Outdoor cats for a farm setting

[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]

Originally Posted by Alex

Don't be surprised if you still have mice.

Why?

[JWBear]

This thread brings this song to mind

[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.