Cats on the farm

It is very common to see cats living on a farm. Most farmers want cats in their barn or around their house to catch and kill annoying rodents (mainly mice and rats). Cats are excellent hunters and this instinct just comes natural to all cats. Just because you see your barn cat chomping down on mice doesn't mean he/she does not have to be fed. Cats spend a lot of time hunting and they burn a lot of calories doing so. You should always provide your feline hunter with plenty of fresh clean water and adequate amounts of cat food. Normally a short haired cat does better as a farm cat than a long haired cat because you don't have to worry about their coat getting matted and trash caught and tangled in their fur. If you have rescued a shelter cat to become your barn cat you will need to keep them in a cage for a few days until they are comfortable with you and their new environment. Once they are comfortable with their new home they will become an excellent rat killer around your farm. It is very important to keep have your barn cat checked by your local veterinarian at least once a year. Cats get sick just like any other animal and they need to be healthy to keep their pest killing skills at its best. If you notice that your barn cat is not acting normal or refusing to eat be sure to take him/her to your local veterinarian. Cats should be de-wormed every 6 months. They also need to be on a flea and tick preventative every month as they will pick up external parasites from rodents that they kill. Proper veterinarian care will prevent sickness and disease and keep your barn cat healthy and happy. It is also very recommended that you spay or neuter your barn cat. This will prevent your cat from having unwanted litters and keeps them close to your home. Unaltered cats will wonder and it increases their chance of getting hit by a car and getting caught by dogs or coyotes. Barn cats can be very beneficial to your farm and with these simple guidelines will allow them to live a long healthy happy life.