Cats may play various roles to attain their goals, but their predatory instinct and protective nature make them ideal farm animals.
Cats are perfect for the farm since they have an unbridled desire to scrounge and explore the outdoors on their own.
Our feline friends are only semi-domesticated because of their predatory nature, even though some may have been tamed as pets with the capacity to soothe their owners’ nerves and provide a quick avenue for leisure and recreation.
Companionship makes cats excellent for agricultural contexts because of their role in improving farmers’ mental health.
Due to their stray or semi-feral status on agricultural lands, farm cats are commonly referred to as barn cats, and they frequently seek shelter in barns.
Even though the farm cats are not directly farmed for meat or other food products, they contribute value as organic pest controllers by eradicating rodents, rats, and other small animals residing in or around outbuildings and agricultural fields.
These farm cats keep rats and other uninvited visitors from eating or contaminating grain crops stored for human consumption. The typical farm cat is known as a mouser.
They are still widely kept for their usefulness in eliminating unwanted prey found on farms, ranches, greenhouses, and even drug farms that might otherwise devour or contaminate crops, particularly grain or feedstocks.
Farm cats hunt the original rodent population, and their pheromones prevent further rats from filling the hole.
A modern barn cat’s life, on the other hand, is difficult. These cats are usually feral (to varying degrees), haven’t been spayed or neutered, and don’t have the necessary feline immunizations.
Barn cats are among the animals most likely to be euthanized in shelters due to a lack of a home; therefore, adopting one is likely to save a life. It’s a win for you because your belongings will be safe from rats, and it’s a win for the cats since they’ll have a new opportunity to live outside.
The cat colony is forced to relocate after removing present pests because farmers cannot provide additional food sources (such as kibble).
Difference Between Farm Cats and Pet Cats
Feral cats are frequently rehomed as farm cats unless adopted as kittens. By implication, farm cats are always more outdoorsy than household cats, who spend most of their lives indoors and rely on their people for food, care, protection, and comfort.
Feral cats are notorious for their independence and freedom.
Because you may regard yourself as more of a ‘guardian’ than an owner of the farm cat, farm cats often demand less time than a traditional pet cat.
Being less demanding does not negate the importance of providing your barn cat with proper care, including feeding at least once a day, consistent access to clean water, adequate shelter with extra warmth such as bedding/blocking draughts, and frequent flea and worm treatment.
If your farm cat is a rehomed feral cat, they prefer to keep a safe distance from humans and do not want attention or affection.
However, in some situations, managing their proximity to people can help these cats grow more sociable, particularly toward individuals who feed them regularly.
Anyone considering adopting a cat like this should keep in mind that they might get a cat who is a little friendlier than they imagined.
Is Having Cats on a Farm Beneficial?
Barn (Farm) cats are not always good companions for farmers, but they are frequently good companions for other animals in the farmyard, such as dogs.
The ability of farm cats to get along depends on their personality, which varies from animal to animal.
Barn cats are among the animals most likely to be euthanized in shelters due to a lack of a home; therefore, adopting one is likely to save a life.
It’s a win for you because your belongings will be safe from rats, and it’s a win for the cats since they’ll have a new opportunity to live outside.
How to Adopt a Feral Cat as a Farm Animal?
Adopting a free-roaming outdoor feral cat from a shelter or rescue group may not be a horrible idea if you’re willing to vaccinate and adjust them, so they don’t fight, mark, or roam too far.
If you follow these guidelines, caring for a feral cat may not be as complicated as it appears.
1. Adopt in pairs: Feral cats are more likely to stay if they have a companion. Adopt a couple of cats if at all feasible.
2. Confine them at first: Confine the cats for three to four weeks until they have recovered from the stress of the move and have adjusted to their new surroundings. Please put them in a garage, shed, or room where they will feel safe and secure but not have access to the outside world.
It must not become too hot or too cold wherever it is. A large wire cage or crate with a tiny litter tray, food and water dishes, and a cardboard box inside where the cat may hide when you clean everything up may be available from an animal shelter.
3. Talk to them: Talk to or even read to the cats during this transition. They’ll get used to the sound of your voice and realize they don’t have to be afraid of you.
4. Feed them: A well-fed cat is a more efficient hunter since a cat who spends all of her busy time just getting enough to eat doesn’t have the energy to go hunting for fun.
5. Protect feral cats from predators such as coyotes and others.
Cat Breeds That are Good as Farm Cat
Cats are a practical and straightforward approach to eliminating the problem if you’re concerned about rodents on your farm or in your barn.
They are incredibly attentive, challenging, and independent, and they enjoy hunting. Farm cats also live longer and are less prone to diseases.
If you’re searching for a feline farmhand to help with some tasks, the top cat breeds are here.
1. Rex Cornish
2. Bob the Pixie
3. fold Scottish
4. Siamese Cats
5. Wirehair (American)
6. LaPerm
7. Bobtail (Japanese)
8. York Chocolate
9. Maine Coon
10. In general, feral cats
Why Should You Consider Getting a Barn (Farm) Cat?
Farm cats are incredibly beneficial to you since they serve the following fantastic functions on your farm:
1. They make excellent friends: Barn cats are not always good companions for farmers, but they are frequently excellent partners for other animals.
The sociability of farm cats is highly dependent on their personality, which varies from animal to animal. However, I have witnessed a few farm cats and a few goats fall in love with the dog.
I wouldn’t get a barn cat solely for this purpose, but it could be an incredible side effect of having one nearby.
2. They eat bugs: One of the best reasons to keep a barn cat around. You have bugs if you have a homestead or a barn.
If you want to keep the bugs at bay, a barn cat could be able to assist you. The majority of cats like killing and hunting their prey.
Bugs, for example, fall into this category. So, if you have a pest problem, a barn cat could be able to help you.
3. Cats are excellent exterminators, so I have indoor and outdoor cats. Rodents do not appeal to me. Rats, mice, and anything else I could come upon within my feed bins irritates me.
Keep these creatures at bay by putting your feed in large metal barrels that are difficult for rats to chew.
Unfortunately, that won’t be enough to keep them away for good. Therefore, having a barn cat on hand is beneficial.
Keep a couple of cats on your property, and your rodent population will likely start to diminish.
4. They save you money: You may believe that adding another animal to your household will only cost you money, and while this is true, your barn cat will still require proper care.
They will, however, save you money. Each rodent cats eat, and each bug they repel is one more minor pest consuming your feed.
Feed is expensive; as you know, when you compare the cost of wasted feed to giving a cat or cat vaccines once a year, the savings add up rapidly.
5. They keep the barn alive: Cats have an uncanny ability to make people smile. They are generally gentle and lovely creatures. They are, if anything, apprehensive.
Not to mention that most children enjoy looking at cats. If you have children, you may want to look for a nicer or more social barn cat to bring some joy to your barn.
6. They’re low-maintenance: They only need a few shots to stay healthy. You might also try sprinkling organic diatomaceous earth over them to keep the fleas away.
Apart from that, they require relatively little and frequently return a great deal. It doesn’t get much more low-maintenance than having cats in your barn.
7. Provide a home for an orphaned animal in the case of a feral cat: Most barn cats are stray or orphaned cats with nowhere else to go. These cats will have a place to call home and a purpose if you provide them a home in your barn or around your homestead.
If you believe you may benefit from a barn cat, consider adopting a feral cat who would most likely do a fantastic job around your barn and property.
Tips on How to Care for a Barn Cat
The fact that the cat will be residing in your barn does not negate the necessity for proper care. It is still your responsibility to keep your animal healthy.
You don’t need a farm or riding stables to rehome one of these cats despite the name. You may have a farm, stables, or outbuildings, but some cats may benefit from having access to a cozy shed in your garden.
You can make use of the following tips to keep your barn cats as healthy and happy as possible:
1. Spay or neuter: When maintaining a barn cat, you should make sure they are spayed or neutered. You don’t want a lot of cats running around your property for obvious reasons.
If you decide to retain a barn cat, be responsible and spay or neuter it. If you think this is too expensive for your budget, you might want to ask around in your neighborhood.
You may be able to get your pet spayed or neutered at a reduced cost if you participate in a community-based income-based program.
2. A Visit to the Vet: The next step in caring for your barn cat is to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian. You must ensure that they have received all of their vaccines, including the rabies vaccine.
Because this will be a more outside animal, you must be aware that it will be more vulnerable to predators and wild animals.
Keeping your barn cat vaccinated will protect them from various infections they may come into touch with when outside.
3. A Place to Sleep: Farm cats don’t need much attention. Indeed, some would like to be left alone, allowing them to live out their lives contentedly while keeping your barn and property free of pests and rodents that will eat your grains and destroy your crops.
However, they do require a few fundamental requirements to feel at ease and stay on your property.
The first thing they’ll need is a den to keep as a haven. Such habitat can be as essential as a closed plastic tub with a wide opening in the side through which they can enter and exit. You’ll put hay or old blankets in the bottom of the tub as bedding.
4. Food and Water are Required: You must also offer food and water for your barn cat. As fundamental as this sounds, you’d be shocked how many people believe that feeding their outside barn cats will prevent them from eating mice and bugs.
If you don’t feed the cats, they’ll leave once they’ve consumed all of the food in your barn.
Your bug and rodent problem will then resurface. So, leave a bowl of dry food out for your barn cats every day.
Also, make sure they have access to clean water regularly. When feeding the other animals in the morning, including the barn cats in your routine, ensure they have all they require.
5. Don’t Let Your Cat’s Curiosity Kill It: Cats are naturally curious animals. If you have something within their grasp, they will most likely check it out if it appeals to them.
6. Getting along with other animals at your home: We must constantly consider while evaluating the viability of any alternative home.
7. Provide access to greenery: Provide the cat with some vegetation, such as woodland, fields, and gardens.
8. Hazard-free zone: The region must be free of any obvious hazards such as hazardous chemicals, rat poisons, loose hunting dogs, hectic highways in the immediate vicinity, loud, busy machinery in the immediate proximity, etc.
There are many other creatures in the area. The presence of farm animals is generally not a concern.
If you have anything that could be toxic to a cat, make sure it’s in a place where they can’t get to it. When leaving objects around your barn, keep this in mind.
Any cat you buy will be overjoyed to have a new place to sleep, but there are a few things to consider. Will the cat live both inside and outside, or only outside?
If you had a strictly outside barn cat, you’d be better off seeking free kittens or adopting rescues.
In any case, the cat or cats can assist you in keeping vermin away from your animals naturally.