Barn cats: friend or foe?
Rodents wreak havoc in barns, destroying wiring, bedding and leather, and contaminating feed supplies. They also harbour tapeworms and other parasites, which can be passed on to you and your pets.
The safest way to control your rodent population is to adopt a 'barn cat' or two. These are cats that are not tame enough to live as household pets but not wild enough to be able to live on their own. They have nowhere else to go. If you have a barn or stable, you can help save one or more of these cats.
Supporting a barn cat is a non-toxic way of controlling pests. There is no need to put down poison, which could be eaten by your children or pets, or to set traps. All you have to do in return is offer the cats daily food, water and shelter. Well-fed sterilised cats are the best mousers. Regular deworming is also a good idea to keep the cats in tip-top mousing condition. An ill or injured cat will need veterinary care to enable him to continue with his job.
Cats are territorial and once they have established a home base where they feel safe and there is a constant source of food, they will not wander. It will take them two to four weeks to become familiar with the new environment, during which time you will need to keep them confined in the barn. Thereafter they will accept their new home and enthusiastically keep your yard and outbuildings free of rats and mice. Just remember to remove toxins such as antifreeze, leaking batteries, pesticides and fertilizers from the barn where they are living.
