Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

I was wondering how many of the members here are also pet owners. Specifically, cat "staff," based on the thought that "Dogs have owners--cats have staff." The reason I'm asking is this: Would the presence of cat hair on hunting clothes spook deer? (We recently adopted a nine-month-old kitten.) Yeah, I know that it's my responsibility to make sure that my hunting clothes are clean, and this is something that I'm fastidious about. But, if for some reason, one or two or a few of my cat's hairs did show up on my hunting clothes, would it spook deer? Just as a point of information, there are bobcats at the camp I belong to--they got three beavers last year, before the trapper that we were employing to get rid of them could check his traps. I haven't the slightest whether or not deer would be spooked by a smallish cat such as a bobcat, so . . .

Any opinions? Or actual experience?

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

They would smell your breath before they would smell a few cat hairs....seriously...not a problem at all.

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

I agree, it should not be a problem. For the most part, I believe that deer become acustomed to most odors, unless maybe they are deep wilderness deer. The one odor that they will not tolerate is human!

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

im sure its not a problem.

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

I have a deer herd of Nine that come through my yard at around 5:30 every PM and my two cats have been ran out of the garden by does several times and seen by a few other than myself doing this. There is something to really watch for if you have a male cat in the house, if he smells any sent from your hunting clothes other than pine or dirt he will spray your hunting closet and sometimes you may not be able to smell it yourself but its there. With that in mind, a good mature buck is going to avoid any territorial predator markers, cats included, he just want chance it.

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

I have seen cats and deer together all the time

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

i got a big ol tom cat and a new cat so now i have two. and a bottle of 4 dollar scent ellimination took care of me. i had the doe i got this year walk within 5 feet of me then it had a meatin with my winchester 12 gauge!:D

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

tell your wife---better get rid of that cat or you'll never kill another deer:D

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

The deer walked right past the dog pen all season last year. Just about like a wake up call, he'd start barking and they'd be in the yard ten minutes later.

After a snow one time it looked like they had played around and teased him all night.

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

As longbow indicated. . .We also have regular visits by Deer in our yard. . .and the cats are just an item of interest to the Deer. The doppy cat figures if he lays low the Deer won't see him. Well the Deer usualy see him and have no issue wlaking up and checking him out until the cat looses nerve and runs off.

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

Actually its not really an "off-the-wall" question..;) You never know until you ask.....

As others have stated, your cat, or cat hairs on you will not bother the deer. I have 5 outside cats and atleast 10-12 deer in either my yard every morning and evening, the cats do not bother them. I do have to lmao on occaision when one of the cats gets a tad to curious and one of the deer will run it off the hill full tilt boogie!:D

Deer also ignore my Wolf/hybrids that are on cable runs outside and there is even a little button buck that plays with our Argentine Dogo pup in the evenings. ( She is 9 mnths old and weighs 87 lbs. the button buck is from last Spring, now.... that is a hoot to watch. ) Guess I need to get a new video camera battery.

Be more worried about covering your own scent. ;)

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

First off :D
My cat will get skinned alive if he got fur on my camo.
:D

1 cat
3 dogs

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

You outta be okay as long as the feline doesn't spray any of its love nectar on your clothes. I don't know of ANY live beings that like the smell of that God awful stuff! [8D]

RE: Kind of an off-the-wall question, but . . .
 

The deer never seemed to notice me any more than normal if I had cat hair on my hunting clothes. I always pet the cats when I'm headed out coyote hunting. The coyotes think they are smelling an easy meal.

I've only got one cat left. He is about 16 or 17 years old. I found another cat, Baxter, while feeding cattle. I had him for about a year and a half until an owl got him a two weeks back.