Barn Cats

[scootr]

Took delivery of 2 more barn cats. These are basically free feral cats collected by the Humane Society. They neuter, vaccinate, and chip the cats and place them on farms or ranches. For that they request a donation of your choice.
I've been keeping barn cats on the ranch for 5 yrs. There is a high attrition rate as expected. But the cats get their best chance of survival. We provide food, water, and shelter. They provide rodent elimination. Prior to the cats being around I was fighting serious rodent damage to cars and equipment. That has completely stopped at the cost of some dry food and occasional wormer meds. Plus there is no more poison on the ranch. Neighbors wife lost her dog after it found the mouse bait. We have 5 dogs so the cats hide high and dry during the day and hunt by night.

 

[ponytug]

We do the same. We have had pretty good luck as our first pair lasted 13+ years. Now on our third pair, counting two feral monsters that lasted a month. The first feral cat ran away a week after they came out of their accommodations for acclimatization, and then came back a month later and took his buddy with him. The third pair seems to have figured out the ropes, and we hope that they too have nice long lives.

Without cats, for us, it is a running series of skirmishes with rodents. Our first pair were great hunters and pretty regularly took out ground squirrels and one adored hunting, and playing with rattlesnakes, especially the little 12-18" ones with the potent venom. I think it did get bitten at least once as it developed a limp of unknown origin for a while in one forepaw. Its companion got a couple of talon scrapes alongs its skull that put it on bed rest in the barn for about a month, mainly from, I think, a concussion as the wounds healed pretty quickly. Then again, that one liked to sit out in open meadows, where I think it was hunting ground squirrels.

With all of the diseases that the local rodents carry, I am happier not having them around us, or the buildings, or vehicles. My experience is that rodent damage to vehicles happens so quickly and is often so darn expensive to fix.

All the best,

Peter

 

[mike69440]

We do the same. We have had pretty good luck as our first pair lasted 13+ years. Now on our third pair, counting two feral monsters that lasted a month. The first feral cat ran away a week after they came out of their accommodations for acclimatization, and then came back a month later and took his buddy with him. The third pair seems to have figured out the ropes, and we hope that they too have nice long lives.

Without cats, for us, it is a running series of skirmishes with rodents. Our first pair were great hunters and pretty regularly took out ground squirrels and one adored hunting, and playing with rattlesnakes, especially the little 12-18" ones with the potent venom. I think it did get bitten at least once as it developed a limp of unknown origin for a while in one forepaw. Its companion got a couple of talon scrapes alongs its skull that put it on bed rest in the barn for about a month, mainly from, I think, a concussion as the wounds healed pretty quickly. Then again, that one liked to sit out in open meadows, where I think it was hunting ground squirrels.

With all of the diseases that the local rodents carry, I am happier not having them around us, or the buildings, or vehicles. My experience is that rodent damage to vehicles happens so quickly and is often so darn expensive to fix.

All the best,

Peter

Funny how they start to get along. Some stay feral, others warm up humans they recognize.

 

[ponytug]

Funny how they start to get along. Some stay feral, others warm up humans they recognize.

Isn't that the truth!

Our current ones came with mom and a daughter and son, all neutered. The kittens were 100% feral, and the mom was friendly enough to have had some human contact at some point, but pretty feral herself. The daughter was super friendly and playful, the mom a bit standoffish, and the son was a hissing monster. After about four months after got them, the daughter disappeared and we feared the worst, but about six months later, I saw her happily prowling around about five miles down the road. I suspect that her sibling ran her off, but I was thrilled to see her alive and thriving.

Just yesterday, the hissing monster rolled over and wanted his belly rubbed. . It's nice to see them warm up.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Topzide]

Barn cats are a great addition to any farm, ranch, or other spaces needing rodent control! I adopted a feral many years back. He became a great house cat! He slid through the screen one time and stood against the house, trying to figure out how to get back in! Guess he figured that he had everything he needed inside. He made 16 yrs as a spoiled pet. Picture of him in the cats thread. Mittens was his name.

 

[masseyrider]

My mother was the critter whisper.
Animals liked her.
Before she passed there were a few ferals living in the barn.
When she went out to feed them each evening they would show up out of where ever they were hiding out.
She even got to pet a couple of them.
There was one male who was super cautious and skiddish. If he heard her voice he'd look down from the barn loft and have to be super sure no one else was around before coming down.
When Ma became too ill to feed them I would take the food out.
I was super careful not to spook anyone but you'd hardly know there were any cats except their food was gone by the morning.
I sold that property 3 years after my parents passed and even in that time they never warmed up to me.
Mr. Cautious would look down from his perch but that was it.
No mice though, I give them that.

 

[scootr]

I got a Siamese cat for 5 yrs now who will not approach me. Steals her food regularly though...

 

[2515R Dude]

Interesting, I can't find any barn cats locally. We have locally two Humane Society but they don't offer any. Only house cats. They are pretty expensive and my concern they would not fare well in my barns. I'm in west ky.

 

[bc1]

We currently have 8 cats that have showed up at the farm. Many more have lived and died over the years and have a spot in the farm pet cemetery. 6 came in the last 3 years and 4 of them last year. Spay, neuter, and annual shots and vet bills for various ailments adds up over the years but we do it. Once winter hits then they become house cats.

 

[Alan W.]

Interesting, I can't find any barn cats locally. We have locally two Humane Society but they don't offer any. Only house cats. They are pretty expensive and my concern they would not fare well in my barns. I'm in west ky.

If you were a bit further east in the state I know a lady who could fix you up. She does rescues.
She has helped me and others. Usually no charge for a vaccinated and fixed cat.