Outdoor (feral) cats for protecting garden frm pests?
My parents have a large backyard where they’re growing many vegetables. They have a major pest problem, mostly gophers. We’ve had cats in the past and they were instrumental in keeping the pest problem under control. My parents want to adopt two cats who will be living outdoors. They are planning on going to the humane society to adopt but would like to know how old the cats should be and what genders.
It would be so helpful if someone who has knowledge about outdoor cats could share their advice about this. I have heard it is best to get feral females. Would I ask the humane society specifically for feral cats when I go there?
Thanks – yes the yard is fenced, there are a lot of mice too.
Parents live in residential area outside of Los Angeles. So, seems like humane society is not best place to go?
Filed under: Cat Behavior
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Humane societies do not adopt out feral cats. They’ll adopt out cats that prefer outdoors, but there’s a huge difference between being outdoors and a feral.
Feral – describes a domestic animal that has returned to the wild and lives without human attention.
SOME PEOPLE ALSO TAKE SWATCHES OF DOG HAIR AND TIE THEM TO A STICK IN THE GARDEN. THE PESTS SMELL THEN SCENT AND SOMETIMES STAY AWAY.
THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY DONT HAVE ANY THEY ONLY have pets they dont want there animals running around .go to a few farms you will find a couple of cats or kittens who have the killer instink but please get them there shots and fixed . plus the humane society charges you an arm and a leg
you are correct. spayed females are better hunters
is the yard fenced so the cats cannot leave?? or is it acreage?? becuase the cats run the risk of being hit by cars, or poisoned by neighbours..
cats can kill gophers but its not likely.. mostly dogs like YORKIES are used for killing gophers… because the dogs will go into the tunnels, where the cat is too big…
most people poison gophers so if your neighbors do this (not all the gophers die some eat the poison and live) your cats cat get poisoned from the gophers…
you are better off to actually shoot the gophers or have somebody do this.. cats wont help much.. they prefer smaller prey like mice
a well fed cat is a better hunter
you MUST have warm shelter and fresh water all year.. and food too obviously
not all shelters adopt out FERAL CATS>. but some do..
look into independent people who help out strays!! feral cats have no where to go & usaly get putdown at shelters!! i use to foster for an independet rescue!! i wish i still did so i can save a few ferals and help you out!!! what state do you live in? e-mail me if you are in ohio, i know 2 there!!!
What you are looking for is called, a barn cat, not a feral cat. Feral cats are wild. Females are are usually the best because they are the hunter/killers for their litters.