How Cats Can Help Control Rodent Infestations!

If you are searching for a natural way to get rid of rodents, chances are it is because you have an infestation of rodents either at home or at your business place. You can phone up a pest control company who will come over and lay down traps and poisons, but to a great deal of people these are extreme and nasty ways to deal with the problem. There must be a better, more humane way, and there is. Cats have been used down through the ages for just such a purpose of controlling rodents. They will catch and kill them, and deter them from the area, so once your immediate problem is sorted, you will know it won’t come back. At least not while the cat is in the vicinity.

How to Recognize Signs of a Rodent Infestation

It is important to know the signs of a rodent infestation in order to control it quickly and effectively. Some of the most common signs of a rodent infestation include droppings, gnaw marks, and nests in the walls or attic.

You may also notice a strange smell in your home or hear strange scurrying noises coming from the walls or attic, especially during the night. If you notice any of these signs, it is important to take action immediately to control the infestation.

A Brown Rat
A Brown Rat

Why Choose a Cat to Control Rodents?

Cats are natural born hunters who have been used to control rodent infestations for centuries. They will instinctively track down and find mice and rats. They have a knack for finding nests and burrows, and will quickly kill or chase off any rodents in the area and deter them from returning.

Some cats are better than others at hunting rodents, but any cat will soon deter them from setting up home where they are not wanted. Cats are intelligent, can be cruel and vicious at times where prey is concerned, but are efficient and merciless killers when they have to be. They will dispense with the problem of rodents without you having to resort to poisons or traps and the costs these will entail.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Cat in Your Home?

Cats, and mice and rats, have lived in disharmony for thousands of years. Since cats were first domesticated, around 1350 BC, it was noticed how good they were at controlling rodents, and have always been valued as rodent hunters down through the ages.

Today, cats, as well as being great pets in the home, have clung on to their natural hunting instincts, and therefore a cat owner will be rewarded with a home that will be rarely visited by any rodents in the area. Cats are very effective at controlling rodents. They are also very clean creatures, and do not carry any diseases or parasites that are likely to harm the owner. They are extremely intelligent, and can be very loving and affectionate pets.


See Also: Which Cats Are the Best Hunters?

And: How Did Domestic Cats Evolve?


Reasons Cats Are Better Than Traps for Controlling Rodent Infestations

There are some good reasons why cats are better than traps for controlling rodent infestations. First, cats are more humane than traps. Traps can cause severe injury, leaving a rodent in pain while it slowly dies over time, whereas cats will simply capture and kill them.

Second, cats are much more efficient than traps. Traps can take days or even weeks to catch a rodent, in fact some rodents may see a trap for the danger it is and avoid it, whereas cats can catch them quickly and efficiently. Third, cats are much less messy than traps. Traps can be difficult to set up and position in the best place. They can also be very messy when dealing with dead rodents. Cats, on the other hand, will take care of the mess for you.

Using poisons instead, or as well as, traps, can be just as inhumane. Poisons can take a while to work and kill the victim slowly in pain. The bodies of dead rodents can be anywhere in the area, slowly decaying and rotting away, causing bad smells and attracting other types of undesirable creatures to the area in search of an easy meal of carrion.

A nest of baby mice
A nest of baby mice

What Kinds of Rodents Can Cats Catch?

Cats can catch a variety of different types of rodents, and other pests as well. These include mice, rats, gophers, voles, and squirrels. Cats are also very efficient at catching these rodents and can quickly and humanely get rid of them.

They can also catch a variety of other pests which may not be wanted in the vicinity, such as cockroaches, spiders, and snakes. These pests can also be a nuisance, and cats can help to control them as well as deter them from the area.

Conclusion

Cats are an effective and humane way to control an infestation of vermin. Cats are natural predators and with an instinct to hunt efficiently. Cats can also provide companionship and can be very loving and affectionate pets. If you have a rodent infestation in your home, consider getting a cat to help control it.