suggestions on controlling rats in barn/tack room....

[FLchook]

Hi guys, Ya I know its been awhile since ive been here, but I do still sneak around in the shadows <grin>

Anyway, I need some suggestions. The rats in the tack room are getting a bit out of control. Ever since we brought the horse food in they have slowly moved in. Seeing the occational one was ok, but they have brought friends!!

I have the noise maker things, but they dont seem to be doing awhole lot. Im afraid of using posisions, or the rat traps. Ok, I have a bleeding heart and cant bring myself to kill a furry little creatures. So, any other suggestions, or do I have to resort to those? How about a cat? are they any good? I have one that hangs here in the house, but hes pretty worthless. Spends most of his days holding the porch down. occasionally he will wander into the wood and bring use a nice juicy goody back LOL, but thats rare. Do you think I can go to the pound and adopt a cat and set it up down at the barn? Nice little bed, littler box and bit of food in the tack room at night, and let it hang around outside during the day??

So whatcha think?

Thanks,
Shannon

 

[newchickowner]

we adopted two cats that way and they would jump up in the rafters and kill rats, the one's that jumped to avoid the cats were met by 5 feirce rat killing farm dogs. After we got the cats, we rarely saw any rats.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Barn cats usually work. I heard someone say that a drum of stagnant water works with the top of the drum covered in slippery oil or gel. that way they drown

 

[Pelican49]

Spends most of his days holding the porch down.

LOL That cracked me up. I have 2 of those.

If those are really RATS, and not MICE, it would take a mighty fierce cat. Think Rat Terrier.

 

[FLchook]

I think they really are just field mice. Rats just covers em all in my mind hehe. I have a yorkie, and he helps to atleast run them off before I walk in, but need something more.

Shannon

 

[gritsar]

If you have a local humane society, call them and ask specifically about a barn cat. I know that a rescue group not too far from us has several cats for adoption that they say wouldn't work as house cats (for whatever reason), but would make great barn cats.
I don't think size has as much to do with it as does skill. Killer Kitty barely weighs 3 lbs. and it took her 18 months to get that big. Rats are her specialty. She even killed a squirrel.

 

[unionwirewoman]

I adopted 4 barn cats from a vet we know . They are great ! They have even brought home a couple of pack rats ( to my dismay....stinky , nasty , horrible things !) Try calling local vets in your area , alot of them find strays and try to re-home them !

 

[MissPrissy]

For rats and mice in your barn you don't want to use poison because your chickens or other animals could catch and eat them and therefore get poisoned themselves.

You can try this method and I promise you it works.

Mix equal parts confectioners sugar and plaster of paris. Bait it with a few bits of dog food or other feed the mice/rats are after.

Give it a few days and check to see if it is being eaten.

Make sure the mixture is put in a place where any other animals cannot get to it.

I store as much feed as possible in big metal cans. I have 10 cans and each will hold 3+ 50# bags of feed.

 

[chickbea]

Don't be discouraged if some shelters seem to be against the idea of barn cats. If you look around you will find one that works with feral cat populations, or has programs to identify cats that would not enjoy living in a house (not all do!)
Just some additional notes: a barn cat needs MORE medical monitoring than a house cat, not less, as it won't be around as often for you to notice if it is ill. They need to be fully immunized, as they will be exposed to all sorts of things. They also need a toasty warm place to sleep and get out of the elements (sometimes this is on the backs of the horses, which is very cute!

)

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Well put chickbea! The rescue organization I was referring to is actually a siamese rescue in Hot Springs, but they have several barn cats for adoption. Killer Kitty was a feral orphan when I found her and I know she would never be happy living in the house.