Opinions and Experiences with keeping cats in coop

[TaraBellaBirds]

I thought I would update the thread and let everyone know how the boys are working out. We got three males (so we didnt' have to deal with kittens). The boys no longer stay in the coop all night, but we have no mice inside the coop anymore! The only downside is that they are much freindlier than expected and my boys (3 human boys for 3 cats LOL) won't leave them alone. They are great cats and take the torture in stride!

here are some pics. First is CryBaby, he is my youngest boy's, and the friendliest and hence most tortured!!!

His defense mechanism is 'dead cat' it doesn't work very well

Next is FireHeart, he is my middle boy's and the best mouser


This mouse was HUGE! Fire was so proud as I was taking pics his purr was a rumble!

Next is SwiftHeart, my oldest boy's and the most standoffish of the three



All in all the Coop Cats were a success and I would recommend it, with proper knowledge of cats, to anyone with a mouse issue in their coop

 

[aart]

Cool!
So the cats live in your house and roam free during the day with access to the coop to keep the rodents in check?
Any problems with spraying?
Are they neutered?

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Cool!
So the cats live in your house and roam free during the day with access to the coop to keep the rodents in check?
Any problems with spraying?
Are they neutered?

No they are strictly outdoor cats, my 13 year old Calico barely tolerates my husband and children in the house

! They wander free throughout the night, I feed them once in the mornings. They are not neutered, but the spraying is a deterrent for rodents and other animals, it hasn't been a problem yet.

 

[sunflour]

Do you rent them for rodent control?

I used to have 3 outside cats and they kept the chipmunk and squirrel populations down. They passed at advanced age and now we're overrun with the vermin. 3 neighbor cats hang out in my yard daily, but need lessons on how to hunt. Think I'll get them to look at your post and learn! LOL!

Great story.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Do you rent them for rodent control?

I used to have 3 outside cats and they kept the chipmunk and squirrel populations down. They passed at advanced age and now we're overrun with the vermin. 3 neighbor cats hang out in my yard daily, but need lessons on how to hunt. Think I'll get them to look at your post and learn! LOL!

Great story.

You might look around on your local Craig's list, or Nextech Classifieds. That is where I found my boys!

 

[Debs55]

really good idea! just mentioning that if you don't want them to wander off and find girlfriends you should get them fixed. unfixed males almost always leave home to find a female. all of ours did

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Yup, I figured if they take off, barn cats are a dime a doz here. I don't want to put a bunch of money in them and lose them to predators. Hopefully they are tame enough that they stick around if not, there are plenty more around!

 

[donrae]

Do you rent them for rodent control?

I used to have 3 outside cats and they kept the chipmunk and squirrel populations down. They passed at advanced age and now we're overrun with the vermin. 3 neighbor cats hang out in my yard daily, but need lessons on how to hunt. Think I'll get them to look at your post and learn! LOL!

Great story.

Best thing I've found for rodent control is either a pregnant momma or one nursing kits. Cats that never ever seemed to hunt in their lives would hunt for their babies, and then teach the young to hunt.

 

[aart]

Yup, I figured if they take off, barn cats are a dime a doz here. I don't want to put a bunch of money in them and lose them to predators. Hopefully they are tame enough that they stick around if not, there are plenty more around!

Probably because no one gets them neutered.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Probably because no one gets them neutered.

I live in a farming and ranching community. Most people want several cats to take care of the small rodent issue. It doesn't make sense to spend near $100 an animal just to have them eaten by hawks, or coyotes in the first year.