tow653
Gold Member
Our 16 yr old male tabby broke his leg at 6 or 7 months old. Took him to vet,said would heal on its own. Well Doc, while he's hear how bout neutering him. Joke around here since is "don't break your leg!"
Barn cats in winter?
- Thread starter MNBobcat
- Start date
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Apparently not because we have red tail hawks and we have an awful lot of adult and juvenile bald eagles flying over our place daily and yet the chipmunks are thriving!
Wow....thanks so much everyone for all of the suggestions and advice! I had thought about lining the box with pink foam but didn't think about getting it up off the ground -- that's a good idea. I do have power in the building so a heated pad would work, too.
I'm reluctant to neuter him though. He has only been hanging around for about a week. We'll see if he sticks around and then I'll think on it.
He seems quite content here! Tonight I was out by the pole building and he was hanging out near me. I picked him up and he stretched his neck out and laid his head on my shoulder like he was giving a hug. Took a few days before he let me pick him up or get close to him.
I'm reluctant to neuter him though. He has only been hanging around for about a week. We'll see if he sticks around and then I'll think on it.
He seems quite content here! Tonight I was out by the pole building and he was hanging out near me. I picked him up and he stretched his neck out and laid his head on my shoulder like he was giving a hug. Took a few days before he let me pick him up or get close to him.
Soundguy
Old Timer
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man... i'm going to have to pretend I didn't read that.
most of US here, are non native to this geographical region.. shooting's not the answer
( but it would be animal cruelty i suppose.. ) 
k0ua
Epic Contributor
We neutered our stray that adopted us.. he is not fat or lazy, he is just a bundle of healthy muscle. Not that a cat can't get fat and lazy, but they don't have to be that way.
James K0UA
James K0UA
texasjohn
Super Member
Well, guess you need a bobcat:laughing: if all the flying critters are not getting the job done.
Size of cat (fat, lazy) will be determined by how you feed him. We feed our neutered (before we got him) cat dry cat food, free choice, and he brings in mice, rats and rabbits all the time. Feed him from a can or your table scraps, he'll put on lots of weight.
Neutering is not a mandatory thing....although it will reduce his wanderings and fights if neighboring male cats are around.
You've got a great cat there from your description....it's your friend now and will remain so...you've got a good deal, he poos outside, feed him in your barn and give him opportunity for shelter, he'll find a place he likes, may not be the one you make for him, but if he'll find a place that suits him and is good for him. It will move around depending on the weather. typically it's a place with a view so invaders, be they rodents or otherwise, are seen and taken care of. In terrible weather, he may choose the insulated spot you have made for him.
Not all cats are equally good mousers....some are FAR more interested in hunting than others. If you see it has caught something, he may bring it to you...means he's proud of it and showing it off to his family/pride, meaning you, so you should praise him and play with it a little bit and let him know you are appreciative of dead chipmunks. Do this in the barn and you may find you are cleaning up remains of chipmunks regularly.
You say you have lots of chipmunks, may take more than one cat to reduce population since they reproduce quickly. Have you thought of a pellet gun? In my experience, cats that decide they like you and stick around are really good to have. Got two of them myself. Leave them with claws, for sure.
Size of cat (fat, lazy) will be determined by how you feed him. We feed our neutered (before we got him) cat dry cat food, free choice, and he brings in mice, rats and rabbits all the time. Feed him from a can or your table scraps, he'll put on lots of weight.
Neutering is not a mandatory thing....although it will reduce his wanderings and fights if neighboring male cats are around.
You've got a great cat there from your description....it's your friend now and will remain so...you've got a good deal, he poos outside, feed him in your barn and give him opportunity for shelter, he'll find a place he likes, may not be the one you make for him, but if he'll find a place that suits him and is good for him. It will move around depending on the weather. typically it's a place with a view so invaders, be they rodents or otherwise, are seen and taken care of. In terrible weather, he may choose the insulated spot you have made for him.
Not all cats are equally good mousers....some are FAR more interested in hunting than others. If you see it has caught something, he may bring it to you...means he's proud of it and showing it off to his family/pride, meaning you, so you should praise him and play with it a little bit and let him know you are appreciative of dead chipmunks. Do this in the barn and you may find you are cleaning up remains of chipmunks regularly.
You say you have lots of chipmunks, may take more than one cat to reduce population since they reproduce quickly. Have you thought of a pellet gun? In my experience, cats that decide they like you and stick around are really good to have. Got two of them myself. Leave them with claws, for sure.
forgeblast
Elite Member
there are heated water bowls that keep the water from freezing, I use them with my chickens in the winter
Nope, and if you get them done before the hormones kick in, they will not mark their territory either. ( to me, that's the best reason of all )
Wesdor
Gold Member
We had a mother cat adopt us 3 years ago. At the time I was looking for 2 cats to keep the rodents down in the barn. Sine she had 6 kittens we gave away 3 but couldn't get rid od the others. We now have four cats in the barn and NO MICE.
We had them all neutered (2 male the mother and 1 female)
We are able to keep the barn closed and keep coyotes out. I let them out during the day and they come back for supper. In the winter they have an insulated wood box with an electric pet heating pad that is activated by them laying on it. We also have an electric water bowl for water.
They seem to enjoy their home and we have had no rodent problems since they moved in.
Hope you have as good luck as we have.
We had them all neutered (2 male the mother and 1 female)
We are able to keep the barn closed and keep coyotes out. I let them out during the day and they come back for supper. In the winter they have an insulated wood box with an electric pet heating pad that is activated by them laying on it. We also have an electric water bowl for water.
They seem to enjoy their home and we have had no rodent problems since they moved in.
Hope you have as good luck as we have.
Bob77064
Elite Member
James, dogs or cats get fat because people over feed them and don't take them out to walk and run. It's not the animals fault.
