Cats for pest control?

[JacksonPearce]

For two years now, we've watched squirrels and chipmunks decimate the vast majority of our garden. Covering plants in fencing isn't really an option for us, and we've had mixed luck with a motion-detector sprinkler (it works to a degree, but also overwatered our plants, spread lots of blight on our tomatoes, and soaked the UPS guys, since our garden is in the front yard). We've tried cayenne pepper, coyote urine...just about all the options, so far as I know.

I've always had strictly indoor cats, but our local shelter and a few rescues have feral cat programs where you can adopt a "working cat" that is altered, vaccinated, and accustomed to living outside. These cats cannot become housecats (those that can be tamed are!) and are adopted out as a natural pest control solution if they can't be returned to the community they were trapped in after being altered.

I think this is a great idea, especially since I'm heavily involved in rescue/fostering, but I'm also a little nervous at the prospect. We can provide the required heated shelter/food/water, no problem-- but we live close to a major road. I've seen a few invisible fence solutions for cats-- has anyone tried those before? Has anyone had a negative experience with something like this? Anyone have any thoughts? I'm not worried about my chickens, since the small ones (seramas and cochins) don't free range and the larger ones are too big for a cat to take down.

 

[DobieLover]

I tried to adopt a feral cat and use it for pest control in my barn. I released it in my tack room with the plan to keep it there so it would learn that this was where it could find shelter and food. I was going to let it out of the tack room after about a week of acclimation. However, as soon as I opened the carrier door, it shot out, climbed the wood tack room wall and went over the top, never to be seen again.
Maybe you would have better luck getting a cat to learn that it would have food and shelter on your property and stick around to hunt for you.

 

[Trish1974]

I'm a big supporter of the feral cat/barn cat programs. I don't know how people live in the country without cats! Growing up on a farm we needed cats to keep the mice and rats under control. Cats would definitely keep your squirrel and chipmunk population down, but I would be concerned about the major road you live by.
This doesn't help the road issue, but if you have coyotes in your area like I do you may want to consider crating them at night. I got my barn cats as kittens so they were easy to train to crates. I kept them in a large crate system for several weeks in the barn, and would let them out for a couple hours each afternoon. When I wanted them back in I lured them in with canned cat food. Every day I increased the length of time they were out, and ALWAYS gave them canned cat food at night (in their crates). Every night at dusk these cats come home to their crates, with their canned cat food as a motivator, and are released at daybreak. Its been 4 years now, and I have had only one loss. (I'm thinking a great-horned owl got her). Yes, coyotes can run during the day, but is much more likely at night. Also, I think cats wander farther at night.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I have two outdoor cats, and haven't had any issues with rabbits or rodents in my garden. Bugs are another story.

Our humane society has the same program. They recommend keeping the cat confined in a crate or small enclosure for two weeks so that the cat knows where home is. Ours even provides the crate and waives the adoption fee for feral or semi feral cats. There are plans online to build feral cat shelters as well, that are supposed to be designed to make feral cats feel more secure.

I know our outdoor cats keep our garden and chicken coop free from rodents. They usually drop a few headless ones by the front door so we are aware of it. Lol

 

[SueT]

Why can't you put little cages around plants? It's been the solution for us. Some plants only need the cages when small-- like tomatoes, cukes, beans, squash, peppers---that the chickens and rabbits don't eat. I remove these barriers when they get bigger. Meanwhile, the chickens tend the areas between the plants and eat bugs for us. Lettuce and cabbage family stays caged.



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[Grits&Eggs]

Why wouldn't a feral cat attack your chickens? I have bantams and would be worried....

 

[PirateGirl]

I was planning on doing exactly what you are describing, adopt a "working cat" that otherwise could never be homed. In the end I adopted a "free" kitten from an ad I saw from an accidental litter. Once he was neutered and fully vaccinated he began his time outdoors. Like @Trish1974 did, we would take him out for short times initially and slowly increase the time. His food and water were always in our laundry room and he had learned this. At first his trips outside were supervised, but now he goes alone. When the weather gets bad or it starts to get dark he has learned to come home and wait on the porch. We choose not to leave him out overnight (though originally our intention was for him to be out 24/7). He very quickly learned to hunt all the things I wanted him to and brings me critters most days he goes outdoors. Any time he makes a kill and returns home my husband rewards him with a bit of hamburger or something extra tasty. He not only learned where home is, but he's leaned to come when I call his name. Now when it's getting dark I call him and within a few minutes he comes home from wherever he's been hunting. We also live near a busy highway. The cat is scared of cars, so I worry less. If we (or a neighbor) start a car, the cat runs to our front porch. I worry less about he road because of this, but he does seem to wander further and further from the house, and one day he might find the highway.

We already have the invisible fence for our dogs. We have often thought about getting the cat a collar to use with the fence. (Each animal you want to stay in the fence needs their own collar, and there is a special cat one due to their smaller weight). We have not tried this yet, so I'm curious to see if others have had success. In terms of the fence itself, I have a Petsafe brand fence. It came with good instructions and was easy to install. I installed it myself with no prior electrical experience/knowledge. I have had it for 2 years with no problems other than occasionally needed replacement batteries for the dog collars. My parents had a similar fence installed for their dogs and had it for 12 years or more without issues.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I am hesitant to put a collar on our cats. One of our cats used to have a collar, when we lived in town. We heard him making a choking sound and ran to him. He had gotten the collar hooked on a tree branch and was hanging. We bought him one of those collars that snaps apart when pressure is applied. He had it off within 3 hours. We tried multiple times and after several lost collars, gave up. I know some people have collars on their cats with no problem, but after seeing ours choking that one time, I will not put one on an outdoor cat again.

 

[PirateGirl]

I am hesitant to put a collar on our cats. One of our cats used to have a collar, when we lived in town. We heard him making a choking sound and ran to him. He had gotten the collar hooked on a tree branch and was hanging. We bought him one of those collars that snaps apart when pressure is applied. He had it off within 3 hours. We tried multiple times and after several lost collars, gave up. I know some people have collars on their cats with no problem, but after seeing ours choking that one time, I will not put one on an outdoor cat again.

This is definitely something to consider. As mentioned, my cat typically comes home when called. One day he didn't so I wandered the neighborhood calling him. I heard him meow. I followed the sound and saw him near the top of my neighbor's fence. His harness was somehow caught on the fence or her planter or something and he was stuck there 5 feet off the ground, on the other side of the fence.

In regards to the invisible fence collars, I'm not sure if the cat one is designed differently to the dog one in the way that it latches. I just know that it's smaller and lighter and gives a lesser shock.

A microchip is not a bad idea if you worry about a wandering cat and want him to be returned to you.

 

[JacksonPearce]

Thanks, everyone! The cat invisible fence collar isn't a breakaway, but people have modified them to be breakaway collars. Of course, then you can't find the charger piece if it brokeaway somewhere hidden...but it seems worth the risk of losing the charger, to me, since I think it's a bit risky to put a regular collar on a cat.