Cats, yes or no?

[sdm1908]

should I get a wild cat to keep out my rat problem in the coop?
Has anyone had any luck with wild cats warding off pest?
Please help!!

 

[DylansMom]

should I get a wild cat to keep out my rat problem in the coop?
Has anyone had any luck with wild cats warding off pest?
Please help!!

You would need more than 1. I have lived here with my giant barn for 20 years, never had a rat problem until last year. We always had 6-8 barn cats, not wild most were friendly and they were all fixed so no kittens, now we are down to 1 cat left out there ( old age claimed the rest) and we have rats for the first time. She cannot catch enough by herself.

 

[sdm1908]

You would need more than 1. I have lived here with my giant barn for 20 years, never had a rat problem until last year. We always had 6-8 barn cats, not wild most were friendly and they were all fixed so no kittens, now we are down to 1 cat left out there ( old age claimed the rest) and we have rats for the first time. She cannot catch enough by herself.

The only thing is, we only have 4 chickens so it's not a lot of animals. Would I still need multiple cats? Also how do I get the cats? Like do I just lure in street cats?

 

[DylansMom]

The only thing is, we only have 4 chickens so it's not a lot of animals. Would I still need multiple cats? Also how do I get the cats? Like do I just lure in street cats?

The rats don't care how many birds we have. As long as they have room to dig tunnels and chicken feed they can steal they will multiply.
I have gotten cats from a feral cat relocation group near Baltimore, they trap and spay/neuter wild cats they give them vaccines while they are knocked out and then they will bring them to our farm. We set up cages for them where they stay for 2-3 weeks so they get used to the barn as home, and then we turn them loose. Unfortunately they do not all choose to stay, but it costs us nothing except some cat food each day.


http://baltimore.craigslist.org/pet/4890350741.html

 

[sdm1908]

The rats don't care how many birds we have. As long as they have room to dig tunnels and chicken feed they can steal they will multiply.
I have gotten cats from a feral cat relocation group near Baltimore, they trap and spay/neuter wild cats they give them vaccines while they are knocked out and then they will bring them to our farm. We set up cages for them where they stay for 2-3 weeks so they get used to the barn as home, and then we turn them loose. Unfortunately they do not all choose to stay, but it costs us nothing except some cat food each day.


http://baltimore.craigslist.org/pet/4890350741.html

I have a friend who's giving away free
Kittens. It's only 5 weeks old. Do you think if I raise her it will be good and she'll kill the rats?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

should I get a wild cat to keep out my rat problem in the coop?
Has anyone had any luck with wild cats warding off pest?
Please help!!

It would likely be better - and more reliable - to look at fortifying the coop to prevent entry as cats are not going to be there 24/7 to prevent rats from getting in. While their presence may act as a deterrent, it is not a guarantee that they will have any impact at all on the vermin at all.

 

[DylansMom]

I have a friend who's giving away free
Kittens. It's only 5 weeks old. Do you think if I raise her it will be good and she'll kill the rats?

Yes, they will have the instinct to hunt even if they are raised by humans. She will need to be vaccinated and kept inside until she is old enough to be spayed, you don't want 20 cats running around. once fixed transition her to outside living with her food and water and shelter near your coop. She will kill any rodents she can catch. If you allow your hens to hatch chicks make sure they are safe from the cat when they are little.

 

[DylansMom]

It would likely be better - and more reliable - to look at fortifying the coop to prevent entry as cats are not going to be there 24/7 to prevent rats from getting in. While their presence may act as a deterrent, it is not a guarantee that they will have any impact at all on the vermin at all.

I am not entirely sure it is possible to rat proof a coop. My rats have tunneled thru a 6 inch concrete floor like it was nothing, new holes are chewed thru the wood overnight. Other than using solid steel, I am at a loss, and traps and bait have not worked. Since I had no such problems when my cat population was higher, I defer back to mother nature as being better at battling these vermin than I am. Cats and perhaps some black rat snakes are in order for this summer.

 

[Just sayin]

Per my thread today, I suggest trying to eliminate the food supply for the rats, by changing the way you feed the chickens so you're not attracting them in, and getting some traps. I used live traps that would hold several.... you can get them for mice and rats.

 

[EggheadWI]

Don't get a 5 week old kitten! That's too young to take away from mom and raise it by itself. That kitten would never learn all of the important cat behaviors and would probably turn out to be a clingy, nipping jerk! It wouldn't necessarily be a good mouser either. Look for a pair of cats with outdoor experience and keep them confined to the coop or a dog crate for a couple of week-- that way they bond with their new home. And as someone else mentioned get them fixed before releasing them! You might even find some at your local animal shelter or pet rescue that are already fixed. I do cat rescue and the new thing is to adopt out ferals and problem cats to farm homes