Barn Cats?

[CCsGarden]

Hi!
Not sure if this is the right section to post this. I'm looking into getting a barn cat. I want to be able to train it and have it help take care of rodents, such mice. What breeds are the best at this?
What do you all recommend? Also, I need to know how to keep it outside in my coop area close to the house.

Thank you!

CC

 

[The Moonshiner]

Can cats really be trained? I'm going with no. They might do what you want them to but that's because it just happens to be what they want to do.
Best hands down mousers ive had were Bengals but they aren't usually cheap. I've always always heard females are better hunters then males. Idk how much truth there is to that but it is the case with our many work barn cats.

 

[NotabitaiI]

What do you mean by training?

 

[CCsGarden]

What do you mean by training?

Train them to stay close to home. Not sure if they need to be trained that's why I'm asking.

( I know nothing about cats )

 

[NotabitaiI]

I have eight mousers, I got them all from a rescue or the cat distribution system. They work remarkably well as I've never had a pest problem since having them.
You need to get one that is fixed or you need to plan on fixing one, they will multiply and be sickly feral little beasts in the blink of an eye and trust me when I say feral cats are 10x worse than mice.
Females are better mousers, males will probably be friendlier to you and meaner to bigger pests like possums and coons, short haired is less problematic, and I really wouldn't bother buying a "breed" if it's just going to be an outdoor cat, cats are prey to a lot of things and as far as I know you don't have any dogs to keep your cat safe.

Train them to stay close to home. Not sure if they need to be trained that's why I'm asking.

( I know nothing about cats )

You just need to feed them and they won't leave. Keep it in a kennel for a week or so and it should decide this is a safe place with food and no competition so this is home. Microchip your cat if you want it back should someone pick it up or something but don't put a collar on it since those are just a hazard and you might find your cat hung up or caught on something, plus all the bells and mirrors that cat collars come with are actually meant to keep your cat from killing things.
I also require pictures once you get it btw

 

[CCsGarden]

I have eight mousers, I got them all from a rescue or the cat distribution system. They work remarkably well as I've never had a pest problem since having them.
You need to get one that is fixed or you need to plan on fixing one, they will multiply and be sickly feral little beasts in the blink of an eye and trust me when I say feral cats are 10x worse than mice.
Females are better mousers, males will probably be friendlier to you and meaner to bigger pests like possums and coons, short haired is less problematic, and I really wouldn't bother buying a "breed" if it's just going to be an outdoor cat, cats are prey to a lot of things and as far as I know you don't have any dogs to keep your cat safe.

yeah, I don't really want to buy. I am looking for free ones. I use to live in the city and oh, those cats were everywhere and you wouldn't believe how many came when spring hit! So, I would want them fixed or get them fixed.

You just need to feed them and they won't leave. Keep it in a kennel for a week or so and it should decide this is a safe place with food and no competition so this is home. Microchip your cat if you want it back should someone pick it up or something but don't put a collar on it since those are just a hazard and you might find your cat hung up or caught on something, plus all the bells and mirrors that cat collars come with are actually meant to keep your cat from killing things.
I also require pictures once you get it btw

Thank you! This is all so very helpful! No, I don't have a dog and also plan on getting one to guard my flock, ha, so many things I "want"!

Very good you told me about the collar!

Ofc, if I get one or two, I'll post pictures

 

[NotabitaiI]

Thank you! This is all so very helpful! No, I don't have a dog and also plan on getting one to guard my flock, ha, so many things I "want"!

Well this may work out for you anyways, I had my cats before I had my LGDs so they grew up knowing the cats were their little buddies.

 

[Debbie292d]

When you bring home a new cat that is going to be living outside, the Humane Society told us to keep them in the house for two to three weeks, so they will be more likely to stick around. Our last one wound up being 50/50 inside outside.

You can't train a cat to catch mice but most will just do it. It's said some are way better than others as that's how they were raised. How will you know? You'll find rodent bodies in front of your door.

 

[NotabitaiI]

You'll find rodent bodies in front of your door.

My lazy/playful mousers do this but my half feral cat that was born in my house kills them and swallows them whole after a couple chews. She's a savage and by far my best mouser

 

[CCsGarden]

When you bring home a new cat that is going to be living outside, the Humane Society told us to keep them in the house for two to three weeks, so they will be more likely to stick around. Our last one wound up being 50/50 inside outside.

You can't train a cat to catch mice but most will just do it. It's said some are way better than others as that's how they were raised. How will you know? You'll find rodent bodies in front of your door.

Great to know!