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From: jans@orca.UUCP (Jan Steinman)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Better mousers??
Message-ID: <1685@orca.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 23-Aug-85 15:30:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: orca.1685
Posted: Fri Aug 23 15:30:27 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Aug-85 01:47:27 EDT
References: <247@drutx.UUCP>
Reply-To: jans@orca.UUCP (Jan Steinman)
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 53
Summary: 

I can feel the flames a comin'.  I grew up on a farm where animals of any
kind were used and exploited for the good of man.  I don't necessarily agree
with some of the things I'll put forth here, but I do know how to use cats
against mice!  For the record, I have two indoor-only kittys that get fed
regularly and have their claws and all that other bleeding heart stuff.

In article <247@drutx.UUCP> mrl@drutx.UUCP (LongoMR) writes:
>I am considering getting a couple of cats from the dumb friend's league to
>use as mousers. My questions are:
>	1) Which is usually a better mouser - male or female

Females are MUCH better mousers!  Males (especially non-neutered) spend much
of their time roaming, and the critters they catch might be the neighbor's.
Females will hunt in the barn and stay closer to home.  I've seen females
bring mice to 3/4 grown male children, while their sisters were out hunting
on their own!

>	2) Does the fact that a cat has been spayed or neutered
>	   effect its hunting ability/desire

Yes with males, maybee with females.  We wanted lots of cats.  We never
neutered them, so I don't know to what degree.  I think females become
better mousers after they've had a litter.

>	3) If I obtain 2 animals, will I be better off obtaining
>	   one of each sex or two of the same. If two of the same
>	   sex, which sex (this question refers to compatability
>	   of the animals)

Females are more sociable than males, and are likley to get along with
each other better than with males.  Males will compete for teritory unless
neutered at an early age, which may affect their hunting desire.

Getting a cat to mouse is not always easy.  If they have a regular supply
of food, their only motivation is sport, which seems to vary between
animals.  The most consistant way to get them to mouse is to vary their
meal pattern, skipping meals, feeding at odd times, etc.  Be sure you don't
start this too soon, or they may up and leave!  Hunting seems to be only
part instinct -- I have observed females teaching a litter to stalk things --
so an orphan may not ever take to it without some guidance.  Teaching them
to mouse in this manner, while certain in a farming area, has it's risks.
The cat may take to scavenging garbage in an urban area.  They will learn to
eat their kill, which means you won't get little dead (or live) gifts, but
the exposure to disease is greater.  They will have to be wormed regularly.
There is the possibility of poisoning via a recently poisoned catch.

Cats are intellegent and complex creatures.  Some will make excellent mousers,
others will simply cry at the door day and night until you feed them.  The
way we used, which is only possible and humane in a rural setting, was to
simply have lots of them, and let them hunt who would.
-- 
:::::: Jan Steinman		Box 1000, MS 61-161	(w)503/685-2843 ::::::
:::::: tektronix!tekecs!jans	Wilsonville, OR 97070	(h)503/657-7703 ::::::