Barn Cat?

[Larry Caldwell]

When it comes to rodent control, you can't beat snakes.

 

[ovrszd]

When it comes to rodent control, you can't beat snakes.

Ooooohhhhhhh,,,,, snakes,,,,, why's it always gotta be snakes,,,,,, I hate snakes........ (Indiana Jones)

 

[tcreeley]

We have cats, feed crunchies and wet food. We keep a heated dog dish on the porch for water. The cats have a cat door and go in and out as they please.
We don't have any mice, rats, birds anywhere around the house. They catch frogs and snakes in the summer too. Half of the cats are strays and we can't touch them. They just love to hunt.

We feed crunchies outside in a covered windowbox- too high for roaming skunks to get to. On a table is also good. Only once had a racoon- it was mangy and we never saw it again after that. Get the food and place to sleep up off the ground. They like to lay in the sun during the day and sleep- active in the morning and at dusk.

 

[k0ua]

Ooooohhhhhhh,,,,, snakes,,,,, why's it always gotta be snakes,,,,,, I hate snakes........ (Indiana Jones)

Indie.... Why does the floor move? (Sala)

 

[Tractor Seabee]

King County in the Seattle area runs a volunteer program called Barn Cats R Us Barn Cats R Us They capture and accept feral cats to rehab. They spay them and do rabies shots and all, then find homes only at farms that have barns sheds where they can hide from their predators. They are very successful in placing them and get a lot of repeat calls as the mortality rate keeps up the demand. their philosophy is to not befriend them or pet them, or feed them. they require that you take too of them as they need the company. Only feed if it is obvious they ate not finding enough prey such as winter time. They will need a source of water, natural is preferable. I do not have a barn so did not get them. I think they are doing a great service and when I get my barn will get a pair.

Ron

 

[GREEN FROG]

Ooooohhhhhhh,,,,, snakes,,,,, why's it always gotta be snakes,,,,,, I hate snakes........ (Indiana Jones)

All snakes deserve the rotary mower at FULL throttle. Now a good thread.... How to kill snakes

1,898

 

[Looking4new]

All snakes deserve the rotary mower at FULL throttle. Now a good thread.... How to kill snakes ��

1,898

If you got chickens, you wont have any snakes. A chicken WILL kill a snake.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

As alluded to in a few posts above, cats on farms generally have a high mortality rate. We used to allow farmers to adopt spay/neutered ferals, thinking this was better than spending their lives in a shelter. After learning a high percentage lasted only a few days, we stopped allowing those adoptions.

 

[TomSeller]

We had fox and owls in the barn for years and rarely saw rodents. The foxes got killed off by some idiot neighbor. Coyotes moved in a few years later. Then bald eagles moved onto the property and killed off the owls. I like the eagles and tolerate the coyotes. But neither one will go inside the barn. I would rather have my fox and owls back.

 

[MossRoad]

If you're not going to be there 7-14 days at a time, you probably shouldn't get a cat. If you were around more often, get a cat. You can't leave food out for it or you'll be feeding the wildlife. The cat is subject to disease and predation, more so if you aren't around. And, the cat won't be hunting mice and rats exclusively, but pretty much everything that moves, most likely grasshoppers and other bugs, birds, etc... Outdoor cat lifespan average is 1-5 years vs indoor cat 12-20. Probably less if you aren't around. And, if you aren't around, the cat won't have a bond with you, or anyone else, so it will probably go feral pretty quick. If you find a friendly one and leave it for weeks at a time, well, that's not cool either.

If mice and rats are your concern, target them specifically. You'd be much better served with this, a 24 pack of Jaws model 409 mouse traps for $24.00. Baited properly and set properly, they're on duty 24-7.

JT Eaton 409BULK Jawz Plastic Mouse Trap, For Solid or Liquid Bait (Pack of 24): Science Lab Cleaning Supplies: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Got rats?
Here's the model 410 rat trap 12 pack for $28.00.
JT Eaton 410BULK Jawz Plastic Rat Trap, For Solid or Liquid Bait (Pack of 12): Science Lab Cleaning Supplies: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

I use the mouse traps. They work really, really well. They take liquid or solid bait. You can put them places cats can't get to. And.... you'll never really know if the cat is working or not, as you won't see the little carcasses. With traps, you know they are working. When they stop getting results, you have pushed back the enemy!