Can Cats Prevent Rats From Entering Your Home?
WouterThere is some evidence that cats are effective at keeping rats out of homes. A recent study, which involved tracking feral cats in waste management facilities, found that the cats attempted to kill three out of twenty rats they encountered. Of these three attempts, the cat killed only two of the rats. So, while they might be good at preventing rats from getting into your home, you should not depend on cats to keep rats away.
Although house cats are supposed to be the number one enemy of rats and mice, they don’t actually want to interact with them. Most domesticated cats simply chase them until they die, which is ineffective. Moreover, the cats themselves can get sick from the dead rodents, and the rodents may fight back, injuring your cat.
In one study, three cats were present in a rat colony on a daily basis. Moreover, 20 cats stalked the rat and likely killed three of the rats. However, they failed to kill the rats that lived on the open floor. To successfully kill rats, cats must be hungry, have no other less risky food sources, and be in a position of surprise.
Researchers installed infrared cameras around a rat colony in Brooklyn. They watched for over 79 days, recording 20 stalking events and three kill attempts. Two of the kill attempts were successful, while the third was unsuccessful. In addition, cats were not as effective as other predators in controlling rat populations.
