Barn Cat Guide

Once we have found a suitable group of cats for you, you will need to purchase a few supplies to prepare for their arrival. Below is a list of the items you should have on hand before your cats are brought to you.

Cat food - Dry and canned.

Food and water dishes – Large, flat bottom stainless steel or ceramic bowls are suggested.

One or two LARGE litter boxes - These can be conventional litter boxes, Rubbermaid containers, plastic lined cardboard boxes or boot size shoe boxes (but you will need several as these are disposable).

Cat litter – Newspaper or wood pellets are suggested, but traditional clay litter will also work. Clumping litter is not recommended as it can be very messy and get into the food and water bowls.

Preparing the barn - Remember, the cats will be secured in the barn, tack room or cage for two weeks so if you want to make some improvements to their living space, you can do that while they are acclimating. This might include preparing the rafters or acquiring “cat houses” such as boxes, large carriers - places for the cats to hide and sleep.

We have seen some amazing structures designed for barn cats. These can be made with items in your barn or garage. The photo above shows a “cat house” made from a cupboard lined with Styrofoam. It was placed on a wood platform with a ramp leading up to it. The cats love it. Check spayandstay.org for ideas on building cat shelters.

Part 5: Acclimation

A barn cat house made from a cupboard lined with Styrofoam