Cats & baled silage

locky76

I've a few vermin around the place (small variety thank god) and i'm thinking of getting a few feral cats, however a mate advised me that they'll break my heart scratching on the bales of silage and opening them...
Is this true or is he scaremongering?

Hal Emmerich

It's true.

bogman_bass

its true unless you can put some sort of cat deterent down. I think you can buy lion droppings from garden centers. they smell a big cat and stay clear.

greysides

bogman_bass wrote: »

its true unless you can put some sort of cat deterent down. I think you can buy lion droppings from garden centers. they smell a big cat and stay clear.

Now that's entrepeneurial!

Fishtits

Jack Russell learned it from a horsey type neighbour in the '70's. Rodent killer par excellence, with nill "collateral damage"

bogman_bass

greysides wrote: »

Now that's entrepeneurial!

they get it from zoos and the like

barryoc1

I have 11 cats and all baled silage. They only ever put a few pin holes in a bale at the corner. They tend to use the same bale the whole time when going up. The only reason they go near the bales is they like to lie down on the top of them and sun themselves in the fine weather. What i do to stop them makin too many pinholes is put a timber pallet up against the bale they tend to use and they climb up that instead.
I have never seen the cats to scratch the bales, sharpening their claws. They have more sense and tend to use the timber doors instead.

Highland

Put a few squirts of greese on the bales that will keep cats, birds etc off them -works 100%

Figerty

Have five Cats around the yard, they are lethal.. saw a mouse/small rat the other day around the bales.. It won't be there long.

Never had a problem with bales being damaged except for the mad red setter chasing the cats up and over the bales. Thats the only way damage happened.

Funny thing is something (pinemartin or mink I suspect) is preying on the cats. I lost two or three in the last year, and I find the cats up different trees in the mornings regularly, and the setter is tied up at night so he can't be the cause.

Birdnuts

Figerty wrote: »

Funny thing is something (pinemartin or mink I suspect) is preying on the cats. I lost two or three in the last year, and I find the cats up different trees in the mornings regularly, and the setter is tied up at night so he can't be the cause.

A fox is more likely - especcially if we're talking adult cats.


PS: You can get special scatching post for cats that are used to protect furniture indoors if the cat has access. One in the barn should work just as well. You can also make your own using a fence post and strips of old cloth

johnpawl

In my opinion, jack russell is the way to go. We got one three years ago, she kills like blue murder, saw her break a big rats neck last night. First one I have seen alive since she arrived( have seen alot dead).

ootbitb

Had eight cats about the place til last week when all but a tom disappeared.

Thought a mink might be the culprit. Less is better anyway.

Next cat I get will be doctored. Wouldn't do without one though.

Kovu

I have a cat that commutes between work & home. He doesn't give a f**k about bales, the horse blanket does him......dunno how the horse takes it though...:p

Just watching Mrs Brown.......think I may keel over laughing soon.

Bizzum

Highland wrote: »

Put a few squirts of greese on the bales that will keep cats, birds etc off them -works 100%

I'd be interested to try this.
A rogue of a cat done a lot of damage on bales we had, I do think that some cats seem to ignore bales and others love them.

Timmyboy

Birdnuts wrote:

You can get special scatching post for cats that are used to protect furniture indoors if the cat has access. One in the barn should work just as well. You can also make your own using a fence post and strips of old cloth

Another thing cats like is them material lined plastic luggage trays that are used in the back of hatchbacks. A total winner it seems for my cat.

Should be able to pick up a damaged one or second hand at a scrap yard or a dump perhaps for a few or zero euro.

razor8

Are you sure the bales weren't damaged bringing them in? Maybe bale too low going through Stoney gap

gobnaitolunacy

Have the cats neutered or you'll be plagued with litter after litter of bad batches of kittens. Stops the toms straying all over the shop as well.

Dunedin

locky76 wrote: »

I've a few vermin around the place (small variety thank god) and i'm thinking of getting a few feral cats, however a mate advised me that they'll break my heart scratching on the bales of silage and opening them...
Is this true or is he scaremongering?

electric fence......