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Feral Cats & Roof Rats



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 16th 04, 07:48 PM
Cat Protector
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Posts: n/a
Default Feral Cats & Roof Rats

Has anyone got information or stories about how a feral cat colony can be
used to help wipe out or at least keep in check Roof Rats? Here in the
Phoenix area (at least East Phoenix, parts of Scottsdale, and now Tempe)
Roof Rats have become a problem. Despite laying down traps, cleaning up food
sources like dropped fruit (from the citrus trees) and such, Roof Rats are
moving into other areas. From what I have read the ideas for getting rid of
them is vast. It seems predators can help at least keep the rats in check
but not totally eliminate them. Predators such as owls, hawks, and cats
(even though cats will often have trouble with the adult rats, they can take
care of the juveniles) seem to be good ideas besides snakes. When the
Arcadia area was having problems with the rats the city of Phoenix seemed to
think cats were not a good suggestion but I think a feral colony of cats
could be of some help.

The only problem I see with using cats is because rats seem to carry disease
but yet so far every rat that has been trapped by the County (Maricopa) have
not had any diseases. The other problem that cats might face is the use of
poisoned traps which could be very harmful to a cat if they eat a rat that
has the poison in their system. Also cats tend to eat their kill so they
might be a bit full from eating a good sized rat. But could a colony of
feral cats (which we do have here in the Phoenix area) be a good form of rat
control if the rats are healthy? I'd like to know your thoughts.

--
Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com


  #2  
Old January 16th 04, 11:45 PM
Knack
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Cat Protector" wrote in message
news:bmWNb.5043$zy3.1808@okepread01...
Has anyone got information or stories about how a feral cat colony can be
used to help wipe out or at least keep in check Roof Rats? Here in the
Phoenix area (at least East Phoenix, parts of Scottsdale, and now Tempe)
Roof Rats have become a problem. Despite laying down traps, cleaning up

food
sources like dropped fruit (from the citrus trees) and such, Roof Rats are
moving into other areas. From what I have read the ideas for getting rid

of
them is vast. It seems predators can help at least keep the rats in check
but not totally eliminate them. Predators such as owls, hawks, and cats
(even though cats will often have trouble with the adult rats, they can

take
care of the juveniles) seem to be good ideas besides snakes. When the
Arcadia area was having problems with the rats the city of Phoenix seemed

to
think cats were not a good suggestion but I think a feral colony of cats
could be of some help.

The only problem I see with using cats is because rats seem to carry

disease
but yet so far every rat that has been trapped by the County (Maricopa)

have
not had any diseases. The other problem that cats might face is the use of
poisoned traps which could be very harmful to a cat if they eat a rat that
has the poison in their system. Also cats tend to eat their kill so they
might be a bit full from eating a good sized rat. But could a colony of
feral cats (which we do have here in the Phoenix area) be a good form of

rat
control if the rats are healthy? I'd like to know your thoughts.


A cat with good hunting skills will kill more rats than it will eat. In
fact, domestic cats, feral cats, cougars and other wild cats have been known
to go into killing frenzies when the hunting is especially easy. In such
cases they may continue chasing and killing prey even when they're quite
hungry for a meal.

And you're right about predators *not* hunting their prey until there are
none left in their domain. What really happens is that as the hunting
becomes less profitable the predator either switches to a different prey
animal or moves to a more profitable area.

Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the
control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the
purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live in
an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree
cover can be suitable habitat for owls though.


  #3  
Old January 16th 04, 11:45 PM
Knack
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Cat Protector" wrote in message
news:bmWNb.5043$zy3.1808@okepread01...
Has anyone got information or stories about how a feral cat colony can be
used to help wipe out or at least keep in check Roof Rats? Here in the
Phoenix area (at least East Phoenix, parts of Scottsdale, and now Tempe)
Roof Rats have become a problem. Despite laying down traps, cleaning up

food
sources like dropped fruit (from the citrus trees) and such, Roof Rats are
moving into other areas. From what I have read the ideas for getting rid

of
them is vast. It seems predators can help at least keep the rats in check
but not totally eliminate them. Predators such as owls, hawks, and cats
(even though cats will often have trouble with the adult rats, they can

take
care of the juveniles) seem to be good ideas besides snakes. When the
Arcadia area was having problems with the rats the city of Phoenix seemed

to
think cats were not a good suggestion but I think a feral colony of cats
could be of some help.

The only problem I see with using cats is because rats seem to carry

disease
but yet so far every rat that has been trapped by the County (Maricopa)

have
not had any diseases. The other problem that cats might face is the use of
poisoned traps which could be very harmful to a cat if they eat a rat that
has the poison in their system. Also cats tend to eat their kill so they
might be a bit full from eating a good sized rat. But could a colony of
feral cats (which we do have here in the Phoenix area) be a good form of

rat
control if the rats are healthy? I'd like to know your thoughts.


A cat with good hunting skills will kill more rats than it will eat. In
fact, domestic cats, feral cats, cougars and other wild cats have been known
to go into killing frenzies when the hunting is especially easy. In such
cases they may continue chasing and killing prey even when they're quite
hungry for a meal.

And you're right about predators *not* hunting their prey until there are
none left in their domain. What really happens is that as the hunting
becomes less profitable the predator either switches to a different prey
animal or moves to a more profitable area.

Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the
control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the
purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live in
an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree
cover can be suitable habitat for owls though.


  #4  
Old January 16th 04, 11:45 PM
Knack
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Cat Protector" wrote in message
news:bmWNb.5043$zy3.1808@okepread01...
Has anyone got information or stories about how a feral cat colony can be
used to help wipe out or at least keep in check Roof Rats? Here in the
Phoenix area (at least East Phoenix, parts of Scottsdale, and now Tempe)
Roof Rats have become a problem. Despite laying down traps, cleaning up

food
sources like dropped fruit (from the citrus trees) and such, Roof Rats are
moving into other areas. From what I have read the ideas for getting rid

of
them is vast. It seems predators can help at least keep the rats in check
but not totally eliminate them. Predators such as owls, hawks, and cats
(even though cats will often have trouble with the adult rats, they can

take
care of the juveniles) seem to be good ideas besides snakes. When the
Arcadia area was having problems with the rats the city of Phoenix seemed

to
think cats were not a good suggestion but I think a feral colony of cats
could be of some help.

The only problem I see with using cats is because rats seem to carry

disease
but yet so far every rat that has been trapped by the County (Maricopa)

have
not had any diseases. The other problem that cats might face is the use of
poisoned traps which could be very harmful to a cat if they eat a rat that
has the poison in their system. Also cats tend to eat their kill so they
might be a bit full from eating a good sized rat. But could a colony of
feral cats (which we do have here in the Phoenix area) be a good form of

rat
control if the rats are healthy? I'd like to know your thoughts.


A cat with good hunting skills will kill more rats than it will eat. In
fact, domestic cats, feral cats, cougars and other wild cats have been known
to go into killing frenzies when the hunting is especially easy. In such
cases they may continue chasing and killing prey even when they're quite
hungry for a meal.

And you're right about predators *not* hunting their prey until there are
none left in their domain. What really happens is that as the hunting
becomes less profitable the predator either switches to a different prey
animal or moves to a more profitable area.

Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the
control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the
purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live in
an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree
cover can be suitable habitat for owls though.


  #5  
Old January 17th 04, 02:00 AM
Cat Protector
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a
non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats. They'd go after the younger
ones but an adult Roof Rat might be a handful. Of course since I wrote the
last post I read another article which stated that a cat in Glendale, AZ had
brought home a Roof Rat so the problem is not just in South Scottsdale, the
Arcadia neighborhood, and Tempe. It is now also in Mesa and even North
Scottsdale. I called my parents today to let them know that they need to
pick the fruit off their trees (they have an orange, grapefruit and lemon
tree) pretty much every day. The problem is that in the area where they live
there are plenty of other neighbors who have citrus trees. I wonder if my
parents will be calling be asking to use my cats should they encounter the
rats.

--
Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"Knack" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Cat Protector" wrote in message


Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the
control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the
purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live

in
an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree
cover can be suitable habitat for owls though.




  #6  
Old January 17th 04, 02:00 AM
Cat Protector
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a
non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats. They'd go after the younger
ones but an adult Roof Rat might be a handful. Of course since I wrote the
last post I read another article which stated that a cat in Glendale, AZ had
brought home a Roof Rat so the problem is not just in South Scottsdale, the
Arcadia neighborhood, and Tempe. It is now also in Mesa and even North
Scottsdale. I called my parents today to let them know that they need to
pick the fruit off their trees (they have an orange, grapefruit and lemon
tree) pretty much every day. The problem is that in the area where they live
there are plenty of other neighbors who have citrus trees. I wonder if my
parents will be calling be asking to use my cats should they encounter the
rats.

--
Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"Knack" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Cat Protector" wrote in message


Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the
control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the
purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live

in
an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree
cover can be suitable habitat for owls though.




  #7  
Old January 17th 04, 02:00 AM
Cat Protector
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a
non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats. They'd go after the younger
ones but an adult Roof Rat might be a handful. Of course since I wrote the
last post I read another article which stated that a cat in Glendale, AZ had
brought home a Roof Rat so the problem is not just in South Scottsdale, the
Arcadia neighborhood, and Tempe. It is now also in Mesa and even North
Scottsdale. I called my parents today to let them know that they need to
pick the fruit off their trees (they have an orange, grapefruit and lemon
tree) pretty much every day. The problem is that in the area where they live
there are plenty of other neighbors who have citrus trees. I wonder if my
parents will be calling be asking to use my cats should they encounter the
rats.

--
Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"Knack" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Cat Protector" wrote in message


Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the
control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the
purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live

in
an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree
cover can be suitable habitat for owls though.




  #8  
Old January 17th 04, 04:54 AM
Sherry
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a
non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats.


Natural predation to kill off unwanted species is fine, but I don't understand
how the human intervention part comes in. The ferals that exist now in the
rat-infested areas will kill some of the rats on their own. But what are you
suggesting, trapping additional feral colonies and releasing them in the
problem areas?

Sherry
  #9  
Old January 17th 04, 04:54 AM
Sherry
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a
non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats.


Natural predation to kill off unwanted species is fine, but I don't understand
how the human intervention part comes in. The ferals that exist now in the
rat-infested areas will kill some of the rats on their own. But what are you
suggesting, trapping additional feral colonies and releasing them in the
problem areas?

Sherry
  #10  
Old January 17th 04, 04:54 AM
Sherry
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a
non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats.


Natural predation to kill off unwanted species is fine, but I don't understand
how the human intervention part comes in. The ferals that exist now in the
rat-infested areas will kill some of the rats on their own. But what are you
suggesting, trapping additional feral colonies and releasing them in the
problem areas?

Sherry
 




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