Photo of Dougle on tractor by Nancy Richardson

Photos above by Christine Randle

Click here to watch the video: How to acclimate barn cats

We drove over 7000 miles delivering cats to barns in these locales between April 2008 — December 2011

MASSACHUSETTS

Abingdon, Ashby, Boxford, Carlisle, Concord, Dover, Fairhaven, Groton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lincoln, Littleton, Mattapoisett, Mendon, Millet, Norfolk, North Easton, Orleans, Plympton, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Townsend, Upton, Wayland, West Bridgewater and West Newbury

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Bedford, Contoocook, Deerfield, Derry, Hollis and Mason, NH

CONNECTICUT

Brooklyn and Northfield

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Shelter Me Inc assists other rescue organizations and individual rescuers–seeking optimal living conditions for ‘unadoptable’ cats. We make a special effort to match what we learn about each animal’s temperament to the accommodations that individual barn owners can provide.

 The program’s rationale is that barn cats provide a desirable, cost-effective service (rodent control) to barn owners and therefore deserve to receive the same care that every other member of the barn family receives (e.g., veterinary care, fresh food and water every day and special shelter for winter) .

Shelter Me Inc spends a couple hundred dollars for nearly every single cat that we deliver.  Our expenses include the cost of acclimation cages; cat food; litter and litter boxes;  cat beds and houses; cat toys; carrying crates; veterinary bills and travel. 

Donations are optional-averaging $50 to $100 per cat- and very deeply appreciated.

We cannot run the barn cat program without public support.

Click to read, “How does a barn apply for a Shelter Me Inc barn cat?”

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2008

Shelter Me Inc placed 44 “unadoptable” cats in barns

#1-7 are the Gardner Animal Control cats–delivered to Upton (Felix& Tiny), Ipswich (Sketter&Mittens), Littleton (Mushy), Boxford (Max), and West Newbury MA(Tigress);

Felix passed away. Top row below (left to right) -Felix & Tiny, Max,  Mushy; Bottom: Tigress

#8-13 came from Second Chance Fund working with Worcester Animal Rescue League (delivered to Fairhaven MA (Greta & Elle); Orleans MA; and Mason New Hampshire) 2 ran off from the Fairhaven barn almost immediately. One cat at another barn was taken by predators after two years. 

Here is Greta (left) and Greta & Elle together (right)

Below is the cage set-up for the cats placed in Orleans - the barn owner named them Romeo and Juliet.

#14-17 are the siblings our friend Lori rescued from the Malden Diner basement (delivered to North Easton MA -right  photo and Mendon - left photo).

#18-19 were two unrelated feral strays from Billerica Cat Care Coalition and MRFRS that we added to a barn we had previously worked with in Upton MA. 2 ran off from the Upton MA barn (We have not had  luck placing unrelated strays together)

#20-27 were ‘unadoptable’ cats from MRFRS in Salisbury (delivered to Groton MA (Clementine & Jewel), Plympton MA (Inky & Daisy), Upton MA, and Northfield Connecticut) 2 from the Upton barn (different from the one above) spent a year living together and disappeared at separate times, believed to have been taken by coyotes.

Photo of Clementine& Jewel in the shelter (below far left).  Clementine (middle) post release in Groton, MA. Jewel rarely showed herself after release. We brought three more kittens (#33-35) to keep Clem and Jewel company-and to catch rodents. Clem and Jewel don’t chase rodents in the barn. A little unusual but true.

Chester (below left) ended up living with a great family in CT. Inky & Daisy live on a great farm in Plympton - that’s Daisy below in the shadow. Hard to get a photo of Inky - she is very elusive - takes after her mama, Jewel, barn cat #22 (whom we placed in Groton).

#28-30 Male & female from MRFRS to Bedford, New Hampshire and male to Contoocook, NH.The male in Contoocook disappeared after six months, believed to have been taken by coyotes.

#31-32 were cats that were returned to MSPCA Methuen because of litter box problems (delivered to Sturbridge MA). Both cats moved out of the barn and ‘went wild’ on the property. Their names - George (left) and Molly (right)- see them below–

#33-35 were male kittens that our president Sara Carlisle rescued and paid to neuter (delivered to Groton MA) That’s them below -

#36 was a feral kitten (a lovely calico) that Morene took home from her vet (delivered to Upton MA). I fostered her for a while on my back porch.

#37 was a stray cat (variously named Sylvester, Mr. Kitty and Smitty) who ended up at the MSPCA in Methuen after Shelter Me paid to neuter him (delivered to Abington MA). That’s him below in his new life with his proud owner.

#38-39 were two black female kittens that Kitty Kats rescued from the streets of Brighton, MA (delivered to Upton MA)

#40-41 were two orange male kittens that Kitty Kats rescued from a dumpster in Rosalindale, MA (delivered to Boxford MA)

That’s Rocky & Tucky below left. On the right one of the kittens is swatting Max - one of our very first barn cats - soon to become the kittens’ mentor. One of the little fellows disappeared after being in place for close to two years and two months later reappeared again!

#42-43 were a grey and a black male kitten that KittyKats rescued from the dumpster in Roslindale (delivered to Ashby, MA). The owner named the black cat, Misha. That’s him below - he chased all the voles out of the garden. In December 2011, we received a note from the barn owner saying all three cats are still in place and doing great. That is after three years!

#44 was a tortie female that Billerica Cat Care Coalition rescued - we placed her with the grey and black male kitten (delivered to Ashby MA)

2009 35 “unadoptable” cats in barns

#45-46 were a black & white male named Don and a calico female named Butterfly that were trapped in Acton, an area we cover, and brought in by a neighbor. Delivered to Berlin, MA

#47-48-49 were an orange female and her two orange female kittens rescued by KittyKats from a DPW site south of Dorchester, MA. Delivered to Newbury, MA. Those are the kittens at left on delivery day - and later….

This former barn kitten made it into the house where she resides happily today.

#50-51 - 2 orange cats male and female rescued by Charles River Alleycats. Delivered to Derry, NH. That’s them in the acclimation cage and free - looking out the hay loft.

#52 - a male black and white cat (Timmy) rescued from the streets of Charlestown by KittyKats  and placed on the farm that has Tiny, Felix and the Calico in Upton, MA. That’s Timmy below -

#53-54- a male orange cat named Marmalade and a black cat named Nira trapped by KittyKats in the South End and Dorchester. Renamed Sonny and Buddy by their new owners. That’s them below -

#55-56 - Found a barn for two cats,  a grey male and a black female, both long-hair and 1 year old. Trapped by Standish Humane Society in Plympton after the barn they were living in was closed down and cleaned out. Placed in Billerica.

#57-58 - Placed Petunia, a 5 yr old Calico with Kiki, a 1 yr old black cat, both females picked up by Animal Rescue League. They had been in the shelter for more than 2 months and were not likely to be adopted for behavioral reasons. That is them below. Kiki and Petunia (unrelated strays) got into fights so the barn owner found another barn for Kiki.

#59 placed a 1 yr old black cat Violet. She has been in the shelter at ARL and was returned for attacking her owner. We attempted to place her with Petunia and Kiki but she growled so much, we took her back and on the way home to pick up  a cage, another barn owner took pity on her and gave her a home. We had a heck of a time getting Violet out of the carrier and finally gave up and put it (with her in it) inside the cage.

Violet sadly disappeared  and was believed to have been taken by a coyote. That is her below - depressed at the shelter (left); her new  animal family  (right); her new human family; and finally, happy on the farm (bottom).

#60-61 - Placed two orange male cats, both named Garfield, unrelated but very fond of one another. They were not being adopted at the Animal Rescue League for behavioral reasons. One of the golden cats disappeared after a year - he appears to have been lost to a predator.

#62-63 - Placed 2 females, a feral white cat and a feral tortie cat,  captured on the streets of Everett by Cindy Dever of Charles River Alleycats, in a barn in Auburn, NH.

#64 -Placed a black & white female cat named Shasta in a barn that houses two very friendly goats and a couple horses. She had been at the Animal Rescue League in Boston since early March when we placed her on June 6th in a barn in West Bridgewater. Shasta was about the unhappiest looking cat we ever saw (see below ). But she didn’t stay that way. The barn owner thought she looked lonely in her acclimation cage (right) and took her into the house where Shasta now lives with other cats and dogs.

#65 - Placed a grey cat named Elmo in the barn next door to Shasta’s place. She also had been at Animal Rescue League for several months. She lucked out big-time in her new home. That’s Elmo below left in the shelter - depressed as can be - and happy on the farm at right.

Elmo again - two years later in 2011 (below)

#66 Placed a black & white female cat named Precious - saved by Laurence Van Atten of International Animal Rescue on behalf of WARL - in Hollis, NH. Precious is believed to have been taken by a coyote.That is her below in her acclimation cage on the farm.

#67 Placed Melborn, a 3 year old male grey tabby (13 pounds) saved by Laurence Van Atten, Delivered to  a barn in Cape Cod. He was featured in the Cape Cod Times in a story titled, “Shelter Me gives stray cats a fresh start.”

Melborn is believed to have been taken by a coyote.That is him below.

#68-69  Kimball & Bushy - 1 3yr old orange male and 1 grey tabby from ARL to Carlisle, MA Bushy ran off after the acclimation period. Kimball stayed. That’s him below-

#70-71 Thelma & Louis - siblings black & white - 1 five month old female and 1 five  month old male. They were too timid for ARL to adopt out - they could be petted but preferred to hide from humans. Delivered to Ashby, MA. That’s them below. Their new owner named them Hansel  & Gretel.

#72-73 Sierra  Echo - 1 yr old grey female and 1 yr old gray tabby male -delivered to us by Jill Sullivan, a volunteer at Scituate Animal Shelter and taken to Ashby, MA Sierra  & Echo ran off. They were city cats that did not adjust to the farm.

#74 Muriel - female black & white 1 yr old female saved by Jill Sullivan, volunteer for Scituate Animal Shelter and taken to Ashby, MA. Renamed Amelia. She made a friend at the farm - a handsome orange cat named Huey. Left photo is of Amelia the day she arrived - the right photo is Amelia and Huey months later…Amelia is believed to have been taken by a coyote a year after settling in really well on the farm. 

#75-76 -two 1 1/2 year old calico kittens, Fiesta and Stella, saved by Julia at Standish Humane Society who delivered the cats to a farm we found for them in Cape Cod.

#77-78 - 2 female siblings - 4 1/2 months old, an orange female (unusual) and a tortie given to us by Jill Sullivan who got them from Quincy Animal Shelter. We placed them in Lunenberg, MA. One cat became ill and died several months after placement. Jill brought the kittens to our house and showed them off -  our dog is looking on worriedly. At right the kittens are peering at their new barn home. middle pic - the barn owner’s son and the orange kitten.

 

#79 - 1 female black & white cat - 6-7 months old rescued  from the streets of Worcester by Laurence Van Atten of International Animal Rescue (bottom left) Delivered to Lunenberg.

 

2010  21 “unadoptable” cats in barns

#80 - 1 black & white male - 3 yrs old former stray  - adopted once and returned to ARL Boston- delivered to Haverhill, MA. That’s him making friends with the white horse - The barn owner named this cat, Sir Martin. After a year, Sir Martin, much beloved by his owner, disappeared - thought to be taken by a predator.

#81-82 - 2 black male siblings - 12 weeks old. Caught and neutered by Feline Friends of New Hampshire. One of these youngsters - after a year - was found hit by a car.He had a good life - at night he and his sibling watched television with the  boys in the picture. His sibling, Lucifer, remains in place.

Lucifer watches television in the evening with the family. Here he is seen next to the Xmas tree.

#83-84 - 1 black female and 1 orange male - 12 weeks old. Caught and vetted by Feline Friends of New Hampshire. Delivered to Ashby, MA. That’s them below.

#85 - 1 black&brown female tabby. 1 yr old. Caught and vetted by Feline Friends of New Hampshire. Delivered to Ashby, MA.

#86-87-88 -  Three male siblings from Feline Friends of New Hampshire - Rex, (grey and white tabby), Skitty (male b&W) and Pikachu (black male) about 12 weeks old. to Lunenberg.

#89-#91 -1 female and 2 males- all feral -  from Feline Friends of New Hampshire to Wilmington, MA.

#92-93 - Two feral female siblings -trapped on the streets of Lawrence with spay/vaccinations and everything else arranged by a heroic local husband & wife team. We found them a home in Deerfield, NH. This is them- After a year, one of the females broke her leg and sadly was put to sleep. Her sibling remains in place.

 

 in foster care Lawrence, MA   at home on their farm in Deerfield, NH

 

#94-95 - Two female feral siblings -  trapped on streets of Lawrence (by same husband/wife team as 89-90) and placed in a barn in Hubbardston.

#96 -97 Two female feral siblings spayed by BVCats in Rhode Island and delivered by the husband/wife team who fostered them to a barn placement we arranged in Sudbury, MA. They bonded with their family; after one year, however, one of the females disappeared, assumed to have been taken by a predator. They found a male cat to bring in as a companion for the female; last we heard they are getting along great.

 

 

#98-99 - Two female feral kittens (unrelated but from the same colony) whom we trapped in Fitchburg, MA, spayed at our expense by our veterinarian and placed in a barn in W. Newbury, MA.

 

 Former Fitchburg stray kittens settled in an acclimation cage in a heated barn office in West Newbury, MA

#100 - one grey female kitten (whom we trapped in Fitchburg, MA) to the alpaca farm in Ashby, MA. This kitten was adopted into the home of the barn owner’s daughter shortly thereafter! Great omen for our 100th placement.

As they got older they remained fast friends.

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2011 - 22 “unadoptable” barn cats

(13 rescued from a hoarder)

#101-103 - Three females - Sissa, Smokey & Baby. Relocated from a farm in Rhode Island that a family is being forced to leave - and placed in Ashby, MA. Smokey, a beautiful grey cat, made it into the family’s house, almost immediately. Baby is hanging around the barn while Sissa seems to have run off. Based on our personal experiences, we think it is much harder to successfully relocate cats that have been long-established elsewhere. The younger cats seem to adapt more quickly - and permanently - when we are placing them in what amounts to their first real home.

#104 - One beautiful dark chocolate brown brown female, about 2 years old, whom we trapped at the Fitchburg colony, spayed and fostered for close to 2 months - until she was well enough to relocate. There were too many cats in the Fitchburg colony to return her. She is a very shy cat; we placed her in Norfolk, MA, with a lovely family. Oddly, she ran off - but not far. She lives under a neighbor’s shed and is feastingly happily on the local rodent population. The person whom we placed her with has promised to look after her in winter.

#105-106 - Two beautiful female calico siblings, less than 10 months old. They were rescued by Sheila Donahue, the ACO of Oxford, MA, from an abandoned apartment. (The owner had left in a hurry to escape an arrest warrant.) We placed them on a lovely property in Dover, MA. It’s a true rags to riches journey. You can see one of the calicos below. She happily lives half inside/half outside the house. Sadly, her sibling ran off. This is the first time we have heard of one siblings in a bonded pair running off. But it appears that the calico who remained was more comfortable with the humans than her sibling who preferred to live wild. 

#107-109 - Three female semi-feral cats. They were living under a porch in Rockland County, NY for several years. They were much loved by the home owner who had sold her home and was retiring to Florida. She was desperate to relocate the cats.

Rockland County is way outside our area. Luckily we had received a call earlier in the year from a barn owner in Saratoga Springs, NY (up in the Adirondacks) who was looking for barn cats. We put the two of them together, paid to have an acclimation cage shipped to Saratoga Springs, and the retiring homeowner drove them up herself. The barn owner raises collies and Morgan horses. The collies, as you can see in the photos below, are very interested in the barn cats.

#110-#111 Two female grey kittens. Both to a barn in Millet, MA. Shelter Me Inc helped Oxford animal control  rescue them from a hoarder’s house; and paid to test, spay, vaccinate them;provided acclimation cages to the animal control office and purchased food and other supplies for the cats. One of the kittens was blind, unfortunately. (See below - she is a gutsy, graceful animal.) We picked her up and drove her to a lovely veterinarian in Webster, Dr Quisenberry, had her examined, and asked if the vet would keep the kitten as an office cat. (The kitten had a ball running around the examination room.) Dr Q said yes! Later, the barn owner picked up another grey cat from the hoard and brought her back to the barn. 

#112-113 Two grey & white female cats to a barn in Haverhill. Shelter Me Inc helped Oxford Animal control rescue these from a hoarder’s house and paid to spay and vaccinate them. Community Cat Connection of Webster paid to test them.

#114 Three more hoarder cats rescued from Oxford were rehomed here, but only one became a barn cat. There was 1 black male,  1 grey & white female and 1 male Himalayan to Dighton, MA. The himlayan was so sweet, he ended up living in the house as a permanent companion to a teenage boy; the grey&white female seemed unsuited for barn life and was adopted by the owner’s niece and as for the little black fellow - barn life for him has worked out perfectly. You can see the latter two in their acclimation cage and the young black cat sitting happily in a window box enjoying his freedom.

#115-116 One young black male and one grey & white male also rescued from the hoarder’s house in Oxford, MA and doing absolutely great at their new barn home in Lunenberg. This note came from the barn owner at the end of Sept: We are so in love!!!  The black triple pawed boy is Darwin, grey/white one is Watson.  They were let out of the acclimation cage yesterday, tromp gleefully around the barn, come over to get lots of rubs.  We weren’t expecting them to be super friendly, but they are.  They return to their cage for food and sleep, such great cats.  We’re keeping them contained in the barn until they get really used to it.  They’ve even chased off some chipmunks who were eating the chicken feed.  Thank you for such great barn cats. 

2012 update on these cats - they moved into the house!  Watson is seen below with his housepals.

photo of Watson and Friends by Erin Willett, Smaht Fahm

#117-1118 Two grey & white females to a barn in New Hampshire. These also came from the hoarder’s house in Oxford, MA.

#119-120 Two females - a himalayan and a grey cat to a barn in Lincoln, MA. These also came from the hoarder’s house in Oxford, MA. This is one of our sadder stories.These cats were doing great; the himalayan followed the daughters of the house to their friends’ houses and was a crowd favorite while the grey cat, a little wilder, had a ball running around the garden. Unaccountably, after 6 weeks, the grey cat refused to return to the barn at night and the himalayan with whom she was bonded followed her into the woods. They did not return.  

#121-122 one female & one male (her offspring). These cats were brought to us by Jan, a volunteer with Quincy animal shelter. The cats were rescued from the streets of Dorchester. The mother is friendly; the youngster is semi-feral. The rescuers did not want to separate them; did not want to return them but nobody was likely to adopt a semi-feral kitten. We placed them in one of the loveliest barns we have ever seen. Below you can see the acclimation cage we set-up in a heated tack room/office. On the top shelf of the cage, the cats can look out onto the indoor ring.

#123-124 Two feral long-haired females (one calico and one grey and white tiger) rescued by Patty Besaw of Feline Friends of New Hampshire from a Methuen junkhard.

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We placed them  in a barn in Lincoln. We set up a double-cage to give them extra room to move around in the winter months.  The idea is to keep them in the cage and then contain them in the barn to protect them against the elements and also give them time to mature.  The photo at right was taken several weeks after placement - the kitten is eating a treat out of the owner’s hand.  That is quite an accomplishment; these kittens are very feral.

#125-126 Two feral male tiger kittens - 3 to 4 months old. Rescued by Theresa of Billerica Cat Care Coalition from a dumpster in Tewksbury. We placed them in a barn in Upton where their companions will be two pot bellied pigs, chickens, several dogs, a brother and a sister who will care for them and parents who love animals. After a week in the cage, the young girl is able to pet them. (She spends hours sitting outside their cage reading to them.)

#127-128 Two three-month old kittens - a calico and a grey tiger rescued by the homeowner in Fitchburg whom Shelter Me has been assisting for the past year and placed on a dairy farm in Littleton, MA belonging to one of our most favorite veterinarians. Lucky break for these kittens; they would not have survived the winter outdoors. Last we heard, the barn owner was able to pet the kittens through the bars of the cage.

People often ask how to keep their barn cats (and other outdoor cats) warm in winter…Below, we have gathered together information we received from our barn owners and from knowledgeable animal professionals who graciously share advice on Masscats.org (sources are cited): 

1a.Differences between hay and straw (advice from Susan on Masscats.org)

Lots of people accidentally use the terms “hay” and “straw” interchangably, but they are really two different things with different uses.I use both hay and straw on my farm. The hay is used for food, and the straw for protection from the elements. I bank bales of straw around the barns and various area to cut down on the cold, and I spread it on the ground to keep my flock from freezing their feet. I also use it in the barn to “bed” the goats and ducks. Straw is totally nutrition less, and thus I can not use it for food.

Hay will not provide the insulation feral cats need to help them keep warm. Straw, being hollow, traps the heat from the cat’s body and helps them keep warm. Similar situation when you dress in layers - you create pockets of trapped air that are filled with your body heat. Providing a place for them to get out of the wind/rain/snow, that has some insulation, and preferable where they can snuggle together is ideal.

Some barn owners place these igloos in barns and stuff them with straw. The straw works really effectively as an insulator (per the recommendations above).

A heated disc warmer under the straw will help them build heat on those really cold nights. The discs do stay warm for a good long time.. . IF you can afford one! They are pretty pricey.

That said, if hay is the only option you have, it is better than nothing. Also, you MAY be able to get some bonus straw at places that sell it, such as AGWAY or the Co-Op in Topsfield. Lots of time they get a broken bale, or just loose straw, and if you are willing to bag it, oftentimes they will let you keep it. Just a matter of asking, and explaining what you need it for.

1b.  Where to buy the straw (advice from John on Masscats.org)

Any farm supply or horse supply like agway or natures best farm stand. I build the shelters for ferals and a bale should cost about 7 dollars and it will last a long time. use straw not hay.

 2. Where to buy a snugglesafe Disc (advice from Judy on Masscats.org)

You can get the Sugglesafe Disc through http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/product.asp?pf_id=998 This is a better price than Petsmart which has them without the cover for 39.00.

Amazon.com also appears to sell them for a decent price

2a. Shelter Me Inc bought these heated outdoor mats from amazon.com (on the recommendation of a barn cat owner and thought they worked great!)
They only warm up when the cat is actually sitting on them. They have a nice, long insulated cord. We placed a seated mat under the cat condo that the brown cat is sitting in. It warmed the rug-covered wood floor inside.

We are very fond of these cat condos. We have bought them time after time to place in acclimation cages and the cats fall in love with them and live in them long afterwards. This is a pretty good price for a double. They are very solid; rug covers a thick wood frame.

3. Build your own insulated pet house (courtesy of Rita, a Missouri resident who shared her research with us)

Winnipeg Humane society: Download this manual

We also like these automatic cat feeders - you can get them pretty inexpensively on amazon.com

http://www.pacthumanesociety.org/core/winter/ACA_feral_cat_shelter.pdf

Other recommendations from Pact Humane Society:

Download Alley Cat Allies’ instructions for Building an Inexpensive Feral Cat Shelter to make your own “Cat-illac Ranch”.

See what our friends at Neighborhood Cats in New York City suggest for winter feral cat shelters.

Not handy?   Would rather buy one already (partially) constructed?   Visit FeralVilla.com.

other helpful links

http://www.indyferal.org/index.php?page=shelters

4. Heated water bowls are really great for winter. You can buy them for as little as $20 on amazon.com and they are very low voltage and have big insulated cords.

Shelter Me, Inc. recommends a 5-week acclimation period.

Shelter Me, Inc. will loan out a large acclimation cage (52 inches x 36 inches x 26 inches).

We deliver the cat(s) to the barn and set-up the cage.

The physical set-up of the barn is important because it determines where to place the cage .

The main considerations are these – The cats need to bond with the new environment; they should be able to see people and farm animals coming and going from the barn. The cat(s) need fresh air and light; their cage should be next to a window or in a center aisle, or a busy tack room.

What do the barns need to provide in the way of supplies?

·         Cat food – dry is essential; wet food is a bonus.

·         Most of the rescue people we know recommend Purina One for dry food and Friskies for wet if you are budget conscious.

·        Large water bowl.

·        Food bowls – separate bowls for wet and dry are ideal.

·        Litter – any kind.

·       Smallest litter pan you can buy. (Shelter Me, Inc. often brings these along because the small ones fit well in the acclimation cage.)

·       Soft blanket or cat bed– cats like soft places.

·         If the cat is feral, definitely a little house for them to hide in; a small cat carrier can fit in the cage. It is also helpful to cover the top of the cage with a blanket

Any other helpful tips about the acclimation process?

·     The cats need to bond with their caretaker.

·      The cats need a regular feeding schedule; morning and night. The litter box needs to be cleaned every day.

·       The water needs to be changed every day.

·       Some people feed their cats wet food—specifically in the evening during the acclimation process and continue that practice after the cage door is open—to help ensure that the cat will return to the barn for the evening feeding and then they close the cats into the barn at night to protect them from predators.

·       The barn owners can usually tell how well the acclimation period is going by how the cats react when they open the door to feed them. If the cats are settling in comfortably, they will brush up against the feeder’s arm. (But this may never happen with really feral cats, even though they may decide to stay in your barn forever.)

·      Even if cats are very skittish, it is often possible to pet them when they are eating – especially when they are eating something they really love – like wet food or tuna juice. If you have very, very skittish cats, try feeding them wet food on the end of a wooden spoon (as a friend-making gesture).

·      Special food like tuna fish or juice is great, but commercial cat food contains nutrients that cats need for their diets.

·       Cats like toys…we usually deliver the cats with a toy or two…but it is really nice for barn owners to buy the kind of rope or feather toys that allow them to interact with/play with the cats.

How do you recommend handling the “release” of the cats?

·         After five weeks (some do less; we recommend five because we have seen it work many, many times), tie open the door of the cage in the morning after feeding the cats.

·         Continue to feed the cats – in feed bowls in the cage – and continue to change the water and the litter regularly.

·         If you have a barn that you can close up at night – please do so – it will help protect your cats from predators.  

Click any of the following titles for additional information Q&A about the Barn Cat Program  How to apply for a shelter me barn cat - Keeping cats warm in winter - Providing raccoon proof feeding  -  items to purchase for the acclimation cage for the barn cats

The kittens are four month old male siblings.

The kittens grew up outdoors and were a little too wild to place in a home. Feline Friends of New Hampshire rescued them  and asked Shelter Me, Inc. to find a barn home for them.

We feel very lucky that we did.  The kittens look very comfortable - only minutes after being transferred into the cage and the young barn owners look very happy to have them.

Update from the barn owner - 

We have really been enjoying the cats. We renamed them Lucifer and Iago. Lucifer is very friendly and loves to rub around your legs. He is a homebody and is in as soon as it is dark  we find him snuggling in his bed. Iago is a hunter, a bit more skiddish and likes to stay out late. It usually takes me a few minutes to call him in with treats around 9 at night. I can pick both cats up, Lucifer will sit on your lap but Iago would prefer not to be held, he does like to be patted. One of them left a decapitated bird by their food dish as a present and one left a dead chipmunk on the door mat!! They are enjoying chasing my rabbits and chickens when they get a chance but are wary of the 2 sheep and 2 goats we aquired in September. They are a bit hard to photograph but I think I got a couple of good picks…Happy fall!

The best way to apply for a barn cat is to provide the following information via email to Sandy@Sheltermeinc.org

Your name

Your address

Your phone number

Please describe the barn and property (Do you have a center aisle, tack room, loft?)

If you do not have a conventional barn, can you please send us a photograph?

The number and type of farm animals you have

Do you have dogs (what kind? how many?)

Are outdoor cats are already established on the property (if yes, what sexes, age and number)

Has your area had difficulty with predators? Fisher cats? Coyotes?

Where would the barn cats be acclimated and where they would shelter in the winter

Who will care for the cats?

Some facts we would like you to know:

The ‘unadoptable’ cats that we place in barns are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, test double-negative for FIV/FELV.

The veterinary costs associated with the barn cats exceed more than $100 and are typically paid for by the nonprofit groups that provide the cats to us. Shelter Me, Inc. identifies potential barn cats for each respective situation, delivers them and invests in additional costs for cages and other supplies.  Although contributions are not required, a minimum donation of $100 is suggested.

All contributions to Shelter Me, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization recognized by the IRS, are tax-deductible to the extent the law allows.

Click any of the following titles for additional information - 

Q&A about the Barn Cat Program  Acclimating barn cats- Keeping cats warm in winter - Providing raccoon proof feeding - items to purchase for the acclimation cage for the barn cats