Please Read! Bromethrin Rat Poison Warning!

[HuskerHens18]

That's awful, but definitely don't put it in the firepit! Definitely look up how to safely dispose of it.
For the hen, is it possible her death was unrelated and just a coincidence?

I'll figure something out, right now it's all in a locked room where it's IMPOSSIBLE for animals to get. No windows or gaps.
And it probably was unrelated, the hen had no access to the poison and she was locked up yesterday and today.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I wish there was something I could do or say to ease your pain. Do you know where the other 4 cats are ? How they are doing ?

 

[Fishkeeper]

Honestly, a lot of the other poisons aren't much safer. They affect the blood instead, preventing clotting so the poisoned animal bleeds out internally. It's more curable, but it's a long, slow death, the cause of which can be difficult to pinpoint.

Unless no other options work, go with traps instead of poisons. Not sticky traps, either, those trap all kinds of small animals (including beneficial lizards) and they all die slow deaths of dehydration and panic. You want good-quality snap traps, those break the spine and cause a quick, if not instant, death. They also have a much lower chance of killing other animals and injuring your pets.

For best effect, put the traps up against a wall. Rodents run along the edges of walls for cover, so placing a trap lengthwise against a wall will send the rat right into it. Peanut butter is a much better lure than cheese. Rodents love it.

Also, if anyone has a single rodent in their house that they want to remove alive, there are designs online for live-catch mouse traps.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

The reason I ask how the vet knew it was the /your poison killed the cats is because even though it is remote there IS the possibility it wasnt your stuff that killed the cats. A neighbor that hates them could just as easily set poison out. I mean, I guess at this point it really doesnt matter but in the long run it would be very helpful for your own sake to know the possibility exists

 

[HuskerHens18]

I wish there was something I could do or say to ease your pain. Do you know where the other 4 cats are ? How they are doing ?

I decided to leave them outside to live their normal barn cat lives, I fed them their favorite soft cat food and leftover chicken. Right now they are acting okay, they were playing together a couple hours ago, currently two are sharing a dog house. I know each ones favorite sleeping spot, I'll check those in the morning.

 

[HuskerHens18]

The reason I ask how the vet knew it was the /your poison killed the cats is because even though it is remote there IS the possibility it wasnt your stuff that killed the cats. A neighbor that hates them could just as easily set poison out. I mean, I guess at this point it really doesnt matter but in the long run it would be very helpful for your own sake to know the possibility exists

That's a good point, my neighbor still isn't happy over having to pay for my chickens his dog killed last Thursday. I might politely ask if he's had any poison on his place recently.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

That's a good point, my neighbor still isn't happy over having to pay for my chickens his dog killed last Thursday. I might politely ask if he's had any poison on his place recently.

Think I would ask the vet to make sure your poison killed the cats.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Think I would ask the vet to make sure your poison killed the cats.

Okay I will, I have dogs and goats who could be exposed to it if it's not mine

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I think its a good idea. Do you still have the chicken carcass ? I would be interested to see whats in her crop as well.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

cats wont eat a dead animal/rat. I cant imagine what would be in the poison they would be attracted to. The poison kills quickly so whats the chance of 4 cats finding 4 sick rats ? They dont hunt as a pack.