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The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 4:41 pm
by DavidBarkey
These two live out with the chickens and ducks .
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They are "working" cats on mouse and rat control . That being said , since we got the bigger one no more mice or rats in the chicken , duck or garden .
The little one(Smokey) we got recently to keep the bigger one (Mr Whiskers) company . I do think we spoil them a little . They come in every night for supper and lovins .
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As you can see they have a hard life here , worked to death :rofl: .
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Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:59 pm
by Eugen
They're both useful AND cute! :wave3:

Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 11:05 pm
by Harry
I’ve noticed feral cats around this past summer. I have seen them on the prowl with my ring cameras. Now the mouse population seems to be way down because it’s rare that I catch any in my shop. :peace: Harry

Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 6:08 am
by DavidBarkey
Harry wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 11:05 pm I’ve noticed feral cats around this past summer. I have seen them on the prowl with my ring cameras. Now the mouse population seems to be way down because it’s rare that I catch any in my shop. :peace: Harry
The bigger one gets to prowl during the day when he wants but they are inside the electric fence area at night to protect them from predators . We have Martin , Fisher , Fox , and Coy-wolves in the area . If you like the benefits of having the cats around with out the upkeep . Try putting out a little food now and then and if there is a place out of the weather you can leave and old blanket , they will find it .

Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:06 am
by propane1
Trouble with putting food out for a cat is the raccoons find it. Son tried that. Raccoons got all the food. Sons lean too where he stores cars and tractors has racoons coming and going. His camera picked up a cat in there one night. So he thought he’d feed the cat to maybe keep it around and help keep the racoons away. Didn’t work. Coons got the food before the cat.

Noel

Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 9:55 am
by DavidBarkey
propane1 wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:06 am Trouble with putting food out for a cat is the raccoons find it. Son tried that. Raccoons got all the food. Sons lean too where he stores cars and tractors has racoons coming and going. His camera picked up a cat in there one night. So he thought he’d feed the cat to maybe keep it around and help keep the racoons away. Didn’t work. Coons got the food before the cat.

Noel
Ya that can be a problem .

Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:40 pm
by Harry
I had read about putting up a feral cat box. Someplace for them to hang to get out of the weather. I took an old styrofoam box that had a tight fitting lid. I believe I received a gift from someone that came from Omaha Steak Co. that had beef and dry ice in it. I cut a hole in an end and put straw in it. I did this a few years ago and as far as I can tell no animals have been in it. I placed it on the side if my shop where I store firewood. I never put any food out there. :peace: Harry

Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:51 pm
by DavidBarkey
Harry wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:40 pm I had read about putting up a feral cat box. Someplace for them to hang to get out of the weather. I took an old styrofoam box that had a tight fitting lid. I believe I received a gift from someone that came from Omaha Steak Co. that had beef and dry ice in it. I cut a hole in an end and put straw in it. I did this a few years ago and as far as I can tell no animals have been in it. I placed it on the side if my shop where I store firewood. I never put any food out there. :peace: Harry
Probably too close to the people building .

Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:59 pm
by Harry
DavidBarkey wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:51 pm
Harry wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:40 pm I had read about putting up a feral cat box. Someplace for them to hang to get out of the weather. I took an old styrofoam box that had a tight fitting lid. I believe I received a gift from someone that came from Omaha Steak Co. that had beef and dry ice in it. I cut a hole in an end and put straw in it. I did this a few years ago and as far as I can tell no animals have been in it. I placed it on the side if my shop where I store firewood. I never put any food out there. :peace: Harry
.

Probably too close to the people building .
The area never gets anyone other than myself. It’s near the property line that is covered by brush and trees. On the other side is a neighbor who is elderly and not seen much. I guess they just don’t like it there. :peace: Harry

Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:49 pm
by Eugen
@Harry maybe if you put soft cat food inside, or something else that cats like a lot.

Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 9:41 pm
by Timj
Having them around does definitely help with keeping the mouse population in check. We currently have three that live in the little shed that I've been working on. Having the old farm buildings seems to attract strays, I think people that don't want them drop them off, next thing you know there's a litter of kittens. :114: When the girls were young they would want to keep them all, fortunately some went home with their friends. :69:

They are not let in the house but these three have it pretty soft. They each have their own little heated house. ;) and get fed every morning. We have to pick up the food in the evening or the opossum come.
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Re: The hard life of a barn cat

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:35 pm
by Jancoe
I have what you call a park model at an rv campground association. It has travel trailers, 5th wheels, and park models with additions. The feral cat population is horrible at the place. Some of the older folks like to look out for them and place alot of food out. They have multiplied over the last 4 years at that place. A few have tried capturing the smaller less aggressive ones and taking them in for spay/neutered but most times they are brought back to the park. The park is very nice to go to on the weekends. The cats not so much for me. You guys can have them. They don't do their job at that park because we see alot of chipmunks all over.

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