Barn Cats

catsunlimited.org

Every good barn needs a good cat to watch over it. Now and then, volunteers in Virginia who do Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) -- in which feral (undomesticated) cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their natural habitats -- run across felines who would make first-rate barn cats. They are cats who would be unhappy enclosed in a home but would be very content to live in a nice barn and come and go as they please. In addition to being excellent, natural mousers, they can make great outdoor companions who gradually get to know their people and often grow affectionate and talkative over time.

Barn cats ask little of their people -- just an ample supply of fresh food and water each day, a safe and cozy area in the barn padded with straw for cold winter nights, and a commitment to providing veterinary attention when needed. You may ask, why adopt barn cats when they could just return to their habitats? Because adoption provides a great alternative for semi-feral cats who face dangers out in the world and sometimes don't know where their next meal is coming from. It's a good thing for both person and cat.