Barn Buddies: Give a Feral Cat a Second Chance

 

As a no-kill shelter, SHAID supports the humane management of feral cats through our Barn Buddy Program. These cats may not be suited for life indoors, but they can thrive in rural environments—while helping to keep rodent populations in check.

 

If you have a barn, shed, or other outbuilding and can provide food, water, and shelter, consider adopting a Barn Buddy. All cats in the program are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped (a small portion of the ear is removed under anesthesia to indicate sterilization).

 

While most Barn Buddies prefer to keep their distance from people, some do become more social over time. We do not place kittens in this program, as they are typically better suited to indoor homes.

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What Is a Feral Cat?

A feral cat is a domestic cat that was never socialized to humans. These cats are generally shy and avoid contact but pose no harm unless provoked. Left unsterilized, feral populations can grow rapidly—so programs like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) are essential to humanely control colony sizes and improve their welfare.

 

Adoption Fee

There is no set fee to adopt a Barn Buddy, but each cat’s care costs approximately $200. We gratefully accept pay-what-you-can donations to help cover medical expenses and support the ongoing sterilization of local feral cat colonies.

 

What Is Ear-Tipping?

Ear-tipping is a universal sign that a cat has been sterilized through a TNR program. A small tip of the ear is painlessly removed during surgery under anesthesia. This prevents unnecessary re-trapping and helps animal caregivers quickly identify cats that have already been fixed.

 

 

HELP US PROTECT FERAL CATS AND REDUCE RODENT OVERPOPULATION

Fill out a form and email it to info@shaidanimalshelter.com

or call SHAID at 902-543-4849 to get on our Barnyard Buddy waitlist

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THE FIRST 2-4 WEEKS

To encourage the cat(s) to stay in the barn or its dedicated shelter, set up an XL dog crate with food, water, a litter box and a hutch so the cat can hide as you freshen up water/restock their food. Use hay to keep the cat warm and dry instead of blankets that get wet and freeze. Give the cat(s) 14-30 days to adjust to the sounds and smells of their new home and prevents the from running away to catch rodents somewhere else. Once the cat(s) have acclimated to the space, they will find many cozy spots to call home. In the winter months, they may require more hay or a dry spot with blankets. Be sure to store pesticides, medications and hazardous substances in a secure place where curious cats cannot get to them.

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ONGOING CARE

Although Barn Buddies hunt, they do require fresh water and access to kibble. Feeding your barn cats will not deter them from hunting, rather it encourages them to stay near the property and ensures they have the energy to work at rodent control. Automatic cat feeders can be handy for feral, skittish barn cats that don’t want to deal with humans and heated water bowls work well in the cold winter months