Yard cats

i found that feral cats kept the rats and mice down... we had 4 ferals but the females seemed to be the best ratters... i think the boys just liked to be decorative and they were friendlier than the girls......before we got them we had rats everywhere, afterwards the only rats i saw were dead ones...so they did a good job.

my current yard owner has 2 domestic cats who are out and about in the yard all the time and we never see any rats or mice......
 
I havent a yard cat, even though we get mice, i leave traps down as didnt think it would be fair as only have a tackroom with one shelter attached and minimal activity. Our outside cat Splodge when she was alive was an avid mouse, shrew and rat catcher. Had to watch your step going out of the back door as she would line them up on the doorstep for you, she would always be waiting in the middle of the backyard for her morning 'payment' of catfood, she was well fed but liked to earn her feed, we never expected it though lol, just one of her good quirks! :rolleyes:
 
As other people have said, a lot of rehoming places will be more than happy to find somewhere for a couple of ferals. I'd always say have more than one, as they keep each other company and can snuggle for warmth in the winter. They will always find somewhere warm to sleep - the new kittens on the yard now happily hop into most of the horses stables during the night, and sit on the big hay bales in the day to avoid the dogs!

Unless they have had a particularly traumatic experience, even feral cats will generally become sociable if you are calm and patient with them -the new yard cats can now be carried around inside coats as hot water bottles :D

I rehomed my pet cats from Cats Protection who were absolutely fab - I would highly recommend them, esp as the other local 'big' charities wouldn't let me have anything as I worked and wouldn't be at home all day...

Rehome a couple of cats and you'll be well repaid in endless hours of amusement even if they don't like cuddles :)
 
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