Working Cats
Are you looking at adding working cats to your farm or business? Working cats are great because they are tireless and enthusiastic hunters of unwanted vermin and they typically do a far better job than exterminators and poisons. Studies show that the smell of a cat in an enclosed area will keep the mice away! When welcoming working cat(s) to your property it is important to make the cat(s) feel at home so once they are released, they will remain on site. We suggest placing two working cats that know each other together, it’s the buddy system! Two cats are always better than one!
Reporting for duty! The process begins with an introductory phase allowing the cats to adjust to their new homes for at least two to three weeks where they are crated or contained to a specific area and are protected from the outside elements. During this time of adjustment, they will need to be fed, given water daily, and provided a litter box. We suggest the use of pine pellet litter so when the box is needing to be dumped the used litter may be spread around the area where you expect the cat to reside and work. The pellet litter breaks down into a dust therefore it is easy to spread and serves to pre-mark the area so when the cat is released he/she smells its own scent making the transition of releasing a “welcome home event”. This is an important step to making the cat(s) feel at home and they are more prone to remain on site and report to work!
The following are items you will need:
Reporting for duty! The process begins with an introductory phase allowing the cats to adjust to their new homes for at least two to three weeks where they are crated or contained to a specific area and are protected from the outside elements. During this time of adjustment, they will need to be fed, given water daily, and provided a litter box. We suggest the use of pine pellet litter so when the box is needing to be dumped the used litter may be spread around the area where you expect the cat to reside and work. The pellet litter breaks down into a dust therefore it is easy to spread and serves to pre-mark the area so when the cat is released he/she smells its own scent making the transition of releasing a “welcome home event”. This is an important step to making the cat(s) feel at home and they are more prone to remain on site and report to work!
The following are items you will need:
- A barn, stable, or outdoor building shelter where the cat(s) can live.
- Daily food and water for the cat(s); and
- Veterinary care such as annual vaccinations.
