I'm not a biologist, so I can only comment on my own observations, which are by no means scientific, but I have found that when the cat bites the head off of the mouse, it somehow renders the mouse unable to reproduce, thus greatly reducing the overall population of mice in the area.I've never had a cat before. How do they help keep mice away? Are the mice scared of the cats? Can the mice smell the cat from a distance?
Do you have proof that cats are even able to interact with wild mice? It seems unpossible that a pet cat would be any help at all.I'm not a biologist, so I can only comment on my own observations, which are by no means scientific, but I have found that when the cat bites the head off of the mouse, it somehow renders the mouse unable to reproduce, thus greatly reducing the overall population of mice in the area.
Again, just my untrained observation, so take it for what it is worth.
Fact one: any goat worth its horns will laugh at any fencing attempt you put up. Don't bother, they'll quickly learn to stay home. Mine never left the yard and learned to perform the dog's duties in that they'd walk the kids to the school bus in the mornings and be waiting for them when they came back. More than once I had to rescue a stranger who refused to get out of the car when a wild animal stood ready to attack them in addition to the pack of useless dogs.We have 2 dogs, 2 cats, a bearded dragon, rabbits, and chickens. The dogs are kinda lazy but let us know when someone shows up. The cats are useless. The lizard is really good at eating crickets. The rabbits are good to eat and the chickens lay eggs sometimes. We're gonna get some goats as soon as I get my sorry hind end up and fix the fence. They will be there to keep the grass low and to have one to eat every now and then. Most likely, they'll just be aggravating and eat the garden.
Dogs come when you call them...cats have an answering machine and may get back to you IF they feel like it...I have one massive cat that comes and goes as it pleases.
well... I know from experience they WILL eat thistlesFact two: Goats do not eat grass! They have learned instinctively to be browsers (Deer, etc) and not grazers (Cows, sheep). Goats can be very susceptible to a host of soil born parasites and pathogens so they only eat "off the ground" While htey will eat hay and grass if put into a raised feed basket, your goats prefer leaves, buds and bark. If you want organic grass trimmers (And who doesn't?) Get a sheep or two then you can have your fence too!
Fox Terriers, Jack Russells....etc are all good dogs to have around the homestead during the dry season.Barn cats are good for eating barn mice. Just don't try to pet the barn cats, they are pretty wild which makes them good at eating wild animals.Rat / Fox Terriers are good for eating all the rats / mice also fairly quickly they can sniff them / flush them out if you poke around the area with a stick.