Outdoor cats for a farm setting

[Betty]

We are moving very soon an area MUCH more rural then our current area. It's a cute little house on 2 acres with another house fairly close on one side and some buffalo in a field across the dirt road. A few goats down the way... you get the idea.

We also have a barn which clearly has mice. I opened the door - saw a mouse or two and closed the door.

I can't have an indoor cat for several reasons I won't go into.

I'm wondering though - how about a few outdoor kitties that will help to keep the mouse population in control?

My grandparents had a ranch I'd visit summers growing up and they always had some barn cats lounging around.

We have some feral cats near my office that sometimes get into the factory area, get closed in at night and end up setting off alarms. (They caught one in a wire trap this morning that holds her in the little box without hurting her.) There is a whole family on the other side of the chain link fence and they aren't kittens anymore - but not quite adults either.

What are your thoughts on outdoor kitties in a rural setting?

Wouldn't it be better to have them out on our little property then getting trapped and taken to the pound and probably put to sleep?

What should I know about having outdoor kitties in that setting? I would like to provide them with a nice warm shelter of course that's suitable for outdoor temperatures.

[Betty]

Also - if not the cats near my work - what about a pair from the pound? I would make sure they were not declawed... but I'm concerned about getting a cat that's been indoors and we'd want to have live outdoors.

[BarTopDancer]

What are your thoughts on outdoor kitties in a rural setting?

Honestly? I know they have their place but I see them being prey for owls, coyotes, mountain lions and all those other animals that live outside. So I would say no cats vs. outdoor cats.

[Not Afraid]

I'm not a fan of outdoor cats at all because it is very dangerous for the cats - they ultimately get killed. What about using humane mouse traps to control the population?

[Betty]

That's probably a better option over all. Humane mouse traps kill the mice but in a way that causes them the least amount of pain? Because if it doesn't kill them - what in the heck do you do with them?

I guess my thoughts were more along the lines of the cats near our factory are going to be killed. They will eventually all be caught and picked up by animal control because they are causing problems for the business. And because they are feral, I don't see much of a chance for them being adopted.

Is there any hope if I brought them to the new place they might be okay? Or, in your opinion, is it better that animal control take them and let happen what will happen.

Is my assumption correct that feral cats will most likely be put down?

[Alex]

Be willing to cope emotionally with their random deaths and disappearances.

Be sure everybody is spayed and neutered.

Don't be surprised if you still have mice.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

If there are coyotes around, I wouldn't suggest an outdoor cat.

We have had good luck using a Tin Cat (http://www.amazon.com/Victor-Tin-Cat-Clear-Pack/dp/B000B75ESK)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21KtLDSIiNL._SL500_AA190_.jpg

Our mice seem to like peanut butter, we then take them for a hike up the hill and release them.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm a big fan of humane traps (it's how we got rid of 3 adorable mice who were living in our apt years ago) but if you have an actual barn, I don't think humane traps will do you much good, because you'll just get more mice. Any open spaces you have nearby will have plenty of mice who will come take their place.

I would prefer getting outdoor cats to getting poison. At least it's a natural setup. I'd agree with Alex - don't get too attached to the cats, and if another animal decides the cat is dinner, it's part of the circle of life for a rural setting. If you'd be horribly upset by a cat that disappears (either by being eaten or running away) then this is not the option for you.

Are there other natural mice killing animals you can look into? A pet owl or hawk would be awesome. ;)

[cirquelover]

I don't know what kind of predators are around where you live but cats can be pretty resourceful to keep themselves out of trouble. Of course they can be caught by them still, so you'd have to prepare yourself that it's possible to be eaten.

It sounds like you would have a barn that they would have access to, good for shelter from the elements. The females are usually better hunters but my boys can do the job too.

I say if the cats are already feral it can't be any worse than the fate that already awaits them to be farm kitties. Please get them fixed though. I know up here the Feral Cat Coalition will fix them and give first shots for about $25, as long as you promise to feed them.

As you can tell I have a few feral kitties around my place. A few are very friendly now and I can even pet them. They live on my porch and are fed and cared for. A few only show up every so often for food and they want no human contact at all.

You may have to supliment their diet with some cat food and make sure they have access to clean water. They are very resourceful for bedding down but if it's cold and in a barn a few bales of hay might be nice.

You are correct in your assumption that feral cats are usually just put down. They don't have the resources to see if they can be adapted to human contact and it is a long process for a truly feral cat. It took the old man of my clan 3 years before we could pet him. Now Sylvester is the grandpa of the clan and does a wonderful job raising any kittens that show up on our door. All of our cats are fixed btw.

[Morrigoon]

As opposed to getting caught and put down, I'd say try the farm. Just take them to a vet first for shots and fixing.

[Betty]

I would definately provide them dry cat food and fresh water. I have no problem putting an old moving blanket something in a few places in the barn for them to sleep on and perhaps something on the porch as well - if they were so inclined.

[Betty]

Don't be surprised if you still have mice.

Why?

[JWBear]

This thread brings this song to mind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f9XiQgMDuw&feature=related)

[cirquelover]

I think because Alex had lazy kitties!

I've never had a mouse problem and neither have my neighbors. Last year my neighbor had mice in his garage and Sylvester was there every morning waiting for him to open the garage door. After a week, he had no more mice either!

I have found the girls to be the best hunters but I've had a few boys that were good too. The boys only hunt when bored or hungry and usually only get one to eat on and leave the rest. The girls are just indignant that this furry little varment is defying being caught and will work that much harder to catch it.

My clan catches mice, moles, snakes and even big bugs. They've even brought bats and once a rabbit. They did not hurt the rabbit but were thoroughly fascinated by it, so they had to show Mom. We brought him to the vet and he was adopted out. Of course the occasional bird, so we make sure all feeders are out of kitty reach. That way the birds can have a little assurance that they aren't lunch.

I think it's a win-win solution for your mice problem and the feral kitties.

[Alex]

No, I didn't have lazy cats. Ours were very accomplished hunters.

But assuming you're providing some base level of food to the cats it can still blunt their desire to hunt; while many cats hunt incessantly regardless of hunger, others operate on a more "as needed" basis. Not all cats are equally vigorous in pursuit of all prey, we once a hat a cat that would just sit and watch the other cat hunt mice but she was brutal in pursuit of squirrels and birds.

Plus, in a rural setting mice are simply omnipresent and there'll always be a ready source for new visitors. You probably wouldn't have an overwhelming infestation but new mice are going to come along and be seen from time to time.

Plus, if the cats are feral there is no guarantee they'll stick around to hunt the areas you want hunted.

One negative of using feral cats for mousing beyond their own shortened lifespan is that you don't get any say in what they kill. They'll also go after squirrels (our squireller was also very keen on finding nests and eating the young and for a while there were almost no squirrels left in our area), birds, small lizards, large bugs, etc.

[bewitched]

I agree that if they are feral and being trapped for euthanasia, they are far better off as barn cats. I would also say cats from a kill shelter that have been scheduled to be "put down" are lucky to be rescued and become barn cats.

If you keep them shut in the barn for a while before you allow them to roam free, they will be more likely to view your barn as "home base" and not run off.