Cat access into pole barn

[pburchett]

I have a pole barn, with a lean-to shed on the side, which is covered with metal. I like to have cats around for the mice, but not the other critters that are getting in. I have unscrewed a panel section and it is being propped open 4 inches or so with a piece of wood so the cats have free access. The only problem is that something else ( raccoons, fox, opossum, coyote just not sure) is getting in also and eliminating the cats.

I figure the cats go out looking for females and find a new home or get captured by coyotes out in the woods, so sometimes we loose one.. The other day I found two half eaten rabbits hidden behind some stuff in the barn. I figured the rabbits accidentally found their way in and the cats got em? Today I find a little fur and a toe of my boy痴 favorite cat in a hollowed out section in the bottom of the square bales of hay. Something had made a 1ft x 1 ｽft hole in the hay and had a snack. Would not have even noticed it but the hay was spread around everywhere on the concrete floor behind the hay stack. Tore all of the hay down, but did not find anything else.

The other day the two dogs (half black lab, half collies) killed a raccoon the size of a small beagle, probably 20-25 pounds or more. It must have been a heck of a fight as they were tore up some on their noses. The dogs are sisters and know how to tag team a good fight.

I thought that was the culprit responsible for eliminating the cat food. Since the last 4 days of single digit temperatures and blowing snow I noticed the cats were eating an awful lot of cat food, but now I guess we had another visitor snuggled up in the hay.

The little boy, his sister and the wife are heartbroken. I値l go out and get some sardines tomorrow and clean up the old Nitro Hunter and charge the spot light. Does anyone have a suggestion for a cat access into and out of the barn that will foil the other critters?

 

[charlz]

I would imagine coons can go most anywhere a cat can go. But to eliminate non-climbing animals I would go with a post or old ladder against the building where they have to climb up to get to a small access hole/cat door/whatever.

 

[texbaylea]

You can get cat doors that only open to a cat wearing a special collar.

Vernon

 

[schmism]

we just trap out the other critters....

if the coons like the cat food, then use that to bait the live trap. generally our barn cat is smart enough not to go in the trap... the coon however... not so much...

we have caught about 5 coons inside our pole barn and a few opossum.

 

[jinjimbob]

Fancy Paws W-MCD Magnetic Wood-Fitting Cat Door, White - Smarthome

 

[wjoerob]

Good luck on figuring a way to keep 'coons out. Any place a cat can get, so can a raccoon (and probably more places). A friend had trouble with them getting into feed, so he hung a can by a chain from barn rafters, had a screw-on lid; they climbed down, hung by the chain and unscrewed the lid! Smart little buggers. Live trapping is the only way to catch one.

 

[Steve IA]

Our cats have to jump up about 30" to a platform to gain access to a swinging door in a walkout basement window. Wild animals either can't jump that high or don't think to. It's worked for us for ~ 20 years and several cats.

Steve IA

 

[Ford850]

Our cats have to jump up about 30" to a platform to gain access to a swinging door in a walkout basement window. Wild animals either can't jump that high or don't think to. It's worked for us for ~ 20 years and several cats.

Steve IA

I would try Steve's idea. Coons will climb up anything unless you have it covered with metal. A hole up 30" on the side of the barn with a small platform in front as a landing pad for the cats would be great, as long as you have metal on the wall below it so the coons can't climb to it.

 

[MtHam]

The cat door which requires the cat to wear a magnetic collar has worked for me with one exception. The coons figured out how to open it with their claw, pulling it outward, which the door design did not prevent. After eliminating the mama coon and her offspring (which she had educated) we have not had any more problems.

 

[Reverend Blair]

Get two old 3-pane basement windows and install them in a frame 6-8" apart. Hang a flap in the panes at opposite ends. Cats will be able to get in and out (mine do) but other animals (skunks, squirrels etc.) either don't fit or can't figure it out.