Drive to rehome rat-catcher cats

Drive to rehome rat-catcher cats
MK News, United Kingdom - Nov 22, 2006
By Alicia Babaee


A feral cat crisis has hit the city.

Milton Keynes and District Cats Protection (MKDCP) says it has an abundance of feral cats due to constant development.


Rat catchers: Feral cats shy away from the camera on disused outbuildings at Coombs Farm Now the cats are being offered to rural businesses locally as a form of pest control.

They are domesticated cats that have escaped from their homes and returned partly to their wild state.

MKDCP has ten feral cats and kittens in its care because the farm they live on is being bulldozed.

Karen Robinson, homing and welfare officer for MKDCP, said: “Most feral cats prefer the freedom of a working life to a comfortable lap in suburbia.

“We have had some positive feedback in terms of reduced rodent problems from the many farms, stables and warehouses that have adopted a feral or two from us.” MKDCP says a pair of feral cats can be beneficial to businesses such as garden centres, golf clubs, smallholdings, farms, stables and shops as an environmentally-friendly form of rodent control.

They are all neutered prior to being homed in order to control the UK’s feral cat population, currently estimated to be around 1.2 million.

In exchange, owners must be prepared to provide ferals with food, water, some shelter and veterinary care when needed.

Ms Robinson said: “Contrary to popular belief, regular food and neutering will not affect a feral cat’s desire to catch prey.” Feral cats cannot be rehomed in a normal home environment if they are more than 12 weeks old.

Anyone interested in providing a home for a feral cat should call 01296 738558 or visit www.mkcats.org.uk