Cats used to catch mice at Calgary Canadian Tire

[puckluck]

http://news.sympatico.ca/oped/coffee...night/4d414ea0

A Canadian Tire store in Calgary was successfully combating their mouse infestation problem by enlisting the help of three friendly farm cats - until a squeemish customer ratted them out to Alberta Health Services. AHS quickly stepped in and nixed the technique.

Now the store and the authorities have come to a compromise: cats, while not a "recognized" form of pest control, are now allowed to roam the store and catch rogue rodents on an overnight basis.

Too cheap to call professionals?

[Ducay]

I saw these cats a few times when I was up in that neck of the woods. Was pretty impressed that the cats knew how to use the automatic doors between the garden centre and the main building. Didn't think they were actually on payroll though....

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Cheap, environmentally friendly. Can't think of anything wrong with this.

[Leon]

If it is the same Canadian Tire I worked at many moons ago, with the same owner, he is indeed extremely cheap.

[Ark2]

I love cats...

[drewboy12]

I think this is a good idea. Sure the cats love it. Prob well better taken care of then some house cats.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by noel

If it is the same Canadian Tire I worked at many moons ago, with the same owner, he is indeed extremely cheap.

Its the Beacon Hill store, not sure who owns it, but if the return policy is any indication, they are no where near as cheap as the Westhills store. That place is the worst. If I ever need to go to CanadianTire, I avoid that store even though it is the closest.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Are the cats at least dressed professionally?

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Cheap, environmentally friendly. Can't think of anything wrong with this.

Maybe the cats don't do a good enough job? I don't know about you, but I don't want to be shopping in a store infested with mice droppings. (and I know lots of stores have mice problems, but at least try to do it the right way.)

[nik-]

Pest control can come in and do a ton, but if they don't find all the gaps and holes, the mice will be back. Once they know that they're being hunted, they probably won't hang around.

"We're being hunted"

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Sounds like a pandemic - I was just going to say that no store could be cheaper than the owners of the Crappy Tire at Dalhousie. I say that as a former employee many moons ago - I still avoid it if I can.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Maybe the cats don't do a good enough job? I don't know about you, but I don't want to be shopping in a store infested with mice droppings. (and I know lots of stores have mice problems, but at least try to do it the right way.)

Don't forget the cat litter and tootsie treats as well, unless these cats do their business outside......

[something]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Maybe the cats don't do a good enough job? I don't know about you, but I don't want to be shopping in a store infested with mice droppings. (and I know lots of stores have mice problems, but at least try to do it the right way.)

Probably because they haven't hired enough cats!

[blankall]

I think it's a great idea assuming the cats are okay with it. I know a lot of cats who do not react well to new peolpe in their space, let alone thousands of people. The last thing I would want while shopping is to be swiped and hissed at by some surly cat. Plus, there will be children in the store who might find a cat swipe mroe than just an annoyance.

As for the efficacy of it, I assume it would be a lot more effective than an exterminator. If the environment is friendly to a mouse invasion in the first place, the mice will always come back. Cats will prevent them from ever establishing a breeding population.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by blankall

I think it's a great idea assuming the cats are okay with it. I know a lot of cats who do not react well to new peolpe in their space, let alone thousands of people. The last thing I would want while shopping is to be swiped and hissed at by some surly cat. Plus, there will be children in the store who might find a cat swipe mroe than just an annoyance.

As for the efficacy of it, I assume it would be a lot more effective than an exterminator. If the environment is friendly to a mouse invasion in the first place, the mice will always come back. Cats will prevent them from ever establishing a breeding population.

85% of cats that were surveyed had no problem with it.

And this is now only happening when the store is closed so no customers will be harassed by any cats.

[Buff]

Having previously worked at a Canadian Tire, I can say that if it is Canadian Tire, then the dealer (owner) is indeed cheap.

I can also assume that the mice problem is a common occurrence at all Canadian Tire stores. The mice just love the bird seed, and from my observations, the cat and dog food is also a favorite.

One summer we filled the cracks along the walls of the warehouse. Didn't keep the mice away. We moved the location of the bird seed and pet food. The mice just went farther to get what they wanted. We then immediately put the seed and food on the top rack of the warehouse (some 30 feet off the ground). The mice just climbed higher. Different exterminators came in and set traps and checked and changed the traps weekly, along with us using the traps we sold, and changing those daily. The mice just wouldn't go away. Eventually the problem waned substantially, but it still existed when I quit.

[Dion]

The cat situation sounds okay until a customer stumbles upon a half eaten mouse on the floor.

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by nik-

Pest control can come in and do a ton, but if they don't find all the gaps and holes, the mice will be back. Once they know that they're being hunted, they probably won't hang around.

"We're being hunted"

many years back I worked in a pub that had the same problem with mice, and the owner did exactly this, letting the cat run free between closing and opening. After about three weeks nobody remembered seeing any rodents and the cat got fatter and fatter.

[burn_this_city]

Probably more effective than trapping and poison.

[IronDave]

Originally Posted by Dion

The cat situation sounds okay until a customer stumbles upon a half eaten mouse on the floor.