Using Cats As Pest Control
Using Felines To Control Rat, Gopher, Mouse Or Other Rodent Problems
Cats are good as companions. They require very little upkeep, especially outdoor cats. They also offer very effective rodent and pest control solutions.
There are roughly 70 million pet cats in approximately 37 million homes in the USA. There is evidence of people having cats as pets as far back as 8,300 years. Much longer than Egypt has been depicting them on tomb walls. Cats have long been used by farmers to control rodents that threatened crops. Recent studies have shown that cats (and dogs) as pets can lower blood pressure and have other health benefits.
If you live in the country, suburbs or even in the city, you may have a problem with rodents. Mice, rats, gophers, squirrels, moles, even rabbits and birds can destroy property and possibly create a health risk for children. There are many ways to control these problems, none of which seem to be 100% effective.
Cats can be a great tool in helping to contain or perhaps even eliminate those problems. Cats make good rodent control because they're dynamic and they really love their job. Cats can also work in groups. Cats have the ability to regurgetate easily, making it much more difficult for them to get sick from eating poisened rodents.
Mice are everywhere. It is very likely you have some inside your house or buisness. If you have young children, this can be a health risk. It can also be annoying when they get into your food supply, often contaminating it. Cats can be very effective in reducing or eliminating mouse problems indoors.
One of the bigger problems with cats catching mice indoors is the mess. Cats often eat their prey, but not always. When they do, they don't always consume 100% of the prey. They also have a tendancy to bring outdoor catches indoors and consume them there, leaving a pile of feathers or fur on the floor. These should be removed as soon as possible to avoid health risks.
Cats can control any number of rodents outdoors including mice, rats, moles, gophers, squirrels, birds and yes, even rabbits. They work very effectively in rural areas where ground dwelling rodents can tear up your yard or damage crops. Gophers and Moles especially can damage your yard and in extreme cases they can make it dangerous by making the ground unstable due to massive amounts of tunnels just below the surface.
If you've got rodent problems, get some cats. You may have to teach them to hunt instead of play, but it will be worth it.
