Bringing Home Barn Cats

For the most part, all the cats you’ll meet when you visit our Cat Castle at Second Chance are friendly, indoor pets. We strongly believe that cats belong indoors, where they are safe, healthy, and their behavior can be managed. But what about cats who come to the shelter already unsocialized, unfamiliar with humans, and unable to live in a home? Typically, these cats are labeled ‘barn cats’. 

Barn cats are four-legged exterminators who live in outbuildings such as barns, sheds, and garages. They cohabitate with humans, depending upon food and water from them, while providing mouse services in return. While they can sometimes be friendly, they are often independent and prefer to mind their own business.

Adopting a barn cat from SCHS is not as easy as taking them home and letting them go in their new outdoor home. Cats are territorial creatures, so they will try to find their way back to where they came from. Follow the steps below for a successful introduction of your new barn cat to ensure a comfortable transition and properly welcome your new companion to their home!

1. Place the cat in a large crate or kennel inside the building they will be calling home. A room or any enclosed area will work for the time being; just ensure the cat cannot roam freely until it has time to establish 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. 

2. Clean the litter box and give fresh food and water daily. You can close the cat inside the carrier to ensure its safety while you are tending to its needs. 

3. After 2-3 weeks, you can open the cage door. Food and water should be kept both inside and outside the cage. 

4. After two more weeks, the cat should be comfortable in its new home, and the cage and supplies can be taken away. The cat has by now established its territory and will likely stay. 

5. Caring for your barn cat is as easy as providing food and water daily. Never rely on outdoor cats to sustain themselves on rodents alone.

While barn cats may not be the cuddly companions many people picture when they think of adoption, they deserve safe, caring homes just as much as any other cat. By providing food, water, shelter, and a little patience during their transition, you're giving an unsocialized cat a second chance while gaining a hardworking partner to help keep rodents under control. If you have a barn, shop, stable, or other suitable property, consider opening your heart (and your outbuilding!) to a barn cat in need. 

Since 1994, the Animal Resource Center and the Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been dedicated to serving animals in Southwestern Colorado. Our adoption hours are every day from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We are located at 177 County Rd 10, Ridgway, CO. You can view our shelter pets and services online at secondchancehumane.org.