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Getting a cat... to kill the mice?

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AlmostThere2	Getting a cat... to kill the mice?		Lead	[-]
Posts: 177 09/20/08 09:46 AM	Ok so i'm not exactly sure where to post this but since mice are pests I thought this would be a good place. But if someone wants to move it to a more suitable location so I could get more replys then that would be great. The mice population in my coops has gone through the roof; I do have mouse traps in there and one with some decon (that the chickens can't get to unless they're VERY clever), it still doesn't help. So this is my last resort, a cat. Now every once in a while the feed store gets some kittens in and they're free to a good home. First of all, is this a good idea? I think i've heard of people doing this but i'm not sure. Another reason why this is my last resort is because my dad hates cats with a passion, don't ask me why. I know he would say no if i don't know anything about it. So i have a couple of questions... 1) Do I potty train this kitten? (how) 2)Does it stay out in the coop ALL the time? 3) Will the chickens take to it well while it is still a kitten? I have 3 seperate coops that are 4 different ages. In one of my coops is my very laidback 2 year olds, i think if in any place this should be the one that the kitten would stay in till it gets older. Is this ok? 4) Will this work? 5) When the kitten gets older will I need to feed it still or does it just live off the mice? 6) Do I keep it inside during the day and in the coop at night or vise versa? I'm sure i'll have other questions but I can't think of them right now. Thanks in advance for any replys.
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treenz		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 748 09/21/08 04:36 AM	I did get a cat to keep rats and mice away when we moved here 4 years ago. Previous home we lost many chickens because of the dratted rats and other cats. Chicken foods left out there attracts rats then rats attracts other cats. By having a cat - it keeps others away from our land and hunts for rats and mice. Rats are much cleverer than you think. We still have to put poisoned baits down their holes from time to time. Rats travels to get food and shelter then take off... i get rat droppings in the coop and rat holes/tunnels - that's how i know. i am hoping to hatch few chicks out next month or later on... hopefully i will find or make a strong chicken tractor to keep rats out. To keep a cat - we had a 8 week old kitten already toilet trained - kept it in the sunroom with a dirt box and fed it there for two weeks then let her prowl around our house for another week ... put her dirt box outside the sunroom door during the day and let her out for a week... keeping eye on her to see she comes back for a feed. No problems since. We called her Sheeba. At that time my chooks had hatched chicks out - by letting Sheeba out to explore at the same time - she learnt to leave chooks alone thru few mother chooks picking on her to keep away from their babies. Sheeba often comes into the chooks run and sit there for hours on end to watch for rats. She has caught a few and killed them but left them for me to burn or bury them. She comes in to be fed in the morning and evenings. She will be four years old in November.
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Tink69		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 14 09/21/08 09:27 PM	Just for a warning. My 3yr. old son took one of our several month old kittens and threw it in with our one year old chickens and they took after it like nothing Ive ever seen. The kitten jumped the fence and took off so I'm not sure how well your chickens will take to cats but mine didnt do to well.
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Eoanthropus Dawsoni		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 8 10/31/08 07:14 PM	The chickens don't eat the mice? I've never seen a mouse last very long in a chicken coop.
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stonethegardener		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1 11/04/08 07:07 AM	1) potty train? Cats aren't dogs. They go anywhere there's loose material. 2) my cats have always been outside cats. Feed it where you want it to eat. do the chickens have an outside area where the cat can jump out? Cats like to roam about. 3) Unknowable... Prolly best to introduce the cat a little at a time.... also, you'll want a "kitten" that has been with the mother long enough to have learned some skills. 4) Certainly 5) Feed the cat. That's how you keep it around. I prefer to keep mine a little hungry.... They kill regardless of hunger, but if they're a little hungry, they eat their catch immediately instead of torturing it for hours. 6) See # 2 Get rid of the poison, or you'll have a sick kitty.
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jjthink		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 152 11/09/08 06:17 PM	If your dad lives there and he hates cats, I wouldn't get a cat. Cats need clean fresh food and water daily and at times, medical care which costs money so that is something to consider before making a decision. Not every cat is a good mouser. Not every cat can endure harsh weather conditions. Poison can claim unintended victims - I would never use any. You might try mouse REPELLENTS like Mouse Magic by Bonide or cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil (though keep them a distance from where the birds sleep in case the smell bothers them - I am not sure it does nor am I certain it doesn't). Keep all food sources in tightly sealed containers so there is nothing for mice to eat - they will look for greener pastures. Clean up any spillage from food dishes every night so there isn't anything to attract them. Initially, till things get under control I would use hav-a-hart traps and transport the little captured ones to an field/forest edge not near people or their buildings (I tend toward nonlethal solutions when there is an option). These practices combined together should significantly reduce mouse populations. I know the situation you have is frustrating and I appreciate how difficult it can be. I usually have no mice or at most perhaps one or two from time to time by following the practices above. I hope this info helps you in some way. JJ
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