Cat breed that won't attack rats?

giantmutantbroccoli

Hi guys!
My cat, Cat, is retiring - he's the friendliest cat in the world, but he's really not enjoyed being confined to my flat since I found out he had FIV. For the sake of his sanity (and mine, because his favourite method of communicating his distress is to cry continuously at full volume) I'm giving him back to my parents. They've got a netted run they used to use for chickens, so he'll be able to go outside as much as he wants without infecting the neighbours
I still want a cat though, so I've decided to get a kitten - a vaccinated, health-checked and neutered kitten, so I can avoid this sort of palaver. I've had cats before obviously, but they've always been adopted farm cats or strays, so I have no idea about breeds or anything.
Here's the crucial bit - I have an idea that may well be crazy. I have two pet rats (big males, friendly and sociable, called Moz and Psycho Paul) that live in my study. I'm keeping them completely seperate from Cat, as he's a farm cat and knows exactly what to do with tasty, snack-sized rodents However, it occured to me that if I got a kitten it might be possible to train it not to eat them, maybe even get it used to the rats enough to socialise with them. I am fully prepared for this idea to not work, btw, and everything will of course be done under strictest supervision to avoid any chances of anyone hurting anyone else.

Could anyone recommend a breed for me, or maybe a good cross?

I would like a cat that is:
Trainable and intelligent!
Friendly and sociable with people and animals
Not very predatory
Okay to be alone for a few hours a day in my flat

Not bothered about looks so long as it's not a "persian-type" breed - i.e. no ridiculously long fur that needs grooming twice daily, and no flat faces. Also preferably a breed without a history of genetic defects.

By the way, if you have any advice regarding the whole "training a cat not to eat rats" thing I'd be happy to hear it. I have a bit of experience training farm cats not to eat chickens, but I wasn't expecting them to share a flat at the time;)

Thanks for your help!

P.S.
If your recommended breed has a rescue centre near Edinburgh that would be awesome

Rachel83

We had rats a few years ago in my parents house and the cats used to be scared to death of them, the rats were more inquisitive than the cats always jumping at them and all that Not sure if its helpful info or not really? They were just the usual moggies no special breeds or anything.

The rats used to just live in the living room of our house, no cages or anything they used to just do as they please.

giantmutantbroccoli

Helpful, definitely! All the cats I've had at my parents' have been pretty wild, I figured it was a temperament thing but maybe it's just that they weren't used to not viewing rats as food. They all got introduced to the chickens as kittens though, and we never had any accidents - they'd try stalking the chicks or ducklings, and then have an angry hen run at them - it seemed to put them off!
Lol at the rats roaming free in your parents livingroom. Ijust imagine you trying to have a biscuit in piece with a rat on your lap Mine are a bit skittish, so they like having the cage to run back to.

Rachel83

You definatly couldn't eat in peace with them around! They used to sit on your shoulder and kinda snuffle in your ear until you gave in and shared! hehe. I'm not sure on how you'd go about training the cats to leave the rats though if they were actually interested in them?
I'm guessing if the cats saw some chickens they'd look yummy hummm.... Also they left the rats well alone, but took a fancy to the budgies, so I guess it depends on the cat at the time maybe? They definatly never went for the rats though? odd

giantmutantbroccoli

Maybe it's a kitten thing? I could be wrong, but cats don't seem to make a distinction between things that happened to them as little kittens and things that happen to them as adults. My current cat used to stalk the chickens and chicks when he was a kitten, but once he'd been frightened off by the angry chicken he never tried again even when he was big enough to bring down pheasants.
He used to catch all sorts of things, but mostly just really big prey ( for a cat) - rabbits and hares, pheasants, squirrels and seagulls. The best one was the time he brought a big salmon to the house - I'm sure he didn't catch it himself lol but he must've carried it a couple of miles from the riverside!
Basically I need a cat with the same super-friendly temperament, but without the insane hunting skills. Last time I vac'd the flat he nearly gutted the vacuum cleaner!
A bit of google-fu has suggested I should maybe get something like a Birman cat, but I just don't know. I've tried a couple of 'cat breed finder' type things, but I don't know how good they are. One came up with a Maine Coon, which would be amazing, but I'm sure I remember hearing that they were very predatory cats.

foreign_correspondent

I dont think its so much a breed as the individual cat - why not contact your local CPL and see if they have a cat in who does not seem too predatory?

Probalby safer to get a tried and tested adult than to buy a kitten and 'hope' its not interested...

giantmutantbroccoli

I would have thought it'd be a genetic thing - I know some breeds of cat are renowned for being very predatory, and while I don't know too much about cat breeds I know the breed of a dog is usually a good indicator of the sort of temperament it's likely to have.
I wasn't really intending to go off 'hope' lol. I want a docile, intelligent young cat/kitten that I cantrain not to attack the rats - I'm not just going to set it loose on them and see what it does. My current, psycho-killer farm cat learnt not to disembowel the livestock when he was a kitten, I'd just like to make it a bit easier by starting with a cat that's less likely to want to hunt.
I'd happily rehome a young cat or kitten if I had a good idea of what its medical and breed history were like, but after the FIV shock I'm none too keen on getting another unknown cat. And yes, I would really like a kitten

foreign_correspondent

I know the breed of a dog is usually a good indicator of the sort of temperament it's likely to have.

to an extent, there are trends - but its no guarantee - you can get jr terriers that would kill a rat as soon as look at it, (it's what they are bred for) and others that show no interest.

Likewise, many dogs (whatever breed) wll chase (and sometimes kill) cats, whilst others, including some individuals of the typically cat unfriendly breeds (such as greyhounds and terriers, who are generally very prey driven) will live alongside them and even share a bed together!! But some examples of typically soft mouthed (and less predatory) dogs, like labradors will catch and kill other animals.

As a cat is much more of a predator than a dog is, in general, I dont think you can ever get a kitten and be 100% sure it wont grow up to have that instinct. Cats can be trained to an extent, but they are not as biddable as a dog. If it develops into a cat with a strong prey drive, would you be able to cope with it? because there is no guarantee I am afraid.

However, if your rats are securely housed and out of the cats way, why is it a problem? Do you like to let them run free? if so, can that not be done out of the way of the cat?

Do you intend it being an indoor or outdoor cat? I read on here that most pedigree breeders dont want their cats going outside, so that adds to the importance of it being safe with the rats.

giantmutantbroccoli

Sorry if I'm being a bit unclear, *somebody* thought 3am was a reasonable time to start wailing to go out this morning!

I know a fair bit about genetics and how inheritance works, so I know it's just a question of how likely it is - and something like temperament which is a complex trait is governed by several genes, so it's not at all certain that two even-tempered cats will produce even-tempered offspring. In a relatively inbred population such as a specific cat breed you have a better chance of getting what you expect.
I should be fine coping with a very predatory cat - I have one at the moment! I just would like to be able to let the rats out in the livingroom in the evening, and I don't want to have to make sure the cat's out of the way first. It just makes life easier.

I guess it'd be an indoor and outdoor cat - i.e. I'll let it in and out but at night it stays in. I wouldn't feel comfortable keeping a cat indoors all the time, they look like they have too much fun outside. I didn't know cat breeders could be that specific about what you do with your cat! Surely if it's happy, healthy and neutered that's all that matters? I wouldn't be happy buying from someone who didn't want me to let my cat out.
Any ideas on cat breeds?

scotsgirl_3

I don't know about predatory, as mine never go outside and are yet to see a rodent (well, I HOPE!!) but I have two maine coons and they are certainly very trainable as they are highly intelligent. Despite being longer haired mine also need little grooming, although they do like it!

I live in Edinburgh myself but I'm afraid that my coons came from further afield - one near Aberdeen and one near Newcastle - there aren't that many breeders around although I do know of a few others who have good reputations. It is normal for pedigree breeders to say they only want their animals to be kept indoors, or with outdoor access only in a secure run. There are quite a lot of reasons for this, including theft which is becoming common with pedigree cats - I think there was someone on this forum who had her pedigree kitten stolen from her garden - Kimberley, possibly?

To be honest, keeping a cat indoors isn't a big issue if they have always been in from kittenhood - mine have a huge scratchpost, lots of toys etc, and are really happy - I've had outdoor cats too though. I would also think they are less likely to hunt your rats if they don't go outside and learn wild hunting traits.......

If you decide to go to a rescue who isn't breed specialist then I would suggest lothian cat rescue, they are very good.

foreign_correspondent

If you end up with a pedigree that is kept inside all the time, and may want to hunt your rats, you may as well save the hassle and money and keep the cat you have now!