What is Our Barn & Business Cats Program?

Ideally, we would love for all cats to be living happily in a home as a spoiled lap kitty. However, we don’t live in an ideal world. Some cats just prefer to not live this way.

By adopting a Barn & Business Cat you will be saving the life of one of the most euthanized animals in shelters for want of a home. It's a win-win, because your possessions will be proteted from rodents and the cats get a renewed chance at life; a life the way they prefer to live it.

Cats in the Barn & Business Cats Program fit into one or more of these categories:
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  1. Cats who are social but too feisty interating with people and thrive by having "work" to do.
  2. Cats who are shy or fearful of people and prefer the company of other cats and animals.
  3. Cats whose litterbox habits make them unsuitable to live indoors (and possible medical issues have been ruled out).

All of the cats in this program are fully vetted and spayed or neutered before they are made available in the program. By us taking care of this prior to placement, there is less risk of fighting between cats, less liklihood of marking and concerns with the cats roaming. This helps make it easier for you to provide for the cat(s). The Rescue Crew does not adopt cats as a Barn & Business Cat if they are suitable to be household companions.

Adoption Fees.

The adoption fee for a Barn & Business Cat is $30 for a single cat or $50 for a pair (when available).   

If we do not currently have any available Barn & Business Cats, we would be happy to help you find one.  Please contact us at [email protected]. 
Caring for Barn & Business Cats.

You must be able to provide the cats with shelter, food, water and needed medical care.  Barns, outbuildings, factories and warehouses are all considered suitable shelters for the cats in this program. However, we will consider any placement request as long as you can provide for the needs of the cat(s). ​

  • Confine them initially: You want to confine the cats for three to four weeks until they get over the stress of the move and become acclimated to their new home. Otherwise they may disappear in search of their old place. One of the best ways is to shut them in a garage, shed, or room without access to the outside where they can feel safe and sheltered. Wherever it is, it needs to not get too hot or too cold. A large wire cage or crate where the cat can stay with a small litter tray plus food and water dishes inside can also work, but you’ll want to have a cardboard box inside, or some other type of makeshift hiding spot, where the cat can hide when you freshen up everything.
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  • Give them a friend:  Cats are more likely to stick around if they have a friend with them, so consider adopting a pair. 
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  • Talk to them:  During the settling-in period, you should talk or even read to the cats. This will help them learn the sound of your voice and that they don’t need to fear you.

  • Feed them:   A well-fed cat is a more efficient hunter because a cat who must spend all their active time just getting enough to eat doesn’t have the energy for additional recreational hunting. 

  • Keep them safe:  In more rural areas there is a greater risk of predators. One way to keep your barn cats safe is to put out yummy food after dark every night just inside their shelter and shut them in for the night. Then let them out in the morning. They will quickly get used to this routine of coming inside when they’re more likely to be prey themselves.
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