Cats are housed in homes until a barn is located. They are kept caged (not happy but safe). Cages are dog-size approximately 3’x 4’ with a feeder, a hanging water bowl that is refilled daily, a litter box, a rug, and a “hiding” box. The hiding box is a small cat-size carrier that is put inside the larger cage. It has a bed, towel, or sheet in it for the comfort of the cat. The door to the carrier is bungee-corded to the side of the cage to keep it open. When it is necessary to open the cage for scooping litter and/or cleaning, the feral cat retreats into the hiding box and we just close the door. When it is time to take the cat to the new barn, again we just close the carrier door, lift it out, and take the cat to the barn site.

Feral cats seem to be very messy in the cages – litter everywhere/everyday, rug pulled up and the food spilled everywhere, water bowl pulled off the side of the cage, etc. Just know this and expect it.

Barn Cats, Inc. volunteers travel to each barn site, take all the equipment, and the cats. If a cat comes in with another cat from the same site, we almost ALWAYS put them out together. In most cases they are related…siblings or parents/kittens. This seems to make them stay better in their new barn home.

At the barn, Barn Cats sets up a double cage (2’ x 6’) per cat with a feeder, waterer, litter box, and hiding box. If we can put two or three cats together, sometimes we pin three cages together for 2’ x 9’. We do not use the same small carrier hiding box at the barn site because we need to reuse them back at the house. At the barn, we use a carrier that is missing its door or the cover to an old covered litter box that is no longer needed. We put a sheet, blanket or cat bed in each to make the cat comfortable. Rugs are also put in the cages in the winter. Sometimes we cover the cages with a sheet if the weather is expected to be exceptionally cold and/or windy.

Cages are the Bargain Hound A-36 purchased at PetsMart. They all come apart and are easy to move, store, and clean. They are black and held together by pins in each corner. All you have to remember is to pack ALL THE VARIOUS PIECES when you are going to a barn to set up a cat.

The cats stay in the cages for two weeks to a month. For the release, the barn owner sets up the permanent feeding station, at night closes up the barn (if possible), and leaves the cage doors open. This is because cats are nocturnal. The next morning proceed with business as usual in the barn. The cats have had all night to explore the barn and find their “special” hiding place.

DO NOT RELEASE IF IT IS RAINING or
the POTENTIAL FOR RAIN.

Cats find their home by scent and rain will wash it away. Waiting one more night will not hurt. Leave the cages up for an addition 5 or so days so the cats can get back in if they want. After the release, we hope they think of that barn as home and decide to stay. Food and water will continue to be provided and the barn will be safe if they choose to stay.