Our Barn Cat Program works with the Cumberland County Animal Shelter to find working homes for feral or semi-feral cats. When feral or unsocialized cats wind up in a shelter, they’re often euthanized because they’ll never make good house pets. These cats prefer outdoor living—confinement to a home or shelter just will not do. HART’s barn cat program rescues these cats from the animal shelter where they would otherwise be euthanized, and places them in barns, garages, warehouses, and other settings better suited to unsocialized cats.
Barn cats have no desire to be lap cats. These cats are working cats. They’re used to living on the streets and are pleased to tend to any mouse or rodent problem you may have. They prefer little to no human contact and will work for the price of daily food and water, vet care as needed, and shelter in a barn, garage, or other structure. HART’s barn cats are healthy, sterilized, vaccinated, and in need of a new outdoor home.
The Barn Cat Program is a win-win for both the cats and adopters! Cats enjoy safe outdoor homes with shelter and a caregiver, and adopters enjoy having healthy, sterilized cats happily tend to their rodent troubles.
Questions? Read our FAQ below OR download the file below!
Interested in adopting barn cats? Scroll down and fill out our Barn Cat Application.
Barn cats have no desire to be lap cats. These cats are working cats. They’re used to living on the streets and are pleased to tend to any mouse or rodent problem you may have. They prefer little to no human contact and will work for the price of daily food and water, vet care as needed, and shelter in a barn, garage, or other structure. HART’s barn cats are healthy, sterilized, vaccinated, and in need of a new outdoor home.
The Barn Cat Program is a win-win for both the cats and adopters! Cats enjoy safe outdoor homes with shelter and a caregiver, and adopters enjoy having healthy, sterilized cats happily tend to their rodent troubles.
Questions? Read our FAQ below OR download the file below!
Interested in adopting barn cats? Scroll down and fill out our Barn Cat Application.
| caring_for_your_new_barncat.pdf |
Barn Cat Program FAQ
Do you have any friendly barn cats?
Not usually. Most of the cats in the barn cat program are not social, friendly cats or suited to be pets. They have no desire to be "lap cats" and cannot be touched or may take a very long time to trust enough to pet. We strongly encourage adopters to offer cats in this program an independent outdoor life complemented by appropriate care and shelter like a barn or garage. When we do have socialized cats, they are usually poorly suited to shelter life or indoor-only homes and prefer to be outdoors.
Do you have any barn kittens?
The short answer, no. HART will not adopt younger kittens as barn cats, as they don’t yet have the knowledge, size, or skills to remain safe outdoors. Most cats in the barn program are young adults between one and five years of age, though we do have younger and older cats available occasionally.
What is the adoption fee for a barn cat?
There is no adoption fee for our barn cats. Simply complete the application below and we will work to find you some barn cats!
What supplies do I need to come pick up my barn cats?
You will need to bring with you a plastic cat carrier or humane trap. Soft sided pet carriers are not allowed. A sheet or blanket to cover the carrier/trap while the cat is being transported will help keep them calm. The cats must be transported inside a climate controlled vehicle. Transportation in the bed of a truck is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
How do I acclimate my new barn cats so they don't run away?
Relocating feral and outdoor cats is not as easy as physically placing them in their new outdoor home. Cats are very territorial, and if you simply place them in a new location, they will try to find their way back to where they came from, often times killing themselves in the process.
Fortunately, feral and outdoor cats can be acclimated to a new territory fairly easy and in a short amount of time. Click here to see an example of an acclimation set up.
Why does the cat have to be confined for the first 1-2 weeks?
Cats need to be confined initially in their new home for at least one to two weeks in order to familiarize the cats with their new environment, so that they will remain on the premises. Even though there are instances of cats remaining when they have escaped upon arrival, this is rare and most cats will take off, never to be seen again.
Other than being dangerous for the cat, this can be traumatic for the caregiver who has usually put a lot of time, energy, money, and care into the cat. Some people see confinement as cruel, but a short confinement period is a very necessary part of the relocation project.
Not confining the cats and having them run off could mean a far worse fate for the cats. You should know that during the first day or two, the cats may struggle to find a way out. Most cats settle down in the cage after a day or two when they realize that no harm will befall them.
What do the barn cats require?
How will these cats know that my barn (or similar) is their new home?
Cats, especially feral ones, are motivated by food and security. While they're confined to a small area for 1-2 weeks, they feel safe and come to understand that you will always provide them with delicious food and a warm place to take shelter. Every time the cats see you feed them and hear you speaking to them, they are making positive associations with you and their new home.
Please be aware that even if you carry out the relocation process perfectly for 4 full weeks, some cats will still run away permanently upon opening the door to their enclosure. Statistics show that 90% will stay if confined for 4 weeks, while 75% will stay if confined for just 2 weeks. Do your best and understand that even then, relocation may not stick--which is why we only barn relocate if there are no other options for these cats.
Will they attack my kids/chickens/etc.?
Again, this is extremely unlikely. Many backyard chicken caretakers have working cats living peacefully alongside their hens and roosters. It's important that children know never to try to pick up, hold, or pet a working cat; otherwise, the cats will almost always choose to leave kids alone just like they steer clear of human adults.
Why should I adopt at least 2 barn cats together?
Experience has proved that adopting out barn cats in pairs (or more) greatly improves their chances of sticking around after the acclimation period. Even if you already have cats in your barn, introducing new ones in pairs will help them feel less alienated from the rest of the colony!
What do I do about vaccines and vet care?
Your barn cats can be humanely trapped and taken to a feral-friendly vet for routine vaccinations or to care for them when they are sick or injured. Stress affects cats greatly, and trapping and transporting is very stressful for a feral cat, so you should weigh the costs and benefits with your own veterinarian and decide what level of care you want to provide. Always be prepared to trap and help your working cats should they become sick or injured--this is our only requirement.
Do you have any friendly barn cats?
Not usually. Most of the cats in the barn cat program are not social, friendly cats or suited to be pets. They have no desire to be "lap cats" and cannot be touched or may take a very long time to trust enough to pet. We strongly encourage adopters to offer cats in this program an independent outdoor life complemented by appropriate care and shelter like a barn or garage. When we do have socialized cats, they are usually poorly suited to shelter life or indoor-only homes and prefer to be outdoors.
Do you have any barn kittens?
The short answer, no. HART will not adopt younger kittens as barn cats, as they don’t yet have the knowledge, size, or skills to remain safe outdoors. Most cats in the barn program are young adults between one and five years of age, though we do have younger and older cats available occasionally.
What is the adoption fee for a barn cat?
There is no adoption fee for our barn cats. Simply complete the application below and we will work to find you some barn cats!
What supplies do I need to come pick up my barn cats?
You will need to bring with you a plastic cat carrier or humane trap. Soft sided pet carriers are not allowed. A sheet or blanket to cover the carrier/trap while the cat is being transported will help keep them calm. The cats must be transported inside a climate controlled vehicle. Transportation in the bed of a truck is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
How do I acclimate my new barn cats so they don't run away?
Relocating feral and outdoor cats is not as easy as physically placing them in their new outdoor home. Cats are very territorial, and if you simply place them in a new location, they will try to find their way back to where they came from, often times killing themselves in the process.
Fortunately, feral and outdoor cats can be acclimated to a new territory fairly easy and in a short amount of time. Click here to see an example of an acclimation set up.
- Place the cat in a large cage or kennel within the building they will be calling home. A room or any enclosed area will work for acclimating, just be sure the cat cannot roam freely until it establishes this space as its new territory. Give the cat a small towel lined carrier with the door held open (a small bungee cord works well for this), food and water, and a litter box. Clay litter is better than clumping in this environment, as clumping litter can get wet or in the water bowl, making a sticky mess that is more difficult to clean up.
- Clean the litter box and give fresh food and water daily. This can easily be done by closing the cat inside the carrier (the one you have bungeed open) to keep the cat safe while you are tending to its needs.
- After 2-3 weeks, you can open the cage door. Food and water should be kept both inside and outside of the cage. Once the cats leave, they may never want to go back into the cage.
- After two more weeks, the cats should be comfortable in their new home and the cage and supplies can be taken away. (The cat has now established its new territory and will likely stay)
- Caring for your barn cat is as easy as providing fresh food and water daily. Some barn cat caregivers keep litter pans inside their barns, but often are rarely used. Never rely on outdoor cats to sustain themselves on rodents alone, they need a nutrient rich diet to sustain a healthy life.
Why does the cat have to be confined for the first 1-2 weeks?
Cats need to be confined initially in their new home for at least one to two weeks in order to familiarize the cats with their new environment, so that they will remain on the premises. Even though there are instances of cats remaining when they have escaped upon arrival, this is rare and most cats will take off, never to be seen again.
Other than being dangerous for the cat, this can be traumatic for the caregiver who has usually put a lot of time, energy, money, and care into the cat. Some people see confinement as cruel, but a short confinement period is a very necessary part of the relocation project.
Not confining the cats and having them run off could mean a far worse fate for the cats. You should know that during the first day or two, the cats may struggle to find a way out. Most cats settle down in the cage after a day or two when they realize that no harm will befall them.
What do the barn cats require?
- A warm, secure, dry barn or building in which the cats can live out their lives.
- The commitment and ability to keep the cats confined to a crate or exercise pen for up to two weeks to acclimate them to their new environment before release.
- A clean litter box that is scooped and/or cleaned daily while confined.
- A constant supply of dry food and fresh water. While confined and for a short while after release, you will provide a small amount of canned food daily. What cat can resist that?
- Monitoring and providing for the safety and well-being of the cat as its caretaker.
- Spending time daily making verbal contact with the cat so that it becomes familiar with you.
How will these cats know that my barn (or similar) is their new home?
Cats, especially feral ones, are motivated by food and security. While they're confined to a small area for 1-2 weeks, they feel safe and come to understand that you will always provide them with delicious food and a warm place to take shelter. Every time the cats see you feed them and hear you speaking to them, they are making positive associations with you and their new home.
Please be aware that even if you carry out the relocation process perfectly for 4 full weeks, some cats will still run away permanently upon opening the door to their enclosure. Statistics show that 90% will stay if confined for 4 weeks, while 75% will stay if confined for just 2 weeks. Do your best and understand that even then, relocation may not stick--which is why we only barn relocate if there are no other options for these cats.
Will they attack my kids/chickens/etc.?
Again, this is extremely unlikely. Many backyard chicken caretakers have working cats living peacefully alongside their hens and roosters. It's important that children know never to try to pick up, hold, or pet a working cat; otherwise, the cats will almost always choose to leave kids alone just like they steer clear of human adults.
Why should I adopt at least 2 barn cats together?
Experience has proved that adopting out barn cats in pairs (or more) greatly improves their chances of sticking around after the acclimation period. Even if you already have cats in your barn, introducing new ones in pairs will help them feel less alienated from the rest of the colony!
What do I do about vaccines and vet care?
Your barn cats can be humanely trapped and taken to a feral-friendly vet for routine vaccinations or to care for them when they are sick or injured. Stress affects cats greatly, and trapping and transporting is very stressful for a feral cat, so you should weigh the costs and benefits with your own veterinarian and decide what level of care you want to provide. Always be prepared to trap and help your working cats should they become sick or injured--this is our only requirement.
