Barn Cat Pros/Cons

[Bird_Lover_17]

I'm considering getting a barn cat since I have increasing problems with chipmunks and mice.

My only experience with barn cats was when I was 8 and I had a friend who had barn cats. They all interbred and there was like 100 cats- I personally do not want that, I only want 1-2.

Anyone have any pros/cons or advice

Any input is appreciated!

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Do you live in a place where there are many feral cats?
I would say get 1-2 females and spay them, so there's no risk of them getting pregnant or impregnating other cats.

 

[SueT]

Agree w above. Spay/neuter the cats you get.

 

[RebelEgger]

Yup, spay and or neuter.

 

[FlightyChicken]

We have 4 barn cats right now, All spayed and neutered. Overall I really like having barn cats, ours don't really like to mess with our chickens. Bonded pairs work the best, because they would not want to leave each other. The cats we have are good mousers and are friendly. Barn cats an obvious sent, so have a litterbox by the door so the mice will smell them. You will need to have a food source in the barn, and make sure there is not feeder's outside, so they have a reason to come home everyday. The only problem we have had is that one of our cats likes to go to our neighbors yard, but he has a son who is allergic to cats, so they don't really like her. Barn cats in general are great to have around, I would recommend them strongly! (Sorry about the essay....)

 

[FuzzyCritters]

Barn cats are great! One thing the cats must have is a food source in your barn. The cats will come home every night and stay close to your property if they know they have is a reliable food source. They also hunt better when they are not hungry.

Bonded pairs work really well. The cat's will not want to leave each other, so one is more likely to stay on your property if the other is there. Plus they will be less lonely and have a companion to keep them busy when they are not hunting.

Agree with above posters on spay/neuter. An un-neutered cat (male or female) will search for a mate during breeding season until he/she finds one, and will not hesitate to leave your property. Both males and females will be great hunters. Males are a lot cheaper to neuter though, if you end up getting whole cats or kittens.

 

[Bird_Lover_17]

Do you live in a place where there are many feral cats?
I would say get 1-2 females and spay them, so there's no risk of them getting pregnant or impregnating other cats.

Yes, the area I am in has feral cats- mostly in January.
Thanks!

 

[Bird_Lover_17]

We have 4 barn cats right now, All spayed and neutered. Overall I really like having barn cats, ours don't really like to mess with our chickens. Bonded pairs work the best, because they would not want to leave each other. The cats we have are good mousers and are friendly. Barn cats an obvious sent, so have a litterbox by the door so the mice will smell them. You will need to have a food source in the barn, and make sure there is not feeder's outside, so they have a reason to come home everyday. The only problem we have had is that one of our cats likes to go to our neighbors yard, but he has a son who is allergic to cats, so they don't really like her. Barn cats in general are great to have around, I would recommend them strongly! (Sorry about the essay....)

Ok, Thanks!

 

[Bird_Lover_17]

Barn cats are great! One thing the cats must have is a food source in your barn. The cats will come home every night and stay close to your property if they know they have is a reliable food source. They also hunt better when they are not hungry.

Bonded pairs work really well. The cat's will not want to leave each other, so one is more likely to stay on your property if the other is there. Plus they will be less lonely and have a companion to keep them busy when they are not hunting.

Agree with above posters on spay/neuter. An un-neutered cat (male or female) will search for a mate during breeding season until he/she finds one, and will not hesitate to leave your property. Both males and females will be great hunters. Males are a lot cheaper to neuter though, if you end up getting whole cats or kittens.

That's interesting that they hunt best when they are not hungry (I would never starve them, i've just never heard that one before)!

 

[MarkJr]

That's interesting that they hunt best when they are not hungry (I would never starve them, i've just never heard that one before)!

Happy cat kills much more than hungry cat. They have the full belly to waste on tormenting small critters.

Hungry cats eat the critters and don’t waste effort on playing.

We fed our barn cats daily so as not to attract skunks and raccoons.