Posted on 10/22/2017 2:26:39 PM PDT by boatbums
Gary wasn't used to being around people. He didn't like being touched, or even looked at. If anyone came too close, he'd lash out.
He was perfect for the job. Because at the "Working Cats" program, no manners is no problem.
Philadelphia's Animal Care and Control Team established the program about four years ago to place unadoptable cats - the biters and the skittish, the swatters and the ones who won't use a litter box - into jobs as mousers at barns or stables.
The shelter recently expanded the program to move cats that were less-than-ideal pets into urban jobs at places like factories and warehouses as a sort of green pest control.
(Excerpt) Read more at tampabay.com ...
A rancher buddy of mine would love to be able to keep barn cats, but every time he gets one it doesn’t last longer than a few weeks before a predator takes it.
Before reading this I would have said that “working cat” is an oxymoron!
Are you talking down to the cat? Try speaking in short, but complete sentences, using plain English words, explaining things but leaving the choice to the cat. Avoid abstract concepts.
A cat’s cerebral cortex contains about twice as many neurons as that of dogs. Cats have 300 million neurons, whereas dogs have about 160 million. In fact, cats have more nerve cells in the visual areas of their brain, a part of cerebral cortex, than humans and most other mammals.
This explains why cats are smart enough to not perform silly tricks in exchange for food treats.
I’ve also read that an adult cat has about the same intelligence as a human toddler.
Crazy cat lady of six here. At one time, nine. Had one, then a feral mama kitty showed up and had a litter in the garage. They’d bang on the door wanting in and well... Mama kitty had another litter and one of the previous batch decided they needed to make this their home and well...
Two of the second litter are still half feral after two years. We’re just now being allowed to pet one for a couple of seconds. The other just this week is eating treats from my hand but no petting.
Glad to hear of this working cat program.
Our barn cats are big and tough. They will purr and enjoy a scratch behind the ears but they are always on alert for mice or chipmunks. We put out fresh food and water daily but about a third of the time the food is uneaten because they have been snacking on the local wildlife. Bringing them in the house makes them very uneasy.
Our old "pet" cat does not like leaving the house and is of the opinion that human hands are made for tending to him. Putting him out in the barn would be cruel.
Do they offer this service for ornery antisocial people, too?
That’s why we try to get them inside at night. Thankfully, a human is usually up at night to check for stragglers.
Great article, thank you boatbums!
PING to a fellow cat lady!
Got a 5 yr.old Tom I got from the vet where little sister worked.Got a bro & sis that I got from neighbors who discovered they were allergic. They all love it outside & all of them have brought in a bird,squirrel,baby rabbit,moles,nice etc.They patrol the whole block.
Thanks for the ping, MS.B!
A fellow cat lady indeed, with our “herd” of 42. LOL
What a cool thing for these kittehs who are hard to place. SO much better than being put to sleep. It just takes people who understand kitteh nature to figure these things out. :-)
Will they eat mice? ;o)
What’s really in a Big Mac?
Sumpin’s wrong wid you, Tumblin. ;o)
“I steel my heart knowing that in this life there will always be a goodbye, but I know that there are so many needy critters who are waiting to heal me once more and the love I can shower upon them can’t come close to the joy they bring.”
Very, very well said. And oh so true.
I saw a big black feral cat go in my barn this evening. I welcome them. They cause no harm for me and work for their food. They keep the vermin numbers down and the pigeons out of the barn. You could never domesticate a true mature feral.
Ping
We have a half dozen cats in the neighborhood. They go from yard to yard keeping the place free of bugs and mice. Problem is they crap everywhere.
I live in the boonies of Montana. Out here we get pack rats and they can be destructive, filthy animals. On a whim, I put some cat food on my deck, was surprised at the number of cats that showed up. Likely most are feral. We have every kind of imaginable predator here, some cats keep showing up year after year. One old fella, is missing an eye and only has half a tail. No more pack rat problems. Now if I could get the cats to control the pine squirrels.
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