My house is riddled with mice! We've been wanting a cat for a long time, now we have a good reason to get one. Which breed makes the best mouser? Also, are females better than males (for mousing)?
Getting a kitten, which breed is the best mouser?
- Thread starter smp
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Azraele
Elite Member
- Nov 5, 2000
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To my knowledge, there is no better breed for mousing. You've either got a mouser or a cat that will expect you to do the mousing yourself.
Also, if you want a mouser, a kitten might not be the best way to go. Kitten's haven't refined their skills yet. They're still learning. Cats can catch worms from eating live prey, so make sure kitty is up to date on shots and properly wormed.
Also, if you want a mouser, a kitten might not be the best way to go. Kitten's haven't refined their skills yet. They're still learning. Cats can catch worms from eating live prey, so make sure kitty is up to date on shots and properly wormed.
- Oct 10, 1999
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This is a bad idea. Get a cat because you want a pet, but not beause you want an exterminator.
Your best bet is to call in professional help.
Female may be better because they are smaller than males.
According to the learning / discovery channel programs I've watched, mousing is at least partly taught by the mother cat, so if you get a kitten it might just go Garfield on you and make friends with the mice.
- Oct 10, 1999
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If you want a cat that's good at catching mice: Get it from a farm or other rural place. Get a cat that's at least 12 weeks old, and has lived with IT'S MOTHER the whole time. Cat's mothers teach them how to hunt, it's not entirely instinctive.
My parent's cats came from a neighbor who's backyard opened up into a 35 acre field. We ended up with them when they grew up enough so that they started wandering away from thier mother, and wandered into our backyard. Those cats, when they were younger, would go out into that field and catch three mice in one day. The best hunter of them was male, and he not only caught mice, but also caught young rabbits.
The most important criteria for getting a cat that can hunt, is you want a cat that had its mother teach it how to hunt. The breed is really pretty insignificant (Mine were generic domestic shorthair). The best place to find a cat like that is on a farm, where people still keep cats to hunt mice, rather than to keep inside and pet.
However, if you live in an urban area, I don't know about the farm cat, since a cat raised in a rural area, outdoors, is NOT going to want to be kept indoors all the time. In that case, I'd guess the best option would be to find kittens w/ the same type of mother as I described above, but which have been kept indoors most of the time until thier adoption. Good luck with that though, I doubt it happens often.
My parent's cats came from a neighbor who's backyard opened up into a 35 acre field. We ended up with them when they grew up enough so that they started wandering away from thier mother, and wandered into our backyard. Those cats, when they were younger, would go out into that field and catch three mice in one day. The best hunter of them was male, and he not only caught mice, but also caught young rabbits.
The most important criteria for getting a cat that can hunt, is you want a cat that had its mother teach it how to hunt. The breed is really pretty insignificant (Mine were generic domestic shorthair). The best place to find a cat like that is on a farm, where people still keep cats to hunt mice, rather than to keep inside and pet.
However, if you live in an urban area, I don't know about the farm cat, since a cat raised in a rural area, outdoors, is NOT going to want to be kept indoors all the time. In that case, I'd guess the best option would be to find kittens w/ the same type of mother as I described above, but which have been kept indoors most of the time until thier adoption. Good luck with that though, I doubt it happens often.
- Oct 10, 1999
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My cat (now deceased) was bought from some house in our neighbourhood when I was a kid. She was an orange tabby. A cute reddish ball of fluff. Anyway we live in a subdivision that backs on to a creek and a huge city owned land with tons of wildlife. When she not quite 1 year old she wanted outside in the worst way. We finally let her out and she just loved it. It only took her a month to start bringing home mice and birds. She was an amazing hunter. As she got older her skills improved. She brought home mice 3 or 4 times a day, and would eat them. She managed to bring down a fair sized rabbit. She wasn't a large cat but, boy could she use what she had. Didn't take crap from anything, dog, cat or other. She would stay outside all summer long and would only come in the house when it was too cold to be out all day. Well she got too old for that and it was hard on her. She passed away at 15 years old of some mysterious kidney issue. I really miss her.
She was fun and affectionate and stood up for herself. A great cat and companion.
She was fun and affectionate and stood up for herself. A great cat and companion.hahah, that's a great reason to buy a cat.
just fine the meanest SOB cat you can find to rid your house of those freakin mice.... heheh
just fine the meanest SOB cat you can find to rid your house of those freakin mice.... heheh
- Oct 10, 1999
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i told my S.O. that cats get depressed unless they eat some raw bird or mouse meat every once in awhile, but she still doesn't want to let the cat go out.
Thanks all, that really helps .. keep em coming. That comment about getting the kitty from a rural area really makes sense ... and
This is a bad idea. Get a cat because you want a pet, but not beause you want an exterminator.
Your best bet is to call in professional help.
Female may be better because they are smaller than males.
Don't worry, we've wanted a cat for "all teh right reasons" for a long time now, now we just have every excuse to finally have one. Only thing is that i have a budgie, really cool budgie that sits on me and talks to me and stuff and a dog... neither will be thrilled about kitty.. hopefully the dog will warm up to a kitty though, he's alone all day while we're all working, he could use a friend.
This is a bad idea. Get a cat because you want a pet, but not beause you want an exterminator.
Your best bet is to call in professional help.
Female may be better because they are smaller than males.
Don't worry, we've wanted a cat for "all teh right reasons" for a long time now, now we just have every excuse to finally have one. Only thing is that i have a budgie, really cool budgie that sits on me and talks to me and stuff and a dog... neither will be thrilled about kitty.. hopefully the dog will warm up to a kitty though, he's alone all day while we're all working, he could use a friend.
Originally posted by: Yield
hahah, that's a great reason to buy a cat.
just fine the meanest SOB cat you can find to rid your house of those freakin mice.... heheh
Haha. My neighbor's cat is a Lynx. You want to talk about a cat with killer instincts! This thing jumps on top of the house and catches seagulls.
Correction: It's a Lynx, not a Bobcat (the smaller version of a Lynx).
- Oct 10, 1999
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It could be a problem at first.
You could always get corn snake. They don't grow too big and love mice. They can get into places a cat can't and will eat the entire brood.
My male tabby was a good hunter, he's 18 years old now so he pretty much just sleeps and eats now. our year and a half old calico is not a good hunter.
jt
jt
Or you could just get some traps and a jar of peanut butter... then you wouldn't have a litter box to clean.
if you lived any where near me I would say you could have one of our farm cats but it might be a bit far to drive Im in north dakota
Cav
Cav
glenn1
Lifer
- Sep 6, 2000
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Not that long ago, i saw a big ol' mean bastard of a tomcat chasing a fox through the parking lot at work. That would have been one heckuva fight. I'd be somewhat concerned if my cat brought home a dead fox as a "present" rather than a bird, mouse, or squirrel though.
my dad brought two farm cat's for the barn thhey worked great( he named them #1catchem #2 killem
I'm going to say Maine my excellent compatriot. I noticed you live in canada so I would recommend this cat as it is more adjusted for cold weather than short haired cats.
and get 2 or else it'll be lonely
http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/maine.html
and get 2 or else it'll be lonely
http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/maine.html
I live in Canada yes, the tundra no
I'm in Toronto, which is more south than some of the U.S ... this cat will still live inside, we have heating and stuff here
Anyone know any people giving away little barn kitties in my area? (toronto)
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