Our Barn Cat Program is a vital part of Kitty Cat Connection. It's through this program that special cats are given a new start on life. We are continuously seeking adopters who have warm and comfortable barns, stables, garages, shops, feed stores, wineries, warehouses and outbuildings for feral, semi-feral, and other special cats. These are cats who cannot live indoors due to various reasons.
Most of our feline barn candidates are feral or semi-feral. We rarely have friendly cats needing barn homes, but when we do these cats are usually nippy/bitey, or they do not use the litter box. Our volunteers who run our Barn Cat Program work with adopters to make the best match possible for both the cat and the adopter. Many of the cats who were adopted through this program have developed loving bonds with their adopters.
Adopters of barn cats will need to provide fresh food and water daily for these cats along with any needed veterinary care to keep them happy and healthy. There is no adoption fee for cats adopted through our Barn Cat Program though donations are greatly appreciated. If you are interested in adopting a cat through this program please fill out our Barn Cat Inquiry Form. After you submit the form, our volunteers will be in touch with you shortly.
When you adopt a barn cat you are not only saving a life, you are also provided with a chemical free, non-toxic rodent and pest control!
Minimum requirements for adopting barn cats:
Barn or building must be fully enclosed on all sides
Barn or building must have a cat door or small space where only the cats can get into the barn. This will keep out stray dogs and coyotes.
Fresh food and water must be provided daily
Our feline barn candidates have been:
Examined by a veterinarian
Spayed/Neutered
Given a rabies vaccine
Given an FVRCP (Feline Distemper) vaccine
Tested for FIV and feline leukemia
Imprinting Your New Barn Cats
All barn cats adopted through our program must undergo a minimum of 3 weeks of imprinting. New barn cats must be confined to a kennel or tack room inside the barn for a minimum of 2 weeks. This allows the cat time to become used to its new surroundings in a safe and controlled environment. Once the cat has been imprinted in the kennel or tack room, the cat can then be allowed to roam the closed up barn for a minimum of 7 days, allowing the cat to find good hiding, napping, and comfortable places. After this 7 days is up, the cat can then be allowed to go outside. A small enclosed room like a tack room will work for imprinting, but most often barn cats are imprinted in large dog kennels. We understand that not all adopters have kennels and supplies for imprinting, so our organization will loan you the following items for imprinting:
Large dog kennel
Litter box
Litter scoop
Food and water bowls
Blankets
Once the imprinting period is over, our volunteers will pick up these items. Since we are only loaning out these items, we will need all items back. If you already have all or some of these items please let our volunteers know. You can see the below pictures for examples of what the kennel imprinting setup looks like. Also, please check out our Tips for a Happy Barn Cat!