Comments on: “Cats are not a recognized form of pest control as far as we’re concerned”

By: wfjag

wfjag — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:00:34 +0000

“E-Bell:
Terriers can be trained to use a litter box.”
EB, you’d beat Toto with a rolled newspaper to make him use a litter box?
PETA will sic the Flying Monkeys on you.

By: Addy

Addy — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:21:07 +0000

It’s actually not really a tire store. They sell tires, but it’s actually more of a general hardware store/car parts/home supplies/outdoors store. It’s a national chain that competes with the likes of Walmart.

By: E-Bell

E-Bell — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:24:36 +0000

I used to keep ferrets, Foxfier, and you’re right, they do have a distinct odor that many consider unpleasant, however it’s got nothing to do with their scent glands (which, like a skunk, they will use when scared). Some folks think that just the odor of a ferret will keep the rodents away, but I’ve never tested that theory.

By: Foxfier

Foxfier — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:23:52 +0000

Neither of those are studies, they’re unbacked claims/estimates.

By: Tony King

Tony King — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:56:09 +0000

Cats would probably not be recognised as a form of pest control as all cats are not good mouse hunters. I do pest control in North London and we often get calls from customers who have mice and have a cat. Mice are very clever they will never expose themselves to areas where the cat is, so staying inside and under cupboards is fine.

Its not always Tom and Jerry

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:10:29 +0000

@Foxfier: Actually, I've seen similar--though broader--studies coming out of the UK. Here's a recent one. Here's one from 10 years ago.

By: Foxfier

Foxfier — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:09:23 +0000

Ferrets still stink after being descented, and the scent is similar enough to mice and rats to confuse those who aren’t familiar with them.

Guy should’ve told the inspector it was an environmentally friendly pest control solution….

John B- they based that entire thing on the morality of a single study of a rather small type of bird in the fledgling stage in an urban environment, and they STILL didn’t have cats being the killer in most of the deaths. (The study itself even mentions that urban environments cut down on natural predators. So even with a massively stacked deck, cats were only the /largest/ cause of death, rather than causing /most/ of the deaths.)
But hey! They had to defend wind power, right!?

By: E-Bell

E-Bell — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:16:36 +0000

Terriers can be trained to use a litter box. So can ferrets.

By: wfjag

wfjag — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:21:44 +0000

“Snakes are good mousers too. Just saying. And terriers.”
True, Bob, but they don’t use litter boxes.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:03:52 +0000

And ferrets, don't forget ferrets! But perhaps cats aren't the ideal solution... Tweety Was Right: Cats Are a Bird’s No. 1 Enemy