Barn cats? - Horse Forums - Horse Forum Topics & Answers - Horse Training & Trainers

*Stephanie2377* · 03-28-2007,

My other thread about my future barn made me think of this... do you all have actual barn cats? I am an animal lover, and don't want to have cats around *only* to stay in the barn. I have indoor-only cats right now.

But, I wondered if it would be important to have outdoor barn cats if mice and other critters might like the horse feed.

Is it important to have cats around to help with this?

*RPETRACEK* · 03-28-2007,

My issue with barn cats is I like cats. Not alot of guys do. But something about there independent nature. Mice are always at a barn and get into the grain and feed. And ruin blankets and other uncared for items.

If you find a couple micers that are good.. worth there wait in time and effort. But then you get to like them and GONE!, either coyote or they just thought they would move on.

But no worries, always seems about the right time everyone needs to deposit a new cat at your barn or property.

IF you like cats they are a plus to have around. And after a week or two you will find they seem to fatten up nicely and grow a little lazier than when they first arrived.

*Amused* · 03-29-2007,

I have 3 barn cats. One granny cat that gets a sofa in the tack room and then 2 fixed males. My barn cats have a job to do. They keep down the rabbit population outside and control rodents inside. They all stay current on rabies. They come in the house to visit but after an hour or so they ask to go back out. They keep away stray toms too.

*P8ntCrazy* · 03-29-2007,

I have had both of our neighbors cats adopt us (neighbor kids were mean to them). They have learned to use the doggie door so they come and go as they please. They older cat no longer does much of anything except sleep on the bed and eat. She will hunt and bring us something if we have been gone for a few days on vacation. Normally the next morning she brings us a gift. The younger cat is a great hunter. She catches mice, lizards, rabbits (full size cotton tails), ground squirls, & even Doves. Occasionally she tells me how much she loves us and brings it in as a gift (sometimes dead sometimes alive). The key thing is to fix them so they don't have the urge to wonder, and you will have to feed them a little to keep them around. A good mouser (critter catcher) will continue its job even if you feed them. Ours have free choice bowl in the house.

*FancyHorse* · 03-29-2007,

Agree with all the above. We have 2 cats that adopted us and they both catch mice and birds!

*Stephanie2377* · 04-02-2007,

Thanks for the input! I think one of my problems is that I do love cats SO much! I'd want them to be inside and pampered instead of outdoors and mousing.
Maybe I could find some from the shelter who need to be outdoors and are more used to that. I could provide food/shelter, and they could have all the mice and birds they could catch!

*cocowgirl29* · 04-11-2007,

The whole time I was growing up I can remember my grandpa's ranch having cats in the barn. They had a few that were tame and rubbed on your legs but most of them were wild. I guess they had about 10 cats or kittens running around at any given time. If my grandma found where they had the kittens then some of them would end up tame. But if they had kittens in the loft or something then noone knew about them till they grew and by then they were wild. I'm sure they acquired some strays from the around the country side that they other cats brought home or attracted.
So, if the cats were wild then you wouldn't get so attached to them and it wouldn't be so bad if they "went away".

*Stephanie2377* · 04-17-2007,

I am assuming that people who have "barn cats" keep them immunized and such? I would also want to control the population by having just a few cats at a time and keeping them spayed/neutered. Cats can breed SO quickly!! I could always get kittens from the shelter instead of making my own!