Cats as Pest Control in Winter

[Taj_MaChicken]

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!

I think the first time ours caught something he wanted to bring it in the house to eat. I was like nope! I've had my fair share of presents left at the front door over the years, though!

 

[aart]

I live on a farm, and have 13 barn cats

How many did you start with, two?

Welcome to BYC! @Jacktoo
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[LeggyLeghorn]

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.

Is he neutered? If not, neutering will take care of the fighting, and some roaming.

 

[Folly's place]

I do have a barn, and my barn cats (two at most) have an insulated box with bedding nestled in the hay bales, which they use sometimes. Otherwise, they curl up in the hay, or are busy hunting, especially at night.
Tested, vaccinated, neutered, good eats every day, and rodent patrol. It's not totally safe for them, especially if one goes to the road. Otherwise they do very well.
Mary

 

[Taj_MaChicken]

Is he neutered? If not, neutering will take care of the fighting, and some roaming.

Yep. He was the sweetest thing before we neutered him. Now he's just an a-hole.

 

[Jacktoo]

How many did you start with, two?

Welcome to BYC! @Jacktoo
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
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View attachment 1834897

 

[Jacktoo]

Lol.. that is really hard to say..one time we had 18, and it’s sad to say but they like to jump in the farm trucks and end up at someone else’s barn, or get hurt. I have 5 males and the rest are females.

 

[Celticdragonfly]

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.

White House on the Hill has a pair of cats (first one, later another) that chose to live in the chicken run and the coop to avoid a harsh lead male cat, and they seem happy.

Here's an article on building shelters for outdoor cats for winter.
https://alleycatadvocates.org/communitycat-care-center/creating-winter-shelters/

 

[aart]

I have 5 males and the rest are females.

All males intact?
Southern or Northern IN...big diff there for climate.

 

[Jacktoo]

All males intact?
Southern or Northern IN...big diff there for climate.

I live in Winchester IN, so Northern IN, yes all my males are intact, and feral. I do have one indoor cat she was one of the kittens from one of my barn cats. Her name is Bebe.. I found her on my porch crying, I think the mother cat left her there because she was dying. She was only 2 weeks old. I contacted the local vet around her that knows me and give me some medicine for her, I also still had to bottle feed her for another 4 weeks. She doesn’t go out of the house and is neuter. She is also my dog best friend!