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Old 05-06-2020, 07:04 PM
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i82much i82much is offline
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Default Mouse traps vs. cat

Sounds like a joke ... but it's not. I've got a metal 40x40 shop in eastern WA. I get a lot of deer mice, I leave out 10 traps or so and probably average one mouse per day. These mice carry hantavirus and I want to reduce the number of mice in the shop.

Has anyone gotten a dedicated "shop cat" to deal with this issue? The previous owner had a cat that lived in the shop, so there is already a cat door. The way I look at it, there is a cat at the pound somewhere who is going to be euthanized, why not bring it to my shop and let it live out the rest of its life keeping mice out of my shop?

My wife is a little worried about the cat pooping in her garden, and I'm a little worried about the cat peeing in my GTO. And we already have three house cats, so my wife will probably feel bad for the poor kitty that gets stuck living the outside life.

And chances are, the coyotes will get the cat at some point, or a hawk, or whatever. But hey, if you were the cat, what would you rather have - a lethal injection, or a ride home with a nice family to a warm bed in a shop full of mice, even if the coyotes and hawks are out on the prowl?

Thoughts?

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Old 05-06-2020, 07:31 PM
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We have outdoor cats just for the purpose of catching mice etc.

If I was you, I would get a couple cats from the pound that are fixed and used to living outside. At least 2 is better so they have company. And give it a place for shelter when the weather is bad such as a dog (cat) house. Probably not a good idea to get an indoor cat and then force it to live outdoors though.

I probably would not let the cat live in the shop, as they jump on everything, get hair all over the place, and could possibly make a mess to your car or other items.

But cats are pretty effective, right now around my place the cats are eating a couple ground squirrels a day and a mouse here and there....they already took care of the ones on my property and are now venturing over to the neighbors and bringing the critters home to eat them.

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Old 05-06-2020, 07:34 PM
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Steve,

Save a Cat. Cats are cool!

Give a lonesome animal a loving home for what’s left of their life.
Let them go out in nature and explore, while they are doing you a favor in your shop.

My kitty years ago in training.

Chris.
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Old 05-06-2020, 07:46 PM
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Something I found by accident one winter (actually spring when I found it).

I had a metal drain pan that had tranny fluid in it. I left it under a car.
In spring when getting car ready to move, I dumped the fluid and there must have been 20 dead mice (at least) in it.



Probably one of the best years for not having mice in my pole building.


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  #5  
Old 05-06-2020, 08:06 PM
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Cats are natural height dwellers, speaking from experience if you have the cat or cats outside anywhere near your cars, guaranteed the cats will be on top of them. I had a barn cat get on top of my 67 Firebird laid on its roof with a cover on it, started down the back glass then slid off the closed trunk lid leaving scratches all the way down. Plus as stated cats will eat the mice then poop in your gardens in soft soil or mulch if you use it. Not worth the worry and expense of food, vet bills and damage. If you have dogs and they eat the cat poo they might get very sick and even die from the cat poop. I speak from experience. Outside cats get many diseases as well a big one is feline leukemia, and they contract worms from the rodents and birds they eat. Traps are a far better choice IMO.

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Old 05-06-2020, 08:23 PM
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5X_tfeFmuM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MZQCZasdOc
try one of these

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Old 05-06-2020, 08:43 PM
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Default Along those lines...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Firedup6975 View Post
Cats are natural height dwellers, speaking from experience if you have the cat or cats outside anywhere near your cars, guaranteed the cats will be on top of them. I had a barn cat get on top of my 67 Firebird laid on its roof with a cover on it, started down the back glass then slid off the closed trunk lid leaving scratches all the way down. Plus as stated cats will eat the mice then poop in your gardens in soft soil or mulch if you use it. Not worth the worry and expense of food, vet bills and damage. If you have dogs and they eat the cat poo they might get very sick and even die from the cat poop. I speak from experience. Outside cats get many diseases as well a big one is feline leukemia, and they contract worms from the rodents and birds they eat. Traps are a far better choice IMO.
This cat "Rocky" loves to perch. He's one of my two barn cats. They never come inside. I feed them just enough to keep them interested. They still hunt and kill but don't consume the animals they murder.
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Old 05-06-2020, 09:18 PM
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We have a couple of feral cats that live around here. I would let them stay IF they would simply kill mice, but they don't. What they do is harass the songbirds I feed and crap/pea in my garage. I have two options: a live trap and take them to the animal shelter or a .22LR subsonic hollow point and bury the evidence. I live in the county, so shooting feral cats is actually encouraged by both the sheriff's department and INDOR. Decisions, decisions....

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Old 05-06-2020, 09:38 PM
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Sticky traps!!!!!!!
I will say it again Sticky traps! They catch ANYTHING that moves!
Keep them then by every door! Sometime they are just full of bugs, spiders
geckos anything that moves!

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Old 05-06-2020, 10:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hurryinhoosier62 View Post
We have a couple of feral cats that live around here. I would let them stay IF they would simply kill mice, but they don't. What they do is harass the songbirds I feed and crap/pea in my garage. I have two options: a live trap and take them to the animal shelter or a .22LR subsonic hollow point and bury the evidence. I live in the county, so shooting feral cats is actually encouraged by both the sheriff's department and INDOR. Decisions, decisions....
you can live trap them, With some heavy duty welding glove put a neon collar on him, get ahold of the local cat fanciers assoc...and they will get a vet to fix em....Release....The neon collar will be seen by the birds who are visual but wont affect vermin as they don't see in color......I have seen those collars for sale at the pet store, supposedly very effective

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Old 05-06-2020, 10:23 PM
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And chances are, the coyotes will get the cat at some point, or a hawk, or whatever. But hey, if you were the cat, what would you rather have - a lethal injection, or a ride home with a nice family to a warm bed in a shop full of mice, even if the coyotes and hawks are out on the prowl?

Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

And what would you rather have, a lethal injection, or a warm bed with a shop full of food??

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Old 05-06-2020, 10:37 PM
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Depends on the cat's character. Some of them detest being left inside, rain or shine.

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Old 05-06-2020, 11:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonsie View Post
And chances are, the coyotes will get the cat at some point, or a hawk, or whatever. But hey, if you were the cat, what would you rather have - a lethal injection, or a ride home with a nice family to a warm bed in a shop full of mice, even if the coyotes and hawks are out on the prowl?

Thoughts?
And what would you rather have, a lethal injection, or a warm bed with a shop full of food?? [/QUOTE]



Never in my life saw a coyote go up a tree like a cat can.

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Old 05-07-2020, 12:53 AM
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If my wife wasn't so allergic, I would have a cat(s) again. Grew up with them. Great animals, and yes, very effective hunters.

As for the cars, if they're super nice, then car covers will prevent cats scratching the paint. If they're drivers, let the cats loose.

Most cats are fairly sanitary. The usually poo someplace away from their living area. You can always go the litterbox route, but it does necessitate cleaning it regularly. But the cats will use it.

To your wife's concern, tell her cat poo will be good for the garden.

I agree with your assessment. Get a cat(s) and save them from the Jesus juice @ the pound. Let them live the life the Lord created them to live, and serve their role.

I vote Cat. Meow.

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Old 05-07-2020, 01:28 AM
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If its a male cat, make sure its neutered. That takes care of the peeing problem at least.

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Old 05-07-2020, 04:22 AM
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Lots of great opinions and ideas. I have a feral cat that has become some what tame? You can pet her a little and she walks around your legs, that's about it. No mice problems in the shop or squirrels outside. I would much rather have a cat sleep or walk on top of my car than have mice camping/crapping inside my cars! Biggest problem is other cats trying to fight their way into her territory. Had one pissing on my welder, he didn't make it very long!!! Traps and sticky pads work but not as good as a hungry cat. Good luck with your eradication!

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Old 05-07-2020, 07:54 AM
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I have a feral cat that lives around my barn. I dont feed it, it was not mine I suppose a neighbor at one time abandoned it. We have named it P3, because its the third wild pussycat we have had. Doesn't really cause any problems, dont know if it eats mice, and we only see it occasionally. Personally I am a dog person and would not get a cat for mouse control, but I live in a rural area with lots of farms, and my grandfather was a dairy farmer. He always had barn cats so there must be something to it.
Only time I have seen a cat climb a tree was when being chased, but yes they do climb on cars.

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Old 05-07-2020, 08:12 AM
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We had outdoor cats (with their own house) for years, until a pack of wild dogs tore down the house and killed the last cat.

I like cats! They are loads of fun to watch!

Having said that, if you have them in with your cars, covered or not (unless you have covers made from 1/4 inch boilerplate) your cars WILL have scratches on the hood, and top.

Any small sacks of parts left on your work bench will be turned over, and probably on the floor.

Cats will use the litter box, but they won't dump it.

Maybe you could contact the Department of Conservation, and bring in a family of owls for the mice

Jon.

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Old 05-07-2020, 08:30 AM
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Good idea if you also don’t like songbirds. They will decimate the song bird population....

Don

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Old 05-07-2020, 08:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister Pontiac View Post

As for the cars, if they're super nice, then car covers will prevent cats scratching the paint. If they're drivers, let the cats loose.

.
That only works until the cat realizes that the cover makes a good scratching post. On my custom Solstice cover I first noticed it on the "shark fin" antenna pocket. I welcomed that cat into my garage and that is what she did to me. Now she is back on the street.

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