Cats as Pest Control in Winter

[PittyLova]

We got a pair of cats for pest control. I'm trying to decide what to do with them come winter time. I do NOT want them inside because we have a couple of dogs that do not do well with cats. Plus, winter time around the coop is the biggest issue when it comes to mice and chipmunks. For those of you who have barn/outdoor cats what do you give them for shelter in the winter time? Does anybody actually let the cat(s) live inside the coop right with the birds? I'm building new houses for the chickens/ducks/turkeys before winter and am trying to figure out what to do for the cats. I figured the coop would be nice and warm for them, but then I'd have to worry about them going in at night with the girls before locking up.

 

[Trish1974]

Two of my four coops are right up against the barn, so I lock up my cats in the barn at night. I couldn't keep my cats in the coop because the chickens would kill them, then probably eat them!
Personally, I don't see how country folk survive without cats for vermin control.

 

[PittyLova]

We won't have a barn unfortunately! I'm using a 3 car garage that has sunk due to rot and not being cared for prior to me buying the property as the "barn" right now. That thing needs to be torn down before it falls down. The closest thing would be the pig shelter and then I have to fear for the safety of the cats still lol. I'm planning on making a shed style coop so I can have a few sections inside to separate into groups as needed. Maybe I give the cats their own section inside where they can come and go as they please? My chickens have been good with the cats and vice versa. My turkey tom is the one I have to worry about, but they're getting separated into their own pen at night when the new shelters are built.

I've never had an outdoor cat before so I worry! Right now they climb into my enclosed front porch at night or when it's raining, but that's getting refinished into living space and is still too cold in the winter. We're way up north in almost Canada so it gets pretty darn cold!

 

[Trish1974]

Maybe I give the cats their own section inside where they can come and go as they please?

That would be a good idea!

I've never had an outdoor cat before so I worry!

I grew up on a farm and we ALWAYS had outdoor-only cats. They are hot and cold hardy and very self sufficient. The only thing I worry about now is coyotes (which we didn't have around when I was a kid), that is why I make sure they are all locked up come dusk.

 

[Jacktoo]

I live on a farm, and have 13 barn cats.. I build a small cat home/house for the cats out of a old small chicken coop I had. I’m not sure if they really use it, because most of the time they sleep in the dog house with our outside dog.. I insulated the walls, and put hay in the cubby holes...you can go online and find some very inexpensive DIY cat home/box for outdoor cats.

 

[Trish1974]

I live on a farm, and have 13 barn cats.. I build a small cat home/house for the cats out of a old small chicken coop I had. I’m not sure if they really use it, because most of the time they sleep in the dog house with our outside dog.. I insulated the walls, and put hay in the cubby holes...you can go online and find some very inexpensive DIY cat home/box for outdoor cats.

Cute picture! Were they hen-hatched?

 

[Jacktoo]

Lol..

 

[Taj_MaChicken]

I have a "mouser" and I use that term loosely. He does come inside, as we previously lived in the city. Now that we have a few acres, he'll wander off, sometimes days at a time. Our ducks and one chick free range, and I have no concern that he will attack them. The rest of my chickens get locked up in a coop at night and have a run. After my chickens chased him around the yard a few times he learned his lesson.

Eventually when we have our yard more fenced in, and have goats and a dog, I assume the cat will sleep outside with them. I've only seen him catch something a handful of times.

He sometimes comes home with gashes on his face, but he seems to be able to hold his own with the wildlife here.

 

[PittyLova]

I live on a farm, and have 13 barn cats.. I build a small cat home/house for the cats out of a old small chicken coop I had. I’m not sure if they really use it, because most of the time they sleep in the dog house with our outside dog.. I insulated the walls, and put hay in the cubby holes...you can go online and find some very inexpensive DIY cat home/box for outdoor cats.

Thanks for that! The picture is adorable lol!

I think I'll go ahead and just add onto the coop I'm building. Perfect time to need to figure out where to put them when I'm already in planning stages lol

 

[Acre4Me]

We have one barn cat. It is spayed, and she has a cage/bed/food/ litter box in the barn. The cage is almost always open, but we can close it if we need to. We usually let her out during the day to “free range”, but she’s good about coming home at night. She stays in the building at night. She’s so proud of herself when she catches a rodent!