Considering rehoming our cat to a farm.. Help?!

[GoT1904]

I've had cats all my life growing up. I recall my mum actually having 5 at one point!!

As an adult I've had a few, one sadly died and the other is 10 years old.

We also have Luna, aged 1.5..

I know that cats all have different personalities and tendencies, and you don't know what kind of kitty you're necessarily going to wind up with. However, Luna had little interest in us and basically became a companion for our dog. 😂 They would run around and play for hours.

Luna is always wanting to be outside. She would rather drink from the toilet or a running tap from the kitchen than her bowl. So we have to (try) make sure the kids remember to close the lid or the bathroom door. But that's okay we can deal.

She would rather steal human food than eat her cat food, she loved biscuits and treats growing up. Now she will eat wet food, or will hover around you whilst you're eating, go through the bin or chew through packets of food if they're on the side. Crumpets, bread, pitta, etc.

Again, I can deal.

However now she brings several rodents or birds home a day. She does eat them. It's been really stressing me as I've a 'thing' about bones and they make me anxious. I'm having to move little bodies or parts of bodies every day. Again, I know this can be part of cat ownership but it's so often.

Yesterday the kids were sat at the table doing crafts, and Luna was going between the window and door outside trying to come in with an entire squirrel. The kids were hysterical. She has since eaten the squirrel aside from the head and tail which I'm going to have to move soon. That and a decapitated mouse.

I don't think that she's the type to fit in with domestic life and think she'd make a great farm cat, or similar. But I don't know where to start with seeking that out for her. Does anyone have any advice?

It might be an idea to ask any local rescues for advice. They should be in a position to give you advice, and if they think farm rehoming is a good idea they are more likely to know where to ask.

By the way, many riding and livery stables like to have yard cats, as well as farms, so that's another possible avenue. Her predatory instincts and obvious ability at catching prey would be an advantage there!

She sounds like she's living her best life tbh 😸

We get on average 3 mice / birds / frogs a day during the summer. I wouldn't ever rehome my cats for that!

Have you had her checked by the vet?
Even with avid hunters I have not had them eat every kill

Also she will calm down soon she's still fit and healthy so making the most of it
All the females I have had calmed down about 3

Eh? How is living in a barn better than a warm home?

Can’t you just have a special pair of tongs for corpse disposal?

This is about 50% of cats 😐

Get a quick release neck collar.
Put a bell on it.
Hunting won't be so successful for her anymore.

You can also fulfil her hunting urge at home with toye like laser pointers, and at the end of the game, pointing the laser onto a Teddy for her to pounce on/kill.

Normal cat behaviour. Ours do things like this. Really not a rehoming issue

I have 2 cats and they wear 3 bells on their collars. They sometimes catch a bird or mouse but I turn a bin bag inside out then pick it up, knot it and throw it in the outside bin. I'd never re-home them for what is their instinct.

I wouldn't say that this is rehoming behaviour but just successful catting.

Mine are useless, I get earthworms and moths. Get a collar with a bell (release type one).

I'm impressed she caught a squirrel. They move fast!

My lot have always thought that food comes from a packet/can. No way would they eat a squirrel!

She will calm down with age - they all do. I'd suggest a quick release collar with a bell to warn any rodents/birds etc.

Earthworms and moths...

She doesn't sound like a lap cat! If she's incompatible with your lives and you can find her a life that will suit her better, then go for it. Some of the happiest cats I have ever met have been stable cats.

The majority of barn cats have pretty rough lives - they're often not vaccinated or treated for parasites. In fact, I'd guess that the vast majority never see a vet.

Can you not set up a home for her in the garden shed or the garage? Make sure it's warm and insulated, provide food, water and a litter tray for her and see how it goes.

I agree this sounds fairly typical for a cat and I wouldn't consider sending to live on a farm for this reason. She'll calm down over the next few years, she's still very young. She sounds really happy!

Would your mum take her if you don't want her anymore?

Definitely. We have barn cats on our farm and while we appreciate what they do for pest control they are 100% something we're not involved with.

They do their thing, we do our thing and there's no interaction between us.

I think that a cat used to being fed by humans would have a pretty short and awful adjustment period before dying if it were to be just sent to a farm.

I'm going to ask, based on her dietary habits, what are you feeding her and how much?

The constant scavenging of leftovers for food...she could just be greedy or she might not be getting what she needs for her food and be hungry / deficient in something. In which case you need to feed her more / give her a better quality cat food with higher meat content.