One pair of mice can reproduce themselves so fast that in just one year they could number 1,000,000. And one million mice can eat a farmer out of house and home - and all of his grain as well. So cats are the most valuable protection a farmer can have from an epidemic of mice. Although farmers have always known how effective cats are at holding down the mouse and rat populations, in the Middle Ages no farmer wanted to admit he kept cats. Cats were the pets of witches, and anybody accused of witchcraft could be burned at the stake. So how could a farmer keep the cats around without being accused of witchcraft? Do all animals sleep as much as my cat? Giraffes sleep only 20 MINUTES a day! Cats love fresh milk, and the farmer would put out saucers of fresh milk at night for the cats to drink. Whenever somebody saw the farmer putting out the milk, the farmer would simply explain that he was putting it out for the little people. And that is why there are so many folk tales about fairies, elves, gnomes, and leprechauns. When people quit believing in witches, the farmers welcomed cats with open arms. Of course, not all cats are effective mouse catchers. Farmers were always looking for the best mouse-catching cats, and called them "mousers." When a litter of cats was born, the farmer did not have to find homes for the new kittens - all of them just lived in the barn together. It was not unusual to see a dozen or even two dozen cats running around a farm house and barn. They were worth their weight in gold. Return to the Barn. Outstanding Kids' Magazines ↓  For Your Favorite Little Animal Lover  ↓ Home Animal Research Library About AmericaZoo Lesley Fountain  ♦  P. O. Box 215, Fortuna, CA 95540  ♦  Voicemail 1-214-292-9404 email-us @ americazoo.com