What's Required
Living Quarters
Food and Fresh Water
Access to Shelter
Prior to application approval, applicants must provide photos of potential living quarters for review.
Access to Shelter
Food and Fresh Water
Access to Shelter
Barn Buddy cats must have access to shelter that's available in a barn, building or shop to protect them from the harsh elements or to escape potential danger.
Food and Fresh Water
Food and Fresh Water
Food and Fresh Water
Daily food and fresh water must be provided. Even if your Barn Buddy cat is hunting mice, birds and other small animals, it's not enough to sustain them.
Veterinary Care
Introducing New Surroundings
Food and Fresh Water
Adoptee must agree to long-term veterinary care if needed and as required. If a medical issue develops after you take the possession of the cat, you as the owner, are responsible for medical care and costs.
Introducing New Surroundings
Introducing New Surroundings
Introducing New Surroundings
The barn or shop must have a secure place to keep the cat indoors during their first 2-3 weeks “on the job” while they acclimate to their new surroundings. A large crate or kennel that's has a little box, food, water and a place to hide.
Patience and Understanding
Introducing New Surroundings
Introducing New Surroundings
The Barn Buddy cat may have no interest in getting to know you. They may be elusive and never really warm up to humans. Understanding that the cat may not show affection can be hard, but is a reality for most Barn Buddy cats.
Get set up for success
Tips to ensure a smooth transition
To ensure maximum success of re-homing the cat, here are a few care tips to get your Barn Buddy settled in.
- Confine the cat for the first three or four weeks, providing food, water, and comfortable shelter/hiding spot. If your cat does not remain confined s/he is more likely to run away. Research has shown a longer confinement period, 4 weeks, leads to the best success.
- An extra-large plastic dog crate can work for confinement. It can hold a box for hiding food/water dishes toward the back, with a litter pan at the front. The confinement must be done in consideration of the time of year and temperature. There must be adequate shade and ventilation in the summer and warmth in the winter.
- Feed, water, and clean litter pan at least once daily.
- When feeding canned food make a special call (“here kitty, kitty”) as their food signal. This will help you call the cat back once they are released from confinement.
- The more time you spend bonding with your cat during confinement, the more likely they will stay in their new home. Bonding can be as easy as talking to your cat.
- One day, at the end of the confinement period, leave the door open and allow the cat to come out at its own pace.
- After they have been released, continue to provide cat food and water daily. Cats cannot live on moussing alone and they will leave for greener pastures if you do not feed them. They will still hunt rodents if you provide food and continue to feed them.
Examples of acceptable transition housing
Catio with Shelter
Catio with Ramp and Shelter
Catio with Ramp and Shelter
In an ideal situation, the Barn Buddy cats would be housed inside a barn or shop. When those options aren't available, a stand-alone catio with shelter would be acceptable. Make sure the catio is locked so that the Barn Buddy cannot escape. Provide fresh water and food daily. In the winter, a heated water bowl will help keep from icing over. You can also board up the catio during extreme weather situations to protect them from the elements.
Catio with Ramp and Shelter
Catio with Ramp and Shelter
Catio with Ramp and Shelter
Ramps and off-the-group shelter features allow for the Barn Buddy to feel safe and still be able to keep an eye on everything. Line the shelter with straw (not hay) and refresh at the end of every season.