Rats, rats... & more rats!!!

Please be aware that Tom Cat blocks are very tasty to dogs and other critters, even if put in traps, the rats can drag them out. I lost a JRT this way. I get a rat catcher now that will place the traps in just the right place, it is their job and they make sure that nothing else can get the bait. Putting poison down is for a professional to do, not to be thrown around willy nilly. Terriers will kill one or two. but bare in mind if you see one rat there will be 50 more within 6 feet of you.
 
justabob said:
Please be aware that Tom Cat blocks are very tasty to dogs and other critters, even if put in traps, the rats can drag them out. I lost a JRT this way. I get a rat catcher now that will place the traps in just the right place, it is their job and they make sure that nothing else can get the bait. Putting poison down is for a professional to do, not to be thrown around willy nilly. Terriers will kill one or two. but bare in mind if you see one rat there will be 50 more within 6 feet of you.
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Lock the terrier in. Leave them & wait. Good Terriers have the stamina of an Ethiopian long distance runner! They also have OCD. Once they get the scent they will not give up. Patience, my friend.
 
Feral cats, they don't seek human company so highly unlikely to affect your allergy, feral cat society are always looking for farm homes for these very efficient killers, no problem with kittens either as they are speyed before being settled
 
Just a quick heads up on cats, which may or may not affect you.
The toiletting habits of any cats mean that they will use any open grain (and wood pellet stables) as latrines. The former is relevant as it's a major cause of toxoplasmosis. This causes a huge range of problems (although more pronounced in other livestock than horses, but extremely dangerous in humans, especially pregnant).

If only there were a method to control rats with no drawbacks!
 
bakewell said:
Just a quick heads up on cats, which may or may not affect you.
The toiletting habits of any cats mean that they will use any open grain (and wood pellet stables) as latrines. The former is relevant as it's a major cause of toxoplasmosis. This causes a huge range of problems (although more pronounced in other livestock than horses, but extremely dangerous in humans, especially pregnant).

If only there were a method to control rats with no drawbacks!
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especially relevant if you have sheep (and cattle) nearby. although if you were to rehome an older cat (6 months and older), who'd already hunted the risks are minimal-as they only shed the oocytes for a couple of weeks after first being infected-although these can stay infective for a while in the environment.

we have a yard cat-although he seems to be wintering in our utility room :p OH is very allergic but is more allergic to mice and rats (which can be a very serious allergy) so its the lesser of two evils.
 
Another vote for feral cats, they can stay totally feral and do a great job for us, although ours are now less feral and have been known to line up their catches on the doorstep or on a car (Eugh!!).
 
MotherOfChickens said:
especially relevant if you have sheep (and cattle) nearby. although if you were to rehome an older cat (6 months and older), who'd already hunted the risks are minimal-as they only shed the oocytes for a couple of weeks after first being infected-although these can stay infective for a while in the environment.
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It's more, if you *know* you're touching a litter box you take precautions, but stuff like feed bins often get refilled without cleaning (or just topped up!). Cat poop happens in places you might not initially think of or see. I bet they loooove indoor schools!
 
Did you see Secret Life of Cats on C4 recently? Farm that was over run by rats, into cow's feed etc. They brought in some feral cats who have set up their own little domain. And now they have no problem with the horrid rodents.
 
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