Grit Mag: take care of barn cats

Your Best Friend in the Barn
Livestock/Companion Animals
Take Care of Your Barn Cats and They'll More than Earn Their Keep
from the September/October issue of Grit.
Grit Magazine - August 11, 2006
By: Jon Geller, DVM

[Excerpts]
Rodents will wreak havoc in barns.

Proactive farmers will want to eradicate rodents from the barn. Rat poisons, typically made of anticoagulant that causes a delayed bleeding response, or a newer generation neurotoxin, are widely used to kill rodents. The problem is, other animals also love the taste of these poisons.

Enter the barn cat, stage (or stall) left.
Cats will hunt and kill mice, and occasionally eat them. Many of the squirming little parasites that live in rodents will now take residency in this new host. In their role as hunter and protector of the barn, these cats are susceptible to some serious health risks. Outdoor cats typically live less than half as long as indoor cats. Barn cat owners are charged with providing their feline friends with the latest in preventive health care. The old farming adage holds: Take care of your animals and they will take care of you.
Following is most everything you'll want to know about caring for your barn cat:
Initial and Ongoing Preventive Care (see “Preventive Health Care Plan")