Dogs and cats may not always be the best of friends, but having both in your home or on your farm can successfully keep mice and other "pest rodents" away, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher says in an article at ScienceDaily.com.
As part of an international research team, associate professor Robert McCleery conducted an experiment to determine how well dogs and cats, when teamed up, would perform as rodent deterrents. The dogs and cats didn't actually have to do anything to keep rodents away but be there. The researchers wanted to know if their dual presence would discourage pests from stopping by.
The scientists wanted to see if the dog-and-cat combo was more successful as a pest deterrent than the presence of only one type of animal in a household. Their experiment included 40 households. Ten households had only cats, 10 had only dogs, 10 had no animals and the final 10 had dogs and cats.
The study revealed that, yes, fear among rodents increased significantly when they were faced with the presence of canines and felines. The pests didn't seem as concerned when there were only dogs or cats at a house, McCleery says. Also, while pests might not be as active when there's a cat or dog in the household, "dogs and cats by themselves won't help rid your farm or dwelling of pest rodents."
While the experiment was conducted in Swaziland, McCleery says the findings can be applied globally and in the United States. The scientists, however, don't know why the dog-cat combo is so successful, so there could be another study in the works.
Pest control and pet safety
An article in the March issue of Catnip also focused on the pest-pet relationship, specifically on how to keep cats and dogs safe when trying to eradicate pests such as mice, rats, roaches, ants and spiders from a home. Pesticides and poisons that kill the pests also may be harmful or toxic to pets.
Curious pets may eat pesticides that are in granule or pellet form, which is why they shouldn't be used in areas where pets have access. Cats that are good mousers are at risk of "secondary poisoning" when they eat rats or mice that have ingested rodenticide, according to Catnip. Eating one "toxic mouse" likely won't pose a problem, but if the cat eats others, then the poison can accumulate to deadly levels.
Pets also can get poisons on their fur when they roll around or lie in areas such as the lawn that have been treated with pesticides or even just weed killers. Because cats are such fastidious groomers, they can ingest harmful amounts of toxins through licking their fur.
Catnip advises homeowners to keep pets safe while also avoiding pest infestations with an approach that includes preventing pests from getting into living areas, as well as using less toxic pesticides.
Because ants, roaches and mice come into a household looking for food, pet owners should seal cracks and holes in baseboards, under sinks and behind appliances to make it harder -- and hopefully impossible -- for them to enter. Also store food in sealed containers and keep countertops wiped clean. Instead of leaving food out all the time to allow pets to eat freely, feed them at scheduled times, then make sure remaining food is removed.
Pet owners also should be alert to signs of poisoning, which include drooling, intestinal distress, tremors and seizures. If a pet has any of these symptoms, call a veterinary or poison control center immediately.
Trendsetters
VetStreet.com, a website containing advice and articles written by veterinarians, is predicting the trendiest cat names for 2017. Most of the names mentioned honor musicians and actors who died in 2016, so there's expected to be an uptick in cats named Merle (as in Haggard), Prince and (David) Bowie.
On the acting front, look for cats given an Alan Rickman-related moniker, such as Ricky or Rickman or perhaps even Snape, after the character the actor played in the Harry Potter movies. Carrie Fisher also may be honored with pets named Carrie or after her Star Wars character Princess Leia.
Family on 02/22/2017