What Breed Of Cat Is Best For Catching Rats? [ 10 Good Breed ]

You have two choices if you have rats in the house. One is calling an exterminator in your home, and two is getting a cat. The choice of bringing a cat offers several benefits. Apart from pest control services, your feline friend also provides fun, loyalty, and companionship. When you adopt a cat, you bring a new family member to act as a mouser. A cat is an answer to your pet and pest problem, as some breeds are more efficient mousers than others. The best hunters are the American Shorthair, Persian, Maine Coon, Turkish Angora, and more. Let us know in detail.

What breed of cat is best for catching rats and mice?

The American Shorthair, Manx, Burmese, Chartreux, Turkish Angora, Siamese, Siberian, Persian, and Japanese Bobtail are the best breeds for catching rats and mice. The following section briefs about all these breeds of cats. Consider these as your priority when dealing with a rodent infestation.

1. American Shorthair

The American Shorthair has its initial origination from the US on the Mayflower. People of the 18th century had a belief that cats protect ships from storms. One significant fact is that these cats are natural hunters. Sailors adopted these cats to keep the rodent population under control.

They are calm and docile around humans but ruthless around prey. It is an independent and low-maintenance breed. If you are a novice owner that needs a mouser, this can be the ideal choice.

2. Chartreux

It is one of the rarest breeds of cats in the USA. You will have to pay a massive amount to the breeder to get her as a pet. Apart from being skilled hunters, these cats are beautiful and loving. They grow slowly and take about three years to reach the stage of maturity. Mature Chartreux is a muscular and energetic cat who loves to stalk and catch its prey. This cat can be an outstanding addition to your family.

3. Burmese

Unlike many other domestic cats, Burmese loves to eat rats. It is a gluttonous breed that does not hesitate to find a rodent population and eat it completely. These cats love human companionship and are loving and affectionate to their owners. If you fulfill their needs on time, they are brilliant pets and mousers. One thing to note is that they need constant attention and entertainment. Bring them home only when you can provide them with that.

4. Maine Coon

Maine Coon has been living in the USA since the pilgrimage, like the American Shorthair. They adore being with humans and are much bigger than most cats. Unless you have a mouse in the house, they are equivalent to giant teddy bears. The muscular and large framework of the Maine Coon assures any rat will not enter your house. This reason also makes them famous on the farm. You have a friend forever if you bring home a Maine Coon.

5. Manx

Manx is the answer to the unfortunate condition of a rodent infestation and a cat allergy. Although no cat can be hypo-allergic, this breed is the closest to this status. These cats are born hunters. Farmers keep cats in their lands to keep the rats away from the crops. You can reap the same results by keeping them in your house. One vital fact to be aware of is that Manx can be wary around unknown people and needs a calm place to live.

6. Japanese Bobtail

The cat is not Japanese at all and belongs to Korea. They were bred in Korea, particularly, to hunt mice. The Korean silk factories struggled with rats before the Japanese Bobtail scene. Japanese Bobtail cats are intelligent and affectionate, thriving the most in a busy house with constant companionship. You cannot easily pair them up with other breeds due to their bossy nature, which is helpful at hunting time.

7. Siamese

A Siamese is an ideal compromise if you want a fog but need a cat for mousing. They are super playful, loud, and affectionate. Also, they love hunting. If you are rarely home or your house is busy, do not consider getting her home.

8. Persian

Persian is known to be the laziest cat breed. This fact is true to an extent. You will see her roaming carelessly at the place. But, they are most effective around the mousers. It will move for hunting. The opportunity to eat rats is her motivation. She will act super fast on spotting a mouse.

9. Turkish Angora

Turkish Angora cats have their origin in nature, and they hail from Europe, as the name suggests. Turkish Angora is an excellent hunter because of her wild heritage. It never misses the opportunity of capturing live prey and bonds quickly with human owners.

10. Siberian

People often get fooled by the bulky size of Siberian. They are very agile, which helps them while hunting. No mouse can skip from the attention of a Siberian. They take time to grow, maybe up to 5 years to mature. Although they are great hunters, they need a substantial investment in time. Do not adopt a Siberian until you can handle the responsibility.

The most efficient mousers are unspayed female cats who are protective mothers and teach hunting to their kittens from an early age. It gives them a sharp and vigilant instinct. Male cats are also effective at hunting. Male cats that have not seen neutering have loads of energy and potential aggression. Consider adopting a female cat if your primary purpose is to get rid of the rats. They will deal with the infestation in the best possible way.

What breed of cats is worst for catching rats and mice?

Some cat breeds worst at catching rats are the Bombay cat, Cornish Rex cat, Ragdoll, Ragamuffin Baseline cat, and the American curl.

The Bombay cat

Bombay cat seems to be good at hunting, but it is only mediocre. It may or may not catch a rat in your house. These cats will never go out of their way to catch mice. They need less attention, are super playful, and love giving affection, but are just average hunters. It will avoid being in any conflicts and will rather lay around. These cats are dependent on the owners and are not that healthy and fit. If you need an affectionate pet, the Bombay cat is ideal. However, it is not the best choice for resolving a mouse problem.

Cornish Rex Cat

A Cornish Rex cat can catch a mouse but is never ambitious about hunting like many other breeds. They have loads of energy, but they like to invest it by playing with the owner, children, family members, and other pets. These cats need a lot of attention and pay it back equally. The cat scores only 4 out of 10 on health and fitness tests and needs many medical tests. These cats are lappets that enjoy hugs and snuggles but are not fit for solving a rat infestation.

Ragamuffin

Ragamuffin is a big teddy bear kitty with long hair and beautiful plush fur. They have inherited the features from their Persian ancestors and can weigh around twenty pounds. Although they can be a formidable opponent for mice, they are not passionate about hunting. Ragamuffin did not get the hunting instinct from the Persians. They are known for their long coats, big size, and strong desire to cuddle the people they love. They may catch a rat once in a while, and you cannot depend on that. They love cats and not hunters.

Ragdoll

Ragdoll is a new breed from around the 1960s and hails from California. They are cute beyond imagination and belief. But you cannot depend on them for catching the mouse, as they are not hunters. They are a sweetheart to own and not a hunter to rely on for a rat infestation.

American Curl Cat

The American Curl cat is an active feline animal that enjoys playing. They are healthy and do not succumb to genetic health disorders. They are less vocal and know how to keep you amused through actions. The attention needed is super high, but you will soon realize that they return you more affection. They love to have fun but are not necessarily rowdy. They are intelligent animals that will look up to owners only for attention and cuddles.

They are good companions to children and other pets. They may show up once in a while to catch the mouse but often choose not to take any initiative. Consider buying them only as pets and not as hunters.

Balinese Cat

The Balinese Cat breed is highly active, but one cannot call it a docile creature. They have a playful and vocal nature. They desire attention and are super affectionate to the owners. They need supervision around pets and children. They do not like sharing attention, so they often get jealous of other pets and kids in the house.

They are smart and possess the capabilities of hunters. But they do not usually seek out to catch rats. They are neither great nor the worst feline hunters. If it sees a mouse, it will not allow it to pass by. So the fact that a mouse cannot skip her vision is true. But she does not look for hidden mice to hunt is also true. If she is not in the mood, she will not hunt.

Final Thoughts

Cats are natural hunters that have an instinct for cat rats. However, not all of them understand how to embrace this skill. Most mother cats teach their kittens how to hunt. But some breeds tend to hunt more than others. If catching rats is the chief purpose, look for cats that are good hunters.