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Farm cat

May 05, 2023

The farm cat, also known as a barn cat, is a domestic cat, usually of mixed breed, that lives primarily outdoors, in a feral or semi-feral condition on agricultural properties, usually sheltering in outbuildings. They eat assorted vermin such as rodents and other small animals that live in or around outbuildings and farm fields. The need for the farm cat may have been the original reason cats were domesticated, to keep rodents from consuming or contaminating grain crops stored for later human consumption. They are still commonly kept for their effectiveness at controlling undesired vermin[1][2][3][4][5][6] found on farms, ranches, greenhouses, and even drug farms, which would otherwise eat or contaminate crops, especially grain or feed stocks. Farm cats hunt the initial rodent population, and their pheromones keep further rodents from filling the void.[7][8]

Feral farm cat, showing numerous healed injuries from past fights with other cats

History

Archeological evidence suggests that the earliest domestication of cats occurred about 7500 BC and was motivated by the human need to safeguard grain stores from rodents.[9]

Modern status

Farm cats live in a variety of conditions. Some are feral with minimal human contact, and no veterinary care, and derive sustenance solely from their job of lowering the mouse and rat populations. Lack of a guaranteed food supply, internal parasites, and greater physical exertion tends to make these cats thinner than their house cat counterparts, with a shorter lifespan. Others are kept as part-time pets, living both indoors and out, roaming freely, yet allowed inside to be fed supplemental cat food on a regular basis, and given routine veterinary care. Yet others live outdoors or in outbuildings full-time in semi-feral conditions, but are still tamed to be friendly toward humans and may be given basic veterinary care. All are subject to some risks inherent to outdoor life. Their prey may transmit parasites and disease, they may be injured by various means, and they can be struck by vehicles. Also, farm cats often die from poisoning by eating the corpses of poisoned rodents. Predation is also possible: cats are eaten by raccoons, owls, coyotes, and other animals that prey on creatures of their size.

 
Tame barn cat, neutered, with access to supplemental cat food and regular veterinary care

Some full-time outdoor cats are given cat food by property owners, either to encourage them to stay or due to humane motivations of not wanting thin, hungry, or sick animals on the property. Other property owners deliberately do not feed outside farm cats, in the incorrect belief[10] that they will not hunt rodents if they have supplemental food. Without supplementary food, cats will exterminate much of the local rodent population and move on, leaving only a temporary void. However, one concern with providing supplemental outdoor feed is that it can attract skunks, raccoons and other vermin.

Farm cats originate from a variety of sources. Sometimes, farm cat populations are spontaneously established when abandoned or stray animals, uninvited by humans, move into areas where prey is available, such as haystacks or farm outbuildings that contain stored crops or livestock fodder. In other cases, property owners obtain and release a few cats specifically for rodent control. Some animal shelters have Working Cat or "Barn Buddy"[11][12][13] programs that re-home sterilized feral and semi-feral cats at barns, warehouses, stores, and more.[14] These programs have been growing in popularity in cities like Chicago, where rat problems are common.[15]

If a population of feral adult female farm cats is high enough, a farm cat population can be self-sustaining. The females establish permanent homes in barns or other structures and raise repeated litters. Males may stay around if food is plentiful, though they tend to roam over a wider territory. Farm cat colonies can be subject to inbreeding, as a closed population may mate with one another's siblings, parents, or offspring. Spaying and neutering prevent unwanted litters, overpopulation, and inbreeding. In some cases, feral animals are trapped, spayed or neutered, then re-released to keep their territory claimed and to prevent new, fertile strays from taking up residence.

If given supplemental food or where rodents are plentiful, losses from predation or disease may be made up by new stray animals moving into the territory. If given no supplemental food, particularly in areas with many predators, farm cat populations may occasionally become extirpated if there are few nearby strays and a low breeding population. Predators, accidents, disease, parasites and hunger will all take a toll. More often, especially when supplemental food is provided, overpopulation is common, and losses then occur primarily due to disease or accidents, with predation playing a minor role—all insufficient to make a substantial dent in the population. Where numbers become an issue, some farm cat populations are controlled by shooting, poisoning, or trapping excess numbers.

See also

References

  1. ^ Lambert, Mark (September 2003). Control of Norway Rats in the Agricultural Environment: Alternatives To Rodenticide Use (Thesis) (PhD). University of Leicester. pp. 85–103.
  2. ^ Davis, David E. (1957). "The Use of Food as a Buffer in a Predator-Prey System". Journal of Mammalogy. 38 (4): 466–472. doi:10.2307/1376399. ISSN 0022-2372. JSTOR 1376399.
  3. ^ Wodzicki K (1973). "Prospects for biological control of rodent populations". Bull World Health Organ. 48 (4): 461–7. PMC 2481104. PMID 4587482.
  4. ^ Myers, Alexis. "Feral cats weapon of choice for some residents facing influx of rats". Chicago Tribune.
  5. ^ "Pet-proof cannabis plants? Keep your animal BFFs from harming your crop". 16 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Non-profit Organization | Barn Cat Buddies | Support Cats | Virginia".
  7. ^ "Got rats? These homeless cats are for hire". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  8. ^ Krietsch Boerne, Leigh (13 May 2010). "The Scent That Makes Mice Run Scared". Science | AAAS. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  9. ^ [1] "The Near Eastern Origin of Cat Domestication", Driscoll, et al., Science 27 July 2007, Vol. 317. no. 5837, pp. 519 - 523, quoting, J. A. Clutton-Brock, Natural History of Domesticated Mammals (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1999).
  10. ^ Engelhaupt, Erika. "Homeless Cats Recruited to Fight Rising Tide of Rats". National Geographic.
  11. ^ "City of Edmonton Barn Buddy Program". Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  12. ^ "'Born mousers': Program links up feisty cats with P.E.I. barn owners". Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Barn cats are the homesteading partners you didn't know you need". Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Don't bother petting these cats -- they're working". Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  15. ^ . DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.

External links

  • Country Side Daily: How to Raise a Barn Cat Right
  • How To Create A Successful Barn Cat Program
  • Timber Creek Farm: The Care and Feeding of Barn Cats

May 05, 2023
farm, farm, also, known, barn, domestic, usually, mixed, breed, that, lives, primarily, outdoors, feral, semi, feral, condition, agricultural, properties, usually, sheltering, outbuildings, they, assorted, vermin, such, rodents, other, small, animals, that, li. The farm cat also known as a barn cat is a domestic cat usually of mixed breed that lives primarily outdoors in a feral or semi feral condition on agricultural properties usually sheltering in outbuildings They eat assorted vermin such as rodents and other small animals that live in or around outbuildings and farm fields The need for the farm cat may have been the original reason cats were domesticated to keep rodents from consuming or contaminating grain crops stored for later human consumption They are still commonly kept for their effectiveness at controlling undesired vermin 1 2 3 4 5 6 found on farms ranches greenhouses and even drug farms which would otherwise eat or contaminate crops especially grain or feed stocks Farm cats hunt the initial rodent population and their pheromones keep further rodents from filling the void 7 8 Feral farm cat showing numerous healed injuries from past fights with other cats Contents 1 History 2 Modern status 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditArcheological evidence suggests that the earliest domestication of cats occurred about 7500 BC and was motivated by the human need to safeguard grain stores from rodents 9 Modern status EditFarm cats live in a variety of conditions Some are feral with minimal human contact and no veterinary care and derive sustenance solely from their job of lowering the mouse and rat populations Lack of a guaranteed food supply internal parasites and greater physical exertion tends to make these cats thinner than their house cat counterparts with a shorter lifespan Others are kept as part time pets living both indoors and out roaming freely yet allowed inside to be fed supplemental cat food on a regular basis and given routine veterinary care Yet others live outdoors or in outbuildings full time in semi feral conditions but are still tamed to be friendly toward humans and may be given basic veterinary care All are subject to some risks inherent to outdoor life Their prey may transmit parasites and disease they may be injured by various means and they can be struck by vehicles Also farm cats often die from poisoning by eating the corpses of poisoned rodents Predation is also possible cats are eaten by raccoons owls coyotes and other animals that prey on creatures of their size Tame barn cat neutered with access to supplemental cat food and regular veterinary care Some full time outdoor cats are given cat food by property owners either to encourage them to stay or due to humane motivations of not wanting thin hungry or sick animals on the property Other property owners deliberately do not feed outside farm cats in the incorrect belief 10 that they will not hunt rodents if they have supplemental food Without supplementary food cats will exterminate much of the local rodent population and move on leaving only a temporary void However one concern with providing supplemental outdoor feed is that it can attract skunks raccoons and other vermin Farm cats originate from a variety of sources Sometimes farm cat populations are spontaneously established when abandoned or stray animals uninvited by humans move into areas where prey is available such as haystacks or farm outbuildings that contain stored crops or livestock fodder In other cases property owners obtain and release a few cats specifically for rodent control Some animal shelters have Working Cat or Barn Buddy 11 12 13 programs that re home sterilized feral and semi feral cats at barns warehouses stores and more 14 These programs have been growing in popularity in cities like Chicago where rat problems are common 15 If a population of feral adult female farm cats is high enough a farm cat population can be self sustaining The females establish permanent homes in barns or other structures and raise repeated litters Males may stay around if food is plentiful though they tend to roam over a wider territory Farm cat colonies can be subject to inbreeding as a closed population may mate with one another s siblings parents or offspring Spaying and neutering prevent unwanted litters overpopulation and inbreeding In some cases feral animals are trapped spayed or neutered then re released to keep their territory claimed and to prevent new fertile strays from taking up residence If given supplemental food or where rodents are plentiful losses from predation or disease may be made up by new stray animals moving into the territory If given no supplemental food particularly in areas with many predators farm cat populations may occasionally become extirpated if there are few nearby strays and a low breeding population Predators accidents disease parasites and hunger will all take a toll More often especially when supplemental food is provided overpopulation is common and losses then occur primarily due to disease or accidents with predation playing a minor role all insufficient to make a substantial dent in the population Where numbers become an issue some farm cat populations are controlled by shooting poisoning or trapping excess numbers See also EditShip s cat Bodega cat Library catReferences Edit Lambert Mark September 2003 Control of Norway Rats in the Agricultural Environment Alternatives To Rodenticide Use Thesis PhD University of Leicester pp 85 103 Davis David E 1957 The Use of Food as a Buffer in a Predator Prey System Journal of Mammalogy 38 4 466 472 doi 10 2307 1376399 ISSN 0022 2372 JSTOR 1376399 Wodzicki K 1973 Prospects for biological control of rodent populations Bull World Health Organ 48 4 461 7 PMC 2481104 PMID 4587482 Myers Alexis Feral cats weapon of choice for some residents facing influx of rats Chicago Tribune Pet proof cannabis plants Keep your animal BFFs from harming your crop 16 September 2020 Non profit Organization Barn Cat Buddies Support Cats Virginia Got rats These homeless cats are for hire The Washington Post Retrieved 23 October 2018 Krietsch Boerne Leigh 13 May 2010 The Scent That Makes Mice Run Scared Science AAAS Retrieved 21 January 2019 1 The Near Eastern Origin of Cat Domestication Driscoll et al Science 27 July 2007 Vol 317 no 5837 pp 519 523 quoting J A Clutton Brock Natural History of Domesticated Mammals Cambridge Univ Press Cambridge 1999 Engelhaupt Erika Homeless Cats Recruited to Fight Rising Tide of Rats National Geographic City of Edmonton Barn Buddy Program Retrieved 30 October 2021 Born mousers Program links up feisty cats with P E I barn owners Retrieved 30 October 2021 Barn cats are the homesteading partners you didn t know you need Retrieved 30 October 2021 Don t bother petting these cats they re working Retrieved 23 October 2018 Rat Packed Chicago Has 3 Month Waitlist For Feral Cats As Demand Explodes DNAinfo Chicago Archived from the original on 23 October 2018 Retrieved 23 October 2018 External links EditCountry Side Daily How to Raise a Barn Cat Right How To Create A Successful Barn Cat Program Timber Creek Farm The Care and Feeding of Barn Cats Portal Cats Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Farm cat amp oldid 1152705469, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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