To cat, or not to cat? That is the question.

[RenoHuskerDu]

We've always been cat people in the past and we love cats, but this time we've been getting by OK in Central TX with heeler/terrier crossbreeds and bait traps for rodents. They hate birds of prey and critters. They protect our flock of 25 chickens. They eat any mouse they see. They even kill coons.

But they apparently don't see all the mice. We have jumping mice that get into our pickups and make a home in the frame rails. One of these days they'll get inside and cause damage. We even had a few in the house, got 'em with bait and traps. They also got into a spare bedroom RV and stunk it up with their pee and nest.

I had avoided cats in an effort to avoid their health issues and having cat fleas on our dogs. But now I'm wavering, thinking about chewed wires on our vehicles.

Have any of the rest of you been thru this decision tree? What did you decide?

The Dreaded Cat Flea

 

[Folly's place]

We've always had cats, so it was never a new decision for us here.
I have two (the Max!) indoor only cats, and a barn cat, and all of them do like mice! I haven't had a barn cat who would tackle rats though, but mice, absolutely.
Get a cat because you want one or two, not specifically for rodent control, is my best advice. They are more animals that need good food, vaccinations, neutering, all that, so they aren't 'free' either.
For the best hunters, generally kittens who have mothers who hunt, and if you want one to manage outside, get one who's got some 'street smarts' already. The survival rate for outside kittens/ cats is around 10% to maybe 15%, not good numbers.
My barn cats have done a great job keeping mouse numbers down!
Mary

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

I edited my OP to state that we are cat people. It's just this last move (hopefully our last) that we decided to try no cats.