief flight, scales on their legs and claws suited for scratching the ground.

While cats have fur and sweat glands to regulate body temperature, chickens have feathers and rapid breathing. Chickens also lack teeth and cats’ sharp vision, instead relying more on ground scratching and pecking to find food.

Senses and Abilities

A cat’s senses are adapted for hunting. With a wide 220° field of vision, cats have superior peripherial and night vision compared to chickens. A cat can hear frequencies up to 65 kHz, useful for locating prey. Their sense of smell is also around 14 times better than humans.

Chickens have decent vision within the normal spectrum, but lack advanced visual capabilities. Their hearing range reaches only 12 kHz. However, chickens have a strong sense of taste which guides their food preferences.

While not useful for hunting, chickens have a strong spatial mapping system in their brains for navigation.

Social Tendencies

Cats are largely solitary creatures that roam independent territories. While they may congregate in areas with abundant food sources, cats are not pack animals. Chickens exhibit more complex social behaviors within hierarchies.

As prey animals, chickens find safety in numbers and naturally live in large groups with established pecking orders.

Research shows the average chicken flock size is around 12-15 birds. Chickens communicate audibly within their groups and can recognize over 200 other individual chickens. Studies confirm chickens cooperate, demonstrate self-control, and even show optimism bias about upcoming event rewards.

Housing and Space Considerations

Indoor vs Outdoor Living

When it comes to housing, there are some key differences between cats and chickens. Cats are generally housed indoors as house pets, while chickens typically live outdoors in a coop and enclosure (source).

Cats enjoy lounging around the house and benefit from environmental enrichment through cat trees, toys, and scratching posts. Chickens, on the other hand, need access to the outdoors to engage in natural behaviors like foraging, dust bathing, and roosting.

Enclosure / Coop Requirements

Proper housing is essential for the health and welfare of both cats and chickens.

For cats, daily cleaning of the litter box and fresh food and water is important. Cats should also have access to height with cat trees, windows, or shelves (ASPCA).

Backyard chickens require a sturdy, predator-proof chicken coop with nesting boxes, perches, food and water access, and adequate ventilation. The recommended coop size is 10 square feet per bird (Penn State Extension). An attached outdoor enclosure provides space to roam and get sunlight.

Regular coop cleaning and fresh bedding helps control pests and ammonia levels.

Indoor vs Outdoor Housing Cats Chickens
Typical Location Indoors Outdoors
Average Enclosure Size No specific requirements 10 sq ft per bird
Necessary Features Food, water, litter box, cat trees/toys Coop, nest boxes, perches, outdoor access

Exercise Needs

Both cats and chickens require adequate space and opportunities for exercise and natural behaviors. Cats should have indoor play sessions and access to outdoor containment spaces when possible. Chickens kept in small coops may engage in harmful feather pecking behaviors, so providing an interesting outdoor enclosure can allow them to roam, forage, dust bathe, and avoid boredom (Certified Humane).

On average, cats require 30-60 minutes of activity per day while chickens spend over 50% of daylight hours roaming, foraging and dust bathing (AWLQ, 2022; Certified Humane, 2022). Ensure any outdoor access for cats or chickens is secure to prevent escaping.

Costs of Care and Feeding

Food Requirements

When it comes to food costs, chickens are generally cheaper to feed than cats. Chickens are omnivores and can survive on a diet of grains, vegetables, fruits, and bugs. The average cost to feed a single chicken is around $0.15 per day or $55 per year.

In comparison, feeding a cat a nutritious diet of commercial cat food will cost $200-300 per year for a single cat. Cats are obligate carnivores and require a high-protein diet, which is more expensive than the vegetable and grain diet chickens can subsist on.

Chickens are usually fed commercially prepared chicken feed that is a blend of corn, soybean meal, and vitamins/minerals. This standard chicken feed costs around $15 for a 50-pound bag. In contrast, a 15-pound bag of premium cat food costs $40-50 on average.

Over their lifetime, the costs add up to much more for a cat than a chicken.

Veterinary Costs Over Lifetime

When it comes to medical expenses, cats generally incur higher costs for veterinary care over their lifetime compared to chickens. On average, routine annual veterinary visits cost around $200-300 for a cat versus only $50 for a chicken.

Cats require vaccinations and checkups to maintain health, while chickens rarely need veterinary attention if cared for properly.

Over a lifespan of 10-15 years for a cat and 5-8 years for a chicken, the total veterinary expenses are estimated to be $2000-4000 for a cat compared to only $100-300 for a chicken. Emergency medical issues are also more common in cats, which can add thousands more in expenses over a lifetime.

Miscellaneous Supplies

Both cats and chickens require some basic supplies that add to the overall costs of care. For cats, expenses like litter boxes, litter, scratching posts, toys, carriers and grooming supplies can easily cost over $200 per year.

Chickens require less supplies overall, with main costs being for feed and water containers, nesting boxes, and pen/coop materials that may total $50-100 per year.

Cats also often destroy carpets, furniture, drapes, etc which can be very costly. Chickens kept in outdoor pens usually don’t cause household damage. Overall, miscellaneous recurring costs tend to be higher for a household cat versus backyard chickens.

Cost Factor Cat Chicken
Food (annual) $200-300 $55
Vet Costs (lifetime) $2000-4000 $100-300
Supplies (annual) $200+ $50-100

Trainability and Human Interaction

Ability to Follow Commands

Cats and chickens demonstrate vastly different abilities when it comes to following human commands. Chickens can be trained to come when called, follow simple commands like “step up” or “spin”, and some have even learned to play games like soccer or basketball.

With time, patience, and positive reinforcement, chickens become responsive pets that bond with their owners.

Cats, on the other hand, are notoriously much harder to train. While some cats can learn simple commands like “sit” or “stay”, most domestic cats choose not to listen to humans unless it benefits them directly.

Unlike dogs or chickens, who aim to please their owners, cats are much more independent in nature. While they may form strong bonds with humans, they are unlikely to ever be fully responsive to commands.

Litter Box vs Free Range Pooping Habits

One major difference in living with cats versus chickens is their pooping habits. Cats can easily be litter box trained, containing their waste neatly in one area that is scooped daily. According to the ASPCA, around 90% of cats will naturally use a litter box with no training required.

This makes cleaning up after cats relatively simple for their owners.

In contrast, chickens that are allowed to free range will naturally poop wherever they happen to be. While chickens can be kept in a coop or run, many owners allow them to roam yards during the day, leaving droppings across the lawn. This requires diligent poop scooping to keep areas clean.

For owners that want chickens but a pristine yard, a chicken diaper is an option, though not ideal for the chickens’ health.

Bonding with Humans

While stereotyped as aloof and standoffish, cats can form strong social bonds with humans who earn their trust and affection. According to a 2020 survey by Oregon State University researchers, around 65% of cats had secure social relationships with their owners, demonstrating trust and low stress.

Cats show affection by purring, head-butting, nuzzling, and kneading their paws. However, cats tend to bond with the entire household, not just a single owner.

chickens love spending time with the humans who care for them and will excitedly run up for attention. They enjoy being petted and held and will often follow their owners around the yard. Chickens that are handled frequently as chicks tend to become the most people-friendly.

According to chicken expert Kathy Shea Mormino, chickens recognize individual humans and can be quite affectionate pets.

While cats and chickens have different personalities and skills when it comes to interacting with people, both can form meaningful bonds with patient, loving owners.

Companionship vs Utility

Suitability as Pets

When it comes to being a suitable pet, cats have some clear advantages over chickens. As domesticated animals, cats have been bred over thousands of years specifically to be friendly companions for humans. They are playful, affectionate and often form strong bonds with their owners.

According to the American Pet Products Association 2021-2022 survey, nearly 25% of U.S. households own a cat, demonstrating their popularity and suitability as household pets. Chickens, while amusing to watch, generally do not show affection and their primary utility has been for egg and meat production rather than companionship.

Cats are usually happy living entirely indoors, using a litter box and entertaining themselves with toys during the day while their owners are occupied or away. They sleep a lot, so owners don’t need to constantly interact with them.

Chickens require much more hands-on care and attention – access to the outdoors during daylight hours for foraging and dustbathing, coops that are cleaned regularly, protection from predators at night, etc.

For the average person living in an urban or suburban home, a cat is a much more practical option as a pet.

Usefulness for Egg & Meat Production

When it comes to producing eggs and meat for human consumption, chickens have a clear edge over cats:

  • Chickens start laying eggs around 18-20 weeks old and can lay 200-300 eggs annually in commercial production settings.
  • Chicken eggs are nutrient dense and a staple ingredient in many dishes and baked goods.
  • Broiler chickens can reach a harvest weight of 6 lbs in just 8 weeks with commercial feeds and husbandry practices.
  • Chicken meat is lean and versatile – from whole roast chickens to breasts, thighs, wings that can be prepared in endless ways.

Cats do not produce eggs and cat meat is not considered palatable or safe for human consumption in Western cultures. There are some historical accounts of cat meat being eaten out of desperation, for example in times of famine or shortage of traditional livestock.

But cats have never been systematically farmed for meat production.

Cat Chicken
Meat Production Not suitable, not part of Western diets Highly efficient, produces nutritious white meat
Egg Production 0 eggs per year 200-300 eggs per year commercially
Companionship Affectionate, bonds strongly with owners Minimal bonds, interest mainly in food

Conclusion

To summarize key points in this cat versus chicken comparison:

Cats are smarter, more agile hunters that can be affectionate pets, but require little space and can mostly entertain themselves.

Chickens are sociable, easily trained ‘starter’ livestock that are useful for producing eggs and meat, but need much more space and care.

Consider your lifestyle, goals and commitment level when weighing up these very different domestic animals. Both chickens and cats have pros and cons, and the ‘superior’ pet depends hugely on what the owner wants from their animal!

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