Primarily, we accept feral cats from urban situations here they are “in danger”. A feral cat is a “wild” cat…not domesticated. They come in all colors, patterns, and sizes…tabbies, black/white, all black, etc. This is a “temperament” designation – not a breed. You can even have a Persian or Siamese that is feral.
Barn Cats accepts “feral” cats, not “friendly” cats – pets. Every community has adoption groups that will take those cats and find them safe, indoor homes. Contact your local PetsMart or PETCO stores to find out what groups come to the store and when. Barn Cats takes the “forgotten” cats that are often abused by a hoarder, harassed by kids at a school or business location, or dumped out after an elderly person has died or been takes to a nursing facility. These cats are used to being feed by a person but do not want to be handled or cuddled. If trapped and turned over to a local municipal animal services shelter, they can immediately be euthanized because they are not lost “pets”. Some agencies will now release them to a barn owner – but most do not offer that service. Nobody wants these cats except Barn Cats, Inc.!
Cats are accepted into the program based on space available. Some exceptions are made if a cat is in imminent danger (apartment resident shooting them, etc.). Barn Cats will take those cats as soon as the vet work has been done – tested, sterilized, rabies shot, and distemper shot.
Occasionally a pet rescue group obtains a feral cat that they cannot place for adoption. Barn Cats will also take those cats based on space available. Once again, they have to be adults cats that have been sterilized with the required shots and test.
Below are some examples of the cats we accepted:
- The family is moving and is unable to move their outside feral cat.
- Often an elderly person is moving into an assisted living facility and no family member or neighbor will continue to feed the feral cats on their back porch.
- A family moves in next door that is trapping the cats and taking them to animal services to be euthanized.
- Cats have shown up behind a restaurant and it is a perceived health risk.
- Workers at a warehouse have provided food for a group of cats for years but now the warehouse is closing.
- A cat shows up and has a litter of kittens under the back deck of a family home. Barn Cats can help but the kittens will need to be at least 8 months old.
- The cat’s environment is being destroyed and there is no other shelter for them.
- Poor cats that are coming from a hoarder situation.