Why cats are the underdogs on the farm: Kem Ormond

Kem Ormond once had a farm cat that was so docile it wouldn't even chase a butterfly.

Cats are the unsung heroes of the farm, or at least that’s what Kem Ormond reckons, as she steps up to bat for the humble farm cat.

Cats on farms sometimes get a bad rap.

I do seem to use that word quite frequently in my articles as I seem to have a thing for the underdog ... or in this case, undercat!

As a lover of native birds and our beloved kiwi especially, I fully understand the destruction that feral cats can do to our wildlife.

However, I do have to admit, having lived on farms most of my life, I have always had cats.

When you have dogs, you have dog bones; when you have horses and chooks, you have grain: this, in turn, attracts mice and rats, and if you don’t want them visiting your pantry, then you need a cat or two.

One tabby cat I had would vanish all summer, only to return on usually a wet winter’s night, peering through the kitchen window, dripping from the rain.

He was a slimmed-down version of what he was when he left, but he would jump through the window, usually heading for the other cat’s bowl and then would settle by the fire.

He acted as if he had never been away, and this became an annual adventure for him.

I have also experienced having furry animals deposited under my bed, namely rabbits, rats, hares and even a stoat.

While this was not a very delightful experience, it was all part of rural cat ownership.

However, the incident that probably takes the cake was the night I heard a crunch, and then a flop, happening down the hallway.

An investigation was needed.

Mother cat, as she was named, had brought a large eel inside, and as she bit on its tail, it would rear up and flop down, very much like a cobra.

This resulted in the eel being returned to the dam, no worse for its adventure...but as for me!

The sad thing is that rural areas often become dumping grounds for unwanted kittens and cats who, in turn, become feral to survive.

I also have sadly experienced the heartache of my beautiful Burmese cat being mistaken for a feral cat.

I have known cat owners to add a bell to their feline’s collar to warn birds of its approach, and my last cat was given one to wear.

Not sure why I bothered, as she turned out to be a complete lap cat, only interested in painting her nails and sleeping on the heated floor tiles and never ventured outside, never caught a mouse or even chased a butterfly.

Ultimately, cats are a natural, sustainable, and effective way for farms to manage pests while maintaining a healthy environment for crops, animals, and people.