Are Cats Effective Rodent Control

Discover if Cats Are an Effective Form of Rodent Control or If There Is a Better Way to Keep Mice, Squirrels, and Other Rodents Out 

According to the most recent American Housing Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, nearly 15 million homeowners see rodents every year. Many people think that the go-to solution is to get a cat. 

It’s a tale as old as time, people believe cats are good at catching rats and keeping mice and other rodents under control. However, just because it’s a long-held belief doesn’t make it true.

Although some cats may help curb rodent populations in certain circumstances, simply getting a pet cat isn’t a guarantee of a positive outcome.

So, will owning a cat keep mice away? Catseye Pest Control has more than three decades of experience in providing rodent control in various scenarios. We can confidently share that the answer to this question is simple, even if it surprises you.

Why Cats and Other Pets Aren’t Ideal Forms of Rodent Control

Do cats keep mice away? The answer is a little complicated, but typically speaking, no. 

Sometimes, the scent left behind by rodents’ natural predators make them wary and cautious. As a result, you may see them less often, but they are still there.

Cats Are Not Effective at Catching Rodents 

The premise that cats and other pets can help control rodents isn’t supported by science. Research shows that cats aren’t nearly as successful at catching rodents as you may think. 

A 2018 study on a colony of approximately 150 rats in Brooklyn, New York, documented the behavior between rodents and cats over the course of five months. Although the feline participants displayed hunting behaviors more than 259 times, they only exhibited 20 attempts to kill the rats. Of those 20 attempts, only three were successful.

That’s simply not enough when dealing with an infestation of rodents. 

Mice Often Den in Hard-to-Reach Spots 

Field mice, including white-footed field mice and deer mice, prefer denning in out-of-the-way areas. Drop ceilings, attics, and wall cavities are often preferred areas. These locations are also inaccessible to cats, making it impossible for the felines to make any significant changes in the rodent population. Additionally, it’s notable that many field mice will obtain food from the outdoors and stockpile it in hidden areas.

Rodents Can Evade Cats

Research from the University of Florida revealed that mice and cats often coexist within homes. Rodents typically lessen their activities to avoid alerting cats to their presence. The cats’ pheromones may alert rodents to their presence, allowing mice and rats to evade contact. Additionally, while feral cats often chase rodents for food, domestic cats typically play with them but rarely have the urge to kill and eat rodents. 

Another notable reason that cats and other pets don’t make good rodent control options is that pet food serves as excellent food for rodents too. Anything left in pet bowls may be consumed by rats and mice. At the same time, because household pets are usually well-fed, they rarely have the drive to hunt rodents. 

How to Effectively Protect Your Home from Rodents

Luckily, you have better, more effective rodent control methods readily available to you while relying on Catseye’s professional rodent control services.

Domestic cats and other pets are simply ineffective at catching and controlling rodents. Rodents are intelligent and fast — rats can also be vicious. Many household pets end up on the losing end of a fight when they try to catch rodents. 

You don’t need a cat. You need a professional.

Catseye uses innovative techniques and an Integrated Pest Management approach that involves inspection, identification, treatment, and partnership. We work with you to repair structures, monitor areas, and apply safe treatments with minimal impact to the environment.

Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems

When it comes to rodent control, prevention is everything. With Catseye’s innovative Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems, you can stop rodents before they get into your home, building, or property. These safe, humane, chemical-free barriers provide targeted protection for key areas of a structure.

Cat-Guard offers a permanent solution that keeps rodents, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, and other nuisance wildlife out of the protected areas. For a long-term strategy to seal off entry points and prevent rodent infestations, consider one or all three Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems to protect areas like: 

• Foundations 
• Basements 
• Garage interiors 
• Gable and ridge vents 
• Fascia 
• Soffits 
• Eaves 
• Dormers and windows 
• Chimneys 
• Pipe voids 
• Doors 

Prevent rodents and nuisance wildlife from entering through these areas and others for the ultimate peace of mind.

Platinum Home Protection

Routine prevention and maintenance that’s tailored to your specific property and circumstances can help get rid of rodents and keep them from ever returning. Catseye’s Platinum Home Protection uses a proactive approach to help protect you, your family, and your home from the dangers associated with pests of all types. 

We start with a comprehensive inspection and extensive initial service visit with a follow-up about 10 days later. Our highly trained technicians visitsix times throughout the year to make sure your property remains free of rodents and other pests. And if something emerges between visits, a technician will come to you within 24 hours.

With our 100% service guarantee, you can rest assured that your pest and rodent problems are in the past. 

Rodent Cleanup and Sanitation Services 

Even if cats and other household pets did provide effective rodent control, they don’t offer a full suite of services. In contrast, Catseye provides thorough rodent cleanup and sanitation services to help eradicate all the damage and harmful traces rodents leave behind. Rodents carry dozens of diseases that can spread directly and indirectly to humans, many through saliva, urine, and feces. 

That’s why sanitation services are so essential. In addition to preventing sickness, our services include fixing property damage and making areas clean, dry, and as good as new.

Once all rodents are removed, our professionals will clean all droppings, fix the damage, and provide additional services to restore basements, crawlspaces, and attics.

Contact Catseye for Professional Rodent Control 

Cats and other household pets are lovable but not reliable for pest control. At best, they may kill an occasional rodent or send them scurrying to hide. At worst, they may sustain a bite during a fight or help attract rodents with uneaten food.

Catseye’s professionals have decades of experience, along with the skills and equipment needed to provide comprehensive rodent control. Schedule an inspection of your home today for lasting control and peace of mind.