Barn Cats

Do you have a farm, barn, or homestead? Sooner or later, you’re likely to find rodents. Mice, rats, and other vermin are attracted to grain and food stores, and think of barns and stables as all-you-can-eat buffets. As it turns out, there is a purring, adorable solution to this issue: the barn cat. A local Roswell, NM vet discusses hiring Fluffy in this article.

A Purrfect Match

Our feline pals aren’t new to working as farmhands. In fact, their hunting prowess is likely what led us to domesticate them in the first place. (It’s also entirely possible that Fluffy at one point dropped a dead mouse at someone’s door, then just strolled in and made herself at home on a pile of furs, but that’s beside the point.) Many barn cats are more than happy to help with pest control in exchange for room, board, and meals.

Basic Care

Fluffy may not mind lounging around on sacks of grain or bedding, but she should have a kitty shelter to go to on cold nights. There’s an easy solution for this: take two storage totes, one slightly larger than the other. Put one inside the other, with some cardboard or newspaper stuffed into the gap for insulation. Then, just cut a kitty door in one side. If you have a tack room, you can also install a kitty door there. Microchips can come in handy here, as there are pet doors that work with specific microchips. That would let your furry friend come and go without offering free access to the mice and rats she’s there to get rid of.

Veterinary Care

Barn cats are quite independent, but they do need proper care. Keep up with Fluffy’s veterinary care needs! Your kitty should be fixed, microchipped, and kept current on exams, vaccinations, and parasite control. Ask your vet to recommend an appointment schedule.

Finding Fluffy

Life on the farm isn’t right for every cat. Some of our feline buddies are pampered princesses that literally wouldn’t know what to do if a mouse walked right past them. We also recommend keeping pet cats indoors. However, the barn life can be a great option for stray or feral cats. Many shelters have programs for rehoming feral cats. It won’t hurt to look around!

Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Contact us, your Roswell, NM pet hospital, anytime!