No one likes unwanted rats. Perhaps you can solve the problem with cats.
In 2011, the Tree House Humane Society created the Cats at Work program to send hunting felines after undesirable rodents. Adorable and, according to organization officials, highly effective.
“This is nature taking care of nature,” Jenny Schlueter, director of development at the nonprofit group, told the Tribune. “It’s a whole lot safer for the environment and ends up being more cost-efficient over time and in comparison to rat poison and other abatement traps.”
More than 30,000 rat complaints were filed with the city of Chicago in 2015 and even more are expected this year with the warm winter and large demolition projects across the city. By April 7, 2015, 4,702 complaints were filed. Gross. By that date this year, 7,618 complaints had been filed. Double gross.
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With Cats at Work, the animals can be adopted in groups of two or three for $500 to $600 and sent to requested sites. The fee covers the felines’ food and water dishes, shelter, litter boxes and setup.
“Even when people are skeptical, we found that a lot of people are actually surprised of the bond that they form with these cats,” Schleuter said.
So basically you get a furry creature living near you that you don’t have to take care of and that takes care of your rats? Sounds like a plan.
And don’t worry, the cats are vaccinated and spayed or neutered before being sent to their new homes. They also come with a microchip and a clipped ear to show they are not merely wild animals. The cats are in high demand, with more than 500 in the program and currently a waiting period of two to four weeks for their services.
“The cats have proven to be 100 percent effective,” Paul Nickerson, manager of the Cats at Work program, told the Tribune. “They scare the rats away with their pheromones and natural predatorlike instincts.”
But some people aren’t on board with having more cats around.
“It would be bad for birds in Chicago,” said Nathaniel Miller, director of conservation at Audobon Chicago Region, according to the Tribune. “Starting now in the spring, we have hundreds of different species of birds migrating through. So places like Chicago are actually really important for birds in general, especially for migratory birds.”
Miller said feral cats are one of the biggest contributors to bird mortality, in addition to habitat loss.
Schlueter said the feral cats would rather snack on rats.
“It’s important to realize these cats would prefer to hunt rodents rather than birds because they are easier to catch,” she said.
Thought you didn’t like cats? Anyone with rat problems might think differently now.
For more information, read the Tribune’s report.