Mexicans seek cats to fight rats

[emad]

BBC News


Health officials in the Mexican state of Chihuahua are recruiting hundreds of cats to fight a rat plague in a remote mountain area, the AP news agency says.

The authorities have put advertisements in the local press asking people to donate unwanted pets.

They hope to collect up to 700 animals, who will be vaccinated before being sent to the town of Atascaderos.

Officials says hundreds of thousands of rats are plaguing residents after traditional killing methods failed.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3699342.stm

[demnan]

1. There is something really wrong with a society

if they can't take care of cats as pets and keep them on hand for occasional vermin duty.

What they don't realize here is that it's a two way street. The cat deserves something back for his services.

[liontamer]

2. I don't think this is going to work.

the cats will probably end up being a bigger problem. They should reintroduce snakes to the area. The snakes will eat the rats, and won't end up breeding huge colonies of diseased animals

[skygazer]

3. Rat terriers, man

That's what they need. The average cat doesn't mess with rats - mice, yes. Rats are pretty vicious.

I hope they're neutering these cats. Otherwise, they'll soon have a cat plague to contend with!

[dolo amber]

4. Awww, think how cute their little

gloves will be...:D