Everyone who has an old house knows this secret. Get a cat and you will never have a mouse problem. What if you have a warehouse, hobby farm, or other business that may attract mice? Then there is the Working Cats program organized by the Humane Society. What is wonderful is that previous to this program, the only option for these cats was death row.
This program pairs up businesses with a mouse problem to a small group, usually two or three, feral cats. As these cats are not comfortable with being handled by people, they feel comfortable prowling inside of a business such as a warehouse or outside in a yard.
In Minnesota, where grain elevators, small farms, and warehouses are aplenty, the Startribune has reported that this program has soared.
Fritz and Nutmeg are two such employees. They began working at Ramy Turf Products when manager Jim Trenter was tired of the mice chomping up the grass seed. He figured the loss was about $10,000 a year. He originally wanted to adopt a cat for the purpose of mousing, but then he discovered the new Working Cats program. Saving the two feral cats from death row, he brought them back to the warehouse. They became acclimated and, in a few week's time, got to work.
Trenter is so satisfied with his two quiet feline employees. He's also impressed that with so little money and effort, the end result is very impressive. Although Nutmeg hides in a secret spot away from all humans, Fritz is super friendly and will hang out during the day, rubbing against their legs and allowing the employees to pet them.
