1000 Feral Cats
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In an effort to rein in the explosion of rodents, the Tree House Humane Society kicked off a program to release feral felines into areas experiencing rat problems.
After humanely capturing the feral cats, the humane society spays or neuters the animals and places them into residential and commercial settings with rodent infestations to act as an environmentally friendly rodent control.
The Tree House Humane Society says only rescued cats who cannot thrive in a home or shelter environment, or cannot be reintegrated into their former colonies, are used for the Cats at Work program. After receiving approval for a working cat, property and business owners are responsible for their well-being.
“Property and business owners provide food, water, shelter, and wellness to the cats who work for them. In most cases, our Cats at Work become beloved members of the family or team,” the shelter says on its website.
According to WGN 9, the Tree House Humane society has placed over 1,000 feral cats onto Chicago streets since 2012.
“We’ve had a lot of our clients tell us that before they had cats, they would step outside their house and rats would actually run across their feet,” Sarah Liss of Tree House Humane Society told WGN 9.
While the cats will hunt and catch rodents on occasion, their presence alone is a deterrent.
“They are actually deterring them with their pheromones,” Liss told WGN 9. “That’s enough to keep the rats away."
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@george-k said in 1000 Feral Cats:
While the cats will hunt and catch rodents on occasion, their presence alone is a deterrent.
“They are actually deterring them with their pheromones,” Liss told WGN 9. “That’s enough to keep the rats away."
I don’t think it’s working...
Me/rry/Christmas
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“I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill
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@mik said in 1000 Feral Cats:
Seems like you wouldn't want folks feeding them if you want them to go after the rats.
Yes and no. The cats need to be kept healthy enough to hunt, but not so well fed that they get so lazy they watch the rats run by without giving chase. The article also says the mere presence of the cats deters the rats. I'd never heard that one before.
