Do you have a barn, shed, or other large outbuilding? Are you tired of setting up toxic poisons and difficult mouse traps to catch unscrupulous rodents? Get a barn cat; the benefits far outweigh the cost.

Owning a barn cat has many benefits. Barn cats are the best non-toxic formula of getting rid of farm rodents and snakes. With a barn cat on the premise, you will finally be able to do away with rat poisons, mouse traps, and dirty rodent droppings.

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How do you get a barn cat? There are several feral (wild) cat non-profit organizations available that take homeless or "forgotten" cats and deal them out to farmers in need of rodent control. In general, the only requirements these organizations have is a life-long commitment from the home owners to usually provide food, water, and curative attention for the barn cats. Though it may seem like a huge commitment, the benefits are worth it, and possibly less expensive in the long run.

What kind of curative attention do barn cats require? All barn cats need to be spayed or neutered. You do not want to have an army of feral cats on your property. Also, barn cats need to have had their major vaccinations completed. These vaccinations contain the herpes virus, calichi virus and panleukopenia virus. Also, the rabies vaccine is imperative, because cats in rural areas may in effect be exposed to bats, mice, rats, squirrels and other rodents who have the disease. Because barn cats' jobs are to catch and kill pesky rodents, these twitching, dying creatures are bait for pouncing felines at any time.

You will also need to keep up with deterrent treatments, such as heart worm and tapeworm treatments, sometimes administering them monthly. Rats and mice are usually carriers of tapeworms; once a feline captures an infected rodent, it will most likely ageement the disease, unless they are on deterrent medication. Tape worm stoppage is not 100% guaranteed, but it in effect provides a large whole of protection. If mosquitoes are common in your area, you will want to give your barn cat's heartworm deterrent medication as well.

Besides providing curative attention for barn cats, be sure to run over the premises in which your cat will roam with a keen eye so you can get rid of any hazardous objects that may harm the cat. Corners and nooks and crannies are easy places to forget about. Be sure to check and ensure you do not have any old rat poison or traps lurking colse to your barn, as these may poison or injure your barn cat. Also, old tractors with batteries or dormant gasoline tanks have the inherent to break and leak. The metals contained in the battery, as well as gasoline or anti-freeze are all harmful to a cat if they are ingested. The best way to deal with this risk is by plainly removing it.

The life expectancy of a barn cat is ordinarily half that of a indoor cat plainly because outdoor cats are exposed to many more dangers and diseases than indoor cats. But, again, you are addition your barn cat's life by adopting him or her into your farm family when before they were completely wild and without a home. If you get a barn cat, you will be satisfied in knowing that you have helped salvage a cat; and it, in turn, has helped you with retention your farm rodent free.