Belle swiftly made “a dramatic, huge difference” in Jayne’s mouse population, she says. Since bringing Belle on board, Jayne has loaned her to neighbors dealing with their own infestation issues.
Belle swiftly made “a dramatic, huge difference” in Jayne’s mouse population, she says. Since bringing Belle on board, Jayne has loaned her to neighbors dealing with their own infestation issues.
Mouse began hunting right away. After about six months, Chelsea decided to adopt a second cat, 2-year-old Glitter.
“Mouse tends to go for moles on the ground in the barn; we grow hay, and they can mess up the crops a bit. Glitter gets the mice,” Chelsea says. “They just tag team it. The cats have worked really well.”
Jayne, Chelsea, and other landowners enlisting cats to manage rodents are benefiting from the animal’s natural hunting instincts. According to one study published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, domestic cats kill up to 22.3 billion small mammals each year in the U.S.
Mouse began hunting right away. After about six months, Chelsea decided to adopt a second cat, 2-year-old Glitter.
“Mouse tends to go for moles on the ground in the barn; we grow hay, and they can mess up the crops a bit. Glitter gets the mice,” Chelsea says. “They just tag team it. The cats have worked really well.”
Jayne, Chelsea, and other landowners enlisting cats to manage rodents are benefiting from the animal’s natural hunting instincts. According to one study published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, domestic cats kill up to 22.3 billion small mammals each year in the U.S.
While some programs focus on urban areas, a number cater to more rural regions, such as the Pasco County Animal Services working cat program in Land O’ Lakes, Florida. In fact, many of the program’s working cat requests come from farms.
Among the cats the department receives, the ones that are friendly and outgoing are often put up for traditional adoption. Cats that are less comfortable around humans become candidates for the working cat program.
“We don’t just say any cat is a working cat,” says Rachel Stever, Pasco County Animal Services education and outreach coordinator. “There’s certain criteria, usually having to do with some sort of under-socialization with humans [and whether they have] ever lived in a rural or outdoor setting.”
But even if pest-control cats are brought on for practical purposes, it’s not uncommon for them to form a bond with their owner.
“Most stories you hear is someone took a cat to do outdoor pest control work, and it became a cat who hangs out on the porch with the family,” Rachel says.
The couple feed their furry exterminators—currently 17 strong—to supplement their kills. The Spragues also get any new team members neutered or spayed to prevent the cat population from escalating out of control.
“We love them—but 50 is probably too many,” Brian says. “We can’t just have [cats] running rampant out here.”
Keeping working cats from running away can be a concern when they first arrive. Owners can help prevent that by facilitating the cats’ transition to their new home, according to Rachel.
“We provide adopters with ways to train them to stay in certain areas—usually starting them off in a small space, maybe part of a barn or warehouse, then increasing it,” she says. “[Our cats] are microchipped, so if a working cat wanders farther than it’s supposed to, people can have it scanned and bring it back.”
Chelsea, for instance, has trained Mouse and Glitter to retreat, if needed, to a horse stall she’s filled with toys.
“If someone has allergies, or a dog [I’m working with] doesn’t get along with cats, that’s their safe room,” she says.
At Sprague Farm, which sees plenty of visitors, all but one of the felines usually avoid people. The exception, Kevin, a 17-year-old, enjoys greeting guests.
“The cats are typically not in anybody’s face,” Brian says. “People bring kids here and try to count the cats and figure out their names. It’s a little entertainment for them.”
Chelsea, for instance, has trained Mouse and Glitter to retreat, if needed, to a horse stall she’s filled with toys.
“If someone has allergies, or a dog [I’m working with] doesn’t get along with cats, that’s their safe room,” she says.
At Sprague Farm, which sees plenty of visitors, all but one of the felines usually avoid people. The exception, Kevin, a 17-year-old, enjoys greeting guests.
“The cats are typically not in anybody’s face,” Brian says. “People bring kids here and try to count the cats and figure out their names. It’s a little entertainment for them.”
Erin Brereton has written about business, agriculture, and other topics for more than 20 years and has owned a nonworking cat for 17.
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