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Barn Cats
Murphy
Reg. Dec 2007
Posted 2014-02-26 9:43 AM
Subject: Barn Cats



Midget Lover


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Location: Kentucky
We just built a barn and now ready for some barn cats.

We've been told to get at least two kittens, but to not go through a Humane Society because they don't like to adopt if you don't keep the cats in the house. Is that true?

Also - how do you get the cats to stick around the barn? We do have a tack room, but it's fully enclosed when the door is shut, so there is no way for the cats to go in and out as they please.
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FlyingJT
Reg. Jan 2014
Posted 2014-02-26 9:47 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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the local newspaper usually has tons of ads for free kittens. I would get at least two if not more because unfortunately they can disappear fast. Lock them up for a few days and then let them out and only lock them up at night. After a couple weeks you can leave them out. Usually they'll stick around where they feel safe.
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CYA Ranch
Reg. Feb 2008
Posted 2014-02-26 9:47 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


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The humane Society around here won't adopt out unless you sign your life away and promise only indoor living.  Usually you can find kittens on Craigslist or the local newspaper.  We used to have tons of cats.  Mama's are the best, Toms are a POS.  We lost 2 of our old mama's to old age so now having a heck of a time getting cats to stay around.  Someone mentioned we need to get a pregnant cat so she has the babies at your place.   
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Three 4 Luck
Reg. Sep 2003
Posted 2014-02-26 9:51 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR
 We've been getting 3 at a time and have lost one from each set.  I used my big dog crate for about a week and they learned quick that the barn is food and safety.  All mine are boys.  Didn't plan it that way, just happened.  But all of them are good hunters and bring me lots of presents.
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magic gunsmoke
Reg. Dec 2010
Posted 2014-02-26 9:54 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Trust me....cats and kittens will find you.

I have only paid for spay/neuter for cats that have been dumped.

I take them in as barn cats and keep them.

But-over time I have also had people contact me with their older cats...(say one, two, three years old) needing to find them homes.

I take them-because then I don't have to pay to spay or neuter them-and cat food is inexpensive, and shots are pretty cheap too.

So my advice would be to post a wanted add somewhere (unless you really want kittens). I have six cats now! They all stick around. I have an open barn. If I am worried I keep them in the house for a few days-or crate them outside for a few days with food, water, litter box-and every time I am in the barn I take them out and pet them and hold them. As they get more adjusted I let them out of the crate in the morning and put them in the crate at night. Then from there I take the crate away.

I only had one cat run off. She ended up at a neighboring barn six months later!

I guess my point is spayed and neutered cats with shots are so easy to come across for free! I have never once needed to adopt one.
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cowpooh02
Reg. Jul 2011
Posted 2014-02-26 10:02 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Craigslist is a great place to find cats, lots of times you will find them already fixed, of course you can really only confirm on male cats by looking if it's true. Lock them up for a week or so they know where their safe place and food is and they normally stick around. Good luck!
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Ctrygirl14
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2014-02-26 10:10 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Location: Minnesota
I took in a stray that was pregnant and she had 4 kittens. One kitten passed away after a week but the other 3  are now 7 months. I handled them from the time they were a few weeks old and they follow me everywhere. They know where their food is and where its warm so they don't stray. Half the time they follow me when I'm riding. Momma has been gone since Thanksgiving so I'm not sure she made it through the winter. She was not born at my place so she would wander but the kittens only know my place so they stick close.

From left to right - Mouse, Cali and Tink.

Edited by Ctrygirl14 2014-02-26 10:12 AM




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runs4fun
Reg. Oct 2006
Posted 2014-02-26 10:17 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats





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All of my barn cats, five of them to be exact, are stray/feral.  Just as soon as you feed them once they are kind of prone to sticking around where the easy food comes from.  At least, I haven't had a problem with losing any of mine. I think getting them to stay around a barn is easier than people getting them to stay around their houses.  My sister in law is a cat lover and has several but occasionally one just leaves her house.  Mine tend to stay at my barn for years on end.  I lost one to a cow dog once when she let her guard down and got caught.  :(
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Itchy Shadow
Reg. Oct 2009
Posted 2014-02-26 10:18 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Location: Missouri
Check your vet clinics. They always have free kittens posted to give away. I got lucky & got a free kitten from my vet, already spayed!
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Murphy
Reg. Dec 2007
Posted 2014-02-26 10:20 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



Midget Lover


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Location: Kentucky
We have been here three years, and I thought someone would dump cats or dogs, or we would see some cats, but we haven't, not one! We had one that would eat leftover grain if the horses dropped it in the pasture, but I think something may have gotten it because we haven't seen it in months. I'll check Craigslist. I need to get a big cage too to put them in at first. 
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RacingQH
Reg. Aug 2004
Posted 2014-02-26 10:26 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


Military family

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Location: Washington. (The DRY side.)
I wouldn't get kittens.  I would get "teenagers" (9+ months old) or adults. For the most part, I prefer SPAYED females.  Toms can be nasty and they pee on EVERYTHING.  Neutered males can be OK too. (Though some of the worst fighters we have had were neutered males.) But I like the girls.  I WOULD check out the animal shelter.  Sure you have to PAY for the animal.  But they are already spayed/neutered and have their shots. (And it can be CHEAPER to get one from a shelter than get a FREE one from the paper or craigslist then have to PAY to have it "fixed" and get it's shots.)  Not all of them require you to sign your life away.  And lets be honest, they won't KNOW they are going to be barn cats if you don't TELL them!  And you would be saving a life.  The best cat I've ever had I got from a shelter when she was about 9 to 12 months old.

Edited by RacingQH 2014-02-26 10:28 AM
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RacingQH
Reg. Aug 2004
Posted 2014-02-26 10:29 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


Military family

The Color Specialist


Posts: 7530
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Location: Washington. (The DRY side.)
You don't HAVE to get a cage if you don't want to.  You could just put them in the tack room with food/water and a litter box. 
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luvropin
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2014-02-26 10:41 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Location: Southeastern Idaho
Like others, all my cats showed up as feral cats and ended up staying. I now have 8 permanent residents in the barn and I get visitors. All are spayed and neutered so I have no spraying issues. I feed them just enough for all that show up in the morning to eat. If I leave a pan out I get skunks and raccoons so I try to just put enough out that they clean it up. No mice in site and they occasionally get a stupid pigeon. I took the door off a medium sized dog crate, put an old towel in it, litter box in the corner, then put out a pan of food and water when I wanted to train a couple of kittens I had before to stay in my barn. Worked like a charm. I could leave the tack door open after a week and they stuck around.
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myvwranch
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2014-02-26 10:43 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


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just post it on fb and someone will give you a couple/ yes spayed or neutered is right.. teenagers, not little bitty babies.... keep them in feed room for a week, then put a kitty door in the feed room door so they can go in and out....they don't run away. trust me..they will feel safe in feed room, put something really tall like shelves or something they can get way up on. you will never have any mice, snakes, bugs, etc.... well you might have some dead ones they bring up... ha..... male cats pee on stuff and it stinks bad, so get yours spayed or neutered...... oh some people want to give you declawed cats but ive never had one outside, they need their claws to climb...
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ridejg
Reg. Jan 2009
Posted 2014-02-26 10:43 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats





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Location: South Dakota
CYA Ranch - 2014-02-26 9:47 AM The humane Society around here won't adopt out unless you sign your life away and promise only indoor living.  Usually you can find kittens on Craigslist or the local newspaper.  We used to have tons of cats.  Mama's are the best, Toms are a POS.  We lost 2 of our old mama's to old age so now having a heck of a time getting cats to stay around.  Someone mentioned we need to get a pregnant cat so she has the babies at your place.   

I can supply you with a pregnant mama cat...How does the first of May or so sound to you? Will have to limit you to no more than 10 though..LOL  
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TNCowgirl_4
Reg. Aug 2005
Posted 2014-02-26 10:46 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Location: Tennessee
I have two neutered males now.  They came at different times, the first thing I did was have them fixed.  I got two feral kittens at the same time from a neighbor, male and female.  The female had something a little off about her.  Anyways I kept them in a huge dog cage at night and during the day for a little while.  I handled them for a while and then started letting them out while I was there and putting them up when I left.  Once they were big enough and handled enough I let them free.  I had them fixed and they were great.  Something ended up getting the female I think, she couldn't run and jump as well as a normal cat.  They both would follow me to the arena and watch me ride. My males get along great and keep my barn dog company.  We keep the cat food on the top of a large dog crate so that wandering dogs can't eat it.  The younger male made our older male much more friendly and we see him so much more now that he has a buddy.   
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ndiehl
Reg. Feb 2011
Posted 2014-02-26 10:54 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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luvropin - 2014-02-26 10:41 AM

Like others, all my cats showed up as feral cats and ended up staying. I now have 8 permanent residents in the barn and I get visitors. All are spayed and neutered so I have no spraying issues. I feed them just enough for all that show up in the morning to eat. If I leave a pan out I get skunks and raccoons so I try to just put enough out that they clean it up. No mice in site and they occasionally get a stupid pigeon. I took the door off a medium sized dog crate, put an old towel in it, litter box in the corner, then put out a pan of food and water when I wanted to train a couple of kittens I had before to stay in my barn. Worked like a charm. I could leave the tack door open after a week and they stuck around.

Between my neighbours and I ... We used to have 28 cats. It was crazy, we woke up to a box of kittens on the end of our driveway once and would see new cats show up all the time. Our one local vet helped us out a lot because she knew our area was bad for drop offs and would fix one for $50 (a steal because regularily it was $200 for a male and 250+for a female). She would only charge us for the drugs they used basically. We now have 3 barn cats (used to have 7 at mine all the time but a few disappeared over the past 10 years), 2 indoor at my house, and 5 at my moms. There are some at my neighbours and some of the kittens we caught and gave away or had to take to the humane society. We feed twice a day and the outside ones come to the deck like clockwork at dinner time.

I'm surprised you haven't seen any, I agree there are always free cats available on Craigslist or the local paper.
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BraysEasyKita89
Reg. Apr 2007
Posted 2014-02-26 10:56 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


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Location: Off to a barrel race...
 We have 5 currently. All of them are males and only one is neutered. They make "beds" in the round bales and know where the food is. One of them wandered into the barn, not sure where from. One comes and goes for long periods of time. The other 3 were acquired from friends, family, and neighbors.
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Murphy
Reg. Dec 2007
Posted 2014-02-26 10:58 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



Midget Lover


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Location: Kentucky
They will most def be spayed and neutered.... I don't want any surprises or contribute to the amount of kittens!  
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rodeomom13
Reg. Apr 2008
Posted 2014-02-26 11:06 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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We have a momma cat, a neutered male and 3 of her kittens that stays here. We just have a doggy door into the shed where they eat and sleep. The momma gets knocked up by the stray cats that come around so we have a litter about twice a year. Out of 9 kittens she's had, we only have 3 left. They either just disappear or we have given a couple away. One drowned in the water trough. I would suggest getting 3 or 4, because the law of averages say you will have 1 or 2 left by the time they are old enough to fend for themselves. Gray or black are the best because they are camouflage. We are going to have some in a few weeks, come and get them when they are ready. LOL!


ETA: We have NO MICE! Went from mouse hell when we moved here to nothing, I love my kitties. 

Edited by rodeomom13 2014-02-26 11:09 AM
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Frodo
Reg. Jul 2004
Posted 2014-02-26 11:15 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


"Heck's Coming With Me"


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Location: Kansas
Tomcats are good barn cats.  Just make sure they're neutered.  I have two and they're great.  I've had three barn cats, two male and one female, for at least eight years.  Take good care of them and they'll do their job and be good buddies.

 
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oija
Reg. Feb 2012
Posted 2014-02-26 11:25 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Location: Gainesville, TX
We looked on Craigslist. They were giving away a female and a male, both fixed, both about a year old (same litter). They were already inside/outside cats, litterbox trained and proven mousers. Picked up, brought them home, kept inside a couple days, and then started letting them outside. They stay in the area and, being older, they fend for themselves quite well. Our landlord is happy with the arrangement because he has no mice. We had mice in the house when we got the cats and now have no problems. We let them in the house a couple hours in the morning and evening and then they stay outside the rest of the time. We don't even keep a litterbox any more.
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rodeomom3
Reg. Dec 2007
Posted 2014-02-26 11:52 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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 I have 5 barn cats.  3 came from a vet clinic and 2 from the SPCA.  All came with vacs and neutering. You used to have to fill out an application to adopt and I would fill it out with what they wanted to hear :).  Now you just ante up the fee and the animal is yours- no questions asked.   
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casualdust07
Reg. Mar 2005
Posted 2014-02-26 11:53 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



You get what you give


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Location: Texas
geez we always get dumped cats or kittens. most of the ones we have gotten have been 4-6 weeks old dumped. occasionally one a bit older. And then we have "Mystery" the adult spayed female who just decided our barn was her new house. we have a bunch of barn cats from over the years. NONE OF THEM EVER LEAVE. we have lost ONE cat out here so far. we have 14 between the house and the barn.
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newracer
Reg. Sep 2005
Posted 2014-02-26 12:49 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats





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Spay or neuter them, the ones that aren't will run off..all of ours that our spayed or neutered have stuck around for years.
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NJJ
Reg. Jul 2006
Posted 2014-02-26 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


Military family

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ridejg - 2014-02-26 10:43 AM
CYA Ranch - 2014-02-26 9:47 AM The humane Society around here won't adopt out unless you sign your life away and promise only indoor living.  Usually you can find kittens on Craigslist or the local newspaper.  We used to have tons of cats.  Mama's are the best, Toms are a POS.  We lost 2 of our old mama's to old age so now having a heck of a time getting cats to stay around.  Someone mentioned we need to get a pregnant cat so she has the babies at your place.   
I can supply you with a pregnant mama cat...How does the first of May or so sound to you? Will have to limit you to no more than 10 though..LOL  

This was what I was going to say......come to my house PULEEEEEZE and pick up a few (from young to old....guaranteed to be cute and good hunters). I have 7 or 8. Usually, the coyotes or road traffic keeps my poplulation down!
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pabarrelracer
Reg. Dec 2003
Posted 2014-02-26 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats





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Location: on a hill
 I got 4 from my vet. They were what she considered unadoptable. 1 is missing an eye, 1 has a lazy eye, and the other 2 are feral. She gave them to me knowing they were going in a barn. Spayed, shots and micro chipped. Check with your vet if they have an adoption program. It doesn't hurt to ask. Better off in a barn then being put to sleep is what she said. Don't be afraid of ferals, mine are all coming around now. It didn't take them long to get used to my routine.
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Crowned Image
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2014-02-26 1:30 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



I Chore in Chucks


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i got six kittens at 4 weeks old (had to take them before the raccoon got to them as their momma couldn't keep up)

they stayed in my tack room for about 4 months (don't leave and saddle pads or blankets outor they'll get scratched up) We made sure they had plenty of reason to love us, plenty of lovins, toys and food. I let them out slowly and with my mom to keep track of all of them. started with 30 minutes of outside time twice a day, then and hour at a time...and we did those supervised. then once they were confident navigating around the barn and would come at dinner time, all 6 got about 6 hours of outside time un-supervised and I would check in regularly. they stopped getting put away in their room by the next summer. I wanted to make sure they had an easy space they could relax and be comfortable in.

Get them fixed, it will keep them from roaming! If you want to keep them around make sure they know you want them there. Our cats knew we were their people, never had issues with roaming except for one tom. Never had our kitties hesitate to handle their litters. They knew when food was coming and if need be they got to come inside the house if it was too cold. In fact several of them would jump right onto your shoulders and hang out there like a bird when you would clean stalls!



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star1218
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2014-02-26 1:47 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


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If they are fixed, they will stick around. 
I adopted 2 from our local vet. She had no issues with them going to be "barn cats" because typically a horse barn is quite the cushy cat life :
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BARRELHORSE USA
Reg. Sep 2011
Posted 2014-02-26 1:58 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats




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Get you 2 girl kittens and try not to tame them down too much .... they will stay and not leave and keep you supplied with kittens over the years ...

Horse barns are tuff on cat populations .. the boys leave and so do a lot of the girls ... if you have a wild tom cat visiting your mama cats they will run any fixed cats off when they claim your barn as their territory ...

Here are my never petted or caught barn cats eating with my dogs ... lol...

If you have a serious rat/mouse problem house or barn ... use the brick form broken up into chunks to throw behind walls, equipment or under stuff ... no more mices ... not a poison but a blood thinner that makes rats etc bleed internally and dry out so no smell of dead rats and dog and cats show no interest in the rat bait .... it is called ONE MORE BITE ...

There is not enough Warfin in the entire bar to ever affect a dog or cat and same goes for the dried up mice and rats you find behind and under stuff .... I think I should get paid for this ad ... lol


And then there is QUACK AND QUACK QUACK that eat all of my bugs and they love the grub worms up in the yard ... lol .. will sit and sun with my dogs ...

Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2014-02-26 2:23 PM




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Lil_Pony35
Reg. Mar 2008
Posted 2014-02-26 2:00 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


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Location: Durango CO
I took in a pair of brothers but moved and gave them to my sister and they hung around until 1 got eaten. My next set of females I had to give to the same sister due to HOA rules changing and they are still there but have turned wild. They will stay around with food and company.
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SaraJean
Reg. Dec 2006
Posted 2014-02-26 2:03 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


Military family

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Location: ND
I only have 1 barn cat, he wandered in as a stray tom when he was about a year old. Never did get him neutered but he'll 6 this year & doesn't wander at all. Didn't have to do anything but pet him a couple times & feed him & he moved in for life! I've also got 2 indoor/outdoor cats & my inlaws have 3. Those 5 are all spayed/neutered, everyone gets along & you never see a mouse in my barn.
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rodeomom3
Reg. Dec 2007
Posted 2014-02-26 2:06 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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 3 of my barn cats were over a year old and lived their whole life in a cage at vet.   They have all stayed and I pet and love on them.   I would never use any type of poisonous bait or blood thinners.   If the cat eats the carcass they will be poisoned too.  5 cats and I don't have a single mouse dropping in my barn. I disagree with getting girls and letting them breed, there are more than enough cats in the world already.

Edited by rodeomom3 2014-02-26 2:09 PM
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lexyy12
Reg. Apr 2010
Posted 2014-02-26 2:23 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :)
We've always gotten at least two and keep them in a crate for at least a week. We will let them out of it when the barn is closed up to wander for a little while and put them back. We luckily have had the same big cat for a few years now so they usually become buddies with him and stick around but something happened to him :( soo in the spring we have to start over again. We dknt want to bring out new cats in this cold
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GoinJettin
Reg. Feb 2005
Posted 2014-02-26 7:05 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Ours found us. They just showed up and we fed them and they stayed. They tamed down pretty fast. We got the tom cat neutered and the female was already spayed. We also have 3 indoor/outdoor cats that moved here with us. They all get along pretty well.
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magic gunsmoke
Reg. Dec 2010
Posted 2014-02-26 7:55 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Murphy - 2014-02-26 11:20 AM We have been here three years, and I thought someone would dump cats or dogs, or we would see some cats, but we haven't, not one! We had one that would eat leftover grain if the horses dropped it in the pasture, but I think something may have gotten it because we haven't seen it in months. I'll check Craigslist. I need to get a big cage too to put them in at first. 

Don't jinx yourself! Our neighbors don't spay or neuter their cats...and their momma cat brought FIVE kittens to our barn.

Or course for me it was like Christmas! My husband...not so much (lol)!

After that-nothing showed up except for people who had thought of me.

Then about six months ago two were dumped in the course of one week. My husband was outside when both happened and the poor cats went running to him.
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Kcaughran
Reg. Dec 2008
Posted 2014-02-26 7:58 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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magic gunsmoke - 2014-02-26 9:54 AM

Trust me....cats and kittens will find you.

I have only paid for spay/neuter for cats that have been dumped.

I take them in as barn cats and keep them.

But-over time I have also had people contact me with their older cats...(say one, two, three years old) needing to find them homes.

I take them-because then I don't have to pay to spay or neuter them-and cat food is inexpensive, and shots are pretty cheap too.

So my advice would be to post a wanted add somewhere (unless you really want kittens). I have six cats now! They all stick around. I have an open barn. If I am worried I keep them in the house for a few days-or crate them outside for a few days with food, water, litter box-and every time I am in the barn I take them out and pet them and hold them. As they get more adjusted I let them out of the crate in the morning and put them in the crate at night. Then from there I take the crate away.

I only had one cat run off. She ended up at a neighboring barn six months later!

I guess my point is spayed and neutered cats with shots are so easy to come across for free! I have never once needed to adopt one.

That's true, they will find you. We've had several show up.

Edited by Kcaughran 2014-02-26 8:05 PM
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Kcaughran
Reg. Dec 2008
Posted 2014-02-26 8:01 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



Max is Back


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Here is one that showed up at the horse farm. Took this picture of him, he holds his tail up like a chow dog.



(1966881_10201755552546418_1363791759_n.jpg)



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Kaycee
Reg. Jun 2005
Posted 2014-02-26 8:34 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



Texas Tenderheart


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I want some barn cats badly at our new place but I just don't trust my barn dogs!   Have any of y'all introduced cats to "bad" dogs and they(the cats) survived?
The dogs showed up at our current place several years ago as 6 mos old or so.  They were very scared and skittish but now they LOVE their humans but HATE critters.  We have an enclosed yard as escape proof as possible and one day I found an adult cat dead in the yard!  Those boys are hoodlums!  They will be great at keeping skunks, coons, possums and other dogs away but I'd like to get some cats for the mouse issue but I don't trust these guys.  
 
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barberlady
Reg. Jul 2012
Posted 2014-02-26 8:58 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats


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Check your nearest animal shelter. It makes you feel good to know that you saved their life and, you will have a good pet.
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Three 4 Luck
Reg. Sep 2003
Posted 2014-02-26 9:09 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Kaycee - 2014-02-26 8:34 PM I want some barn cats badly at our new place but I just don't trust my barn dogs!   Have any of y'all introduced cats to "bad" dogs and they(the cats) survived?

The dogs showed up at our current place several years ago as 6 mos old or so.  They were very scared and skittish but now they LOVE their humans but HATE critters.  We have an enclosed yard as escape proof as possible and one day I found an adult cat dead in the yard!  Those boys are hoodlums!  They will be great at keeping skunks, coons, possums and other dogs away but I'd like to get some cats for the mouse issue but I don't trust these guys.  
 

 My German shepherd won't mess with a cat that doesn't run, but if they run she will try to kill them. I thought introducing her to babies would help but it didn't. She nearly killed one last year.  Luckily, I was there to rescue him. I was rewarded by him peeing on me. 
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Kaycee
Reg. Jun 2005
Posted 2014-02-26 9:38 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Three 4 Luck - 2014-02-26 9:09 PM

Kaycee - 2014-02-26 8:34 PM I want some barn cats badly at our new place but I just don't trust my barn dogs!   Have any of y'all introduced cats to "bad" dogs and they(the cats) survived?

The dogs showed up at our current place several years ago as 6 mos old or so.  They were very scared and skittish but now they LOVE their humans but HATE critters.  We have an enclosed yard as escape proof as possible and one day I found an adult cat dead in the yard!  Those boys are hoodlums!  They will be great at keeping skunks, coons, possums and other dogs away but I'd like to get some cats for the mouse issue but I don't trust these guys.  
 

 My German shepherd won't mess with a cat that doesn't run, but if they run she will try to kill them. I thought introducing her to babies would help but it didn't. She nearly killed one last year.  Luckily, I was there to rescue him. I was rewarded by him peeing on me. 

Yep, that is what I am expecting from those boys, too. I actually have one that i think would kill one just to kill one. Sooo frustrating! Maybe when we sell the old place we will put in the new sale/lease, "Dogs stay!"
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livinonlove&horses
Reg. Jun 2008
Posted 2014-02-26 10:06 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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 I read in a puppy book the way to introduce cats to a pup and it be successful is to put the pup in a small area with the cat. When the pup tries to play and the cat smacks him the dog will learn the cat can whoop him. Now you dogs are older. I don't know if you applied the same theory with the biggest meanest cat you can find would work or not?  I would do the intro in a one on one so they don't gang up on the cat. But idk if this would work or not
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Kaycee
Reg. Jun 2005
Posted 2014-02-26 10:16 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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livinonlove&horses - 2014-02-26 10:06 PM  I read in a puppy book the way to introduce cats to a pup and it be successful is to put the pup in a small area with the cat. When the pup tries to play and the cat smacks him the dog will learn the cat can whoop him. Now you dogs are older. I don't know if you applied the same theory with the biggest meanest cat you can find would work or not?  I would do the intro in a one on one so they don't gang up on the cat. But idk if this would work or not

Thanks Livin, but they are too old and wise now.  I watched them take down a coon that was on the fence one night and the coon probably weighed 30-35lbs.  It took them about 30 seconds to kill him...good boys but kitties, no please!
I could separate them like you said and they would listen to me, even in my presence they will be angels but once I am out of their site, they are killers.  
If I have high places in the barn like top of the tack room how high can they actually jump?  It has been years since having barn cats but we also never had killer dogs either. 
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Kaycee
Reg. Jun 2005
Posted 2014-02-26 10:18 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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Anyone want to trade a couple of barn cats for a couple barn dogs?  
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BARRELHORSE USA
Reg. Sep 2011
Posted 2014-02-26 11:22 PM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats




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Kaycee - 2014-02-26 10:18 PM

Anyone want to trade a couple of barn cats for a couple barn dogs?  

YEP ... first thing in the morning ... my 2 dogs just made friends with a skunk!!

Be here early to pick them up .... and just turn the cats loose in the barn ...
lol
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Three 4 Luck
Reg. Sep 2003
Posted 2014-02-27 6:40 AM
Subject: RE: Barn Cats



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livinonlove&horses - 2014-02-26 10:06 PM  I read in a puppy book the way to introduce cats to a pup and it be successful is to put the pup in a small area with the cat. When the pup tries to play and the cat smacks him the dog will learn the cat can whoop him. Now you dogs are older. I don't know if you applied the same theory with the biggest meanest cat you can find would work or not?  I would do the intro in a one on one so they don't gang up on the cat. But idk if this would work or not

 That doesn't work well for a dog bred to protect.  My dog was schooled by my mom's cat as a puppy, and it just made her mad and hate cats. 
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