How to Take Care of Barn Cats

  

My local shelter is now accepting stray and feral cats for barn cat adoptions. These cats provided that they are sterilized, with rabies vaccine, and are in good health are intended for farms that are in need of snake and rodent control.

 

Many people assume that a cat if it's “hungry” will hunt and kill its supper.  Therefore you would not feed the cat.  Know if you assume this then you are wrong, the cat will eventually move on to another farm or house in the area that will provide it with food.

 

The best way to keep a barn cat is to feed the cat food kibble.  Set a bowl of food in the barn along with fresh water and allow the cat to eat the kibble throughout the day. The barn cat will become dependent upon the food and will hang out in the barn or close to it.  

Here is a photo of cats in my shed.  I have provided them with food and an insulated shelter. They keep the shed rodent free along with the outdoor gardens. 

 

The food and water along with straw for sleeping will attract the cat to the barn where they will eat food and kill mice and other rodents in appreciation of the care that you provide them.   

Barn cats are feral cats that were born outdoors and are fearful of humans.  They normally kill and eat their prey even though they have eaten a bowl of cat food.  Fresh meat is a way to supplement their diet and hunting comes naturally to them and they enjoy it.

 

When we moved into our home in the woods our yard was loaded up with field mice and snakes.  My friend who has a farm told me to put out a bowl of cat food and fresh water in the morning and the feral and stray cats in the area will eventually come. She told me to feed them and they would rid my yard of pests.

 

I kept the cats in my yard by taking care of my feral cats with an outdoor shelter, and daily food and provided them with fresh water.  I also trapped them and paid for their sterilization, rabies, and other necessary cat vaccines.

 

So if you are planning to adopt a barn cat, please take steps to provide the cat with food water, and an outdoor shelter that will keep them dry, warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. When you take care of the cat, then they will rid your yard of rodents.

 

 *Note feral/barn or other cats that live outdoors are good hunters. A domesticated house cat is not a good hunter.  Many times they will play with the rodent and sometimes the housecat is afraid of the rodent.