Is there a way to keep barn cats from peeing on your hay? I was thinking I'd get a litter box but I'm not sure how effective that would be....

A litter box would be worth a try.  I've never seen our barn cats pee on the hay and we've had many. Of course, just because I've never seen them do it doesn't mean they didn't do it. The dogs are a different story.  They get yelled at a lot.  

My female cats dont pee on my hay, the no good stray tom cats come in and spray my hay and tractor... makes me furious! I "own" 4 spayed female cats they stay out in the barn, I toss them a little food a few times a week... ok, that's a lie, I tell my hubby that...., I feed them daily

How many cats do you have? I would put a small childs swimming pool in a corner and put sand or dirt in it so they would/maybe use it. "A toddler pool, they are super cheap"

That picure is too cute!! Ive always had male barn cats and I always ran across stinky, peed on hay Always hated that! Maybe I should try a female kitty this time! I do plan on having whatever I get spayed/neutered.

I also use kitty litter in my stalls so I'm wondering if they'd learn to go in there??? That wouldnt bother me I dont think.

LOL, peek-a-boo.. 

I dont have any right now. Will be getting one very soon though!

Thats Berta, shes the head mouser in the group! She was sleeping half way in between 2 bales and I was filling nets, she didnt care she got covered up with hay in the process lol! I see my cats going to the bathroom in my stalls but I dont really care about that. They have done a good job keeping mice out and pesky birds. I suggest females if you're looking for critter patrol in the barn but definitely spay/nueter or else you'll end up with a mess! My girls do majority of their patrol at night... it's funny because I find them like this almost every morning when it's time for me to come out and feed everyone ????

I've always loved having several barn cats and even the feral cats hanging around my barn.  I fed them all.  Now the coyotes (or owls or rotten neighbors with pellet guns) snare them.  I have one very old cat but she knows she's bait and stays close. 

I'm also worried about them getting snagged. Living in Northern MN, Eagles are EVERYWHERE. As are owls.

Each cat I have has been bitten at least once by a rattlesnake, all but 1 was bit in the leg. Berta was bitten in the face and I ended up taking her to the vet to be treated. She had surgery to remove all the infected skin. She made a full recovery. In my group shot of my kitties, the dark grey 1 closest to the barn is actually the momma cat to these 3 black cats lol! They are all spayed now. Anyway, the momma cat has some vision issues.. shes cross eyed bad. so she really stays close to the barn.. I had her inside my house for a while but she hated it and always wanted out. So we let her. She seems to be getting along just fine out there and enjoys hanging with her offspring. We have terrible coyotes here but we've got tons of big trees around for them to make a getaway if needed. I always worry about them though, I always feel relieved when I see all 4 lined up waiting for me in the morning! 

Let me know if the litter box works! I hate picking up an armful of flakes and having That Smell hit me in the face. I doubt it will, because I think they’re marking their territory...but someone should try it

My stalls got flooded, so to dry them out I scattered clumping cat litter in them.  The barn cats are loving it!

I think I'll give it a shot. The smell makes me gag lol but I love cats and their purpose in a barn! If anything, I will put the litter box in a stall I'm not using furthest away from the hay. Cant hurt but to try! It will be a few weeks yet until I get one but I will keep you all posted.

If anyone else has found a trick to keep them from peeing all over the hay, please enlighten me!

Iwould get two if I were you.  Like any animal, they love companionship.

I probably will....just a matter of sneaking in another one when my SO isnt looking LOL.

Litter mates work the best if planning on getting two are more, if older, cats can be very territory and will run off new cats if you bring home a new one if you already have a older barn cat..I always have a friend for any animal I have, I hate seening a loner..

The only time we have had a problem with our barn cats peeing on the hay is before they get fixed or if a stray tom is around and they are trying to mark their territory... yes they will still do this after they are fixed if a tom is around and they are feeling macho, haha. We have 3 neutered male cats and they never pee on the hay other than those times I meantioned above. They go in the stalls or in the arena 99.9% of the time. Their pee doesn't stink really either once they are fixed. 

This for sure.  Fix em.  I have 10 fixed barn cats, most of them are male. They do not pee on the hay. I  had to live trap a few of the wild dudes to take them in but it all worked out. 

Our neighbor's cats pee on everything!!!!  Makes me sick!!!  I hate the smell of cat pee!!!  The litter box is definitely worth a try.

Thank you all for the input! I will definitely give it a try. Anything I get will absolutely be fixed. How quickly those things can multiply blows my mind lol. Not happening on my watch!

I second the poster who said get littermates. We have six cats now but have had as many as nine at once. We spay and neuter, and I've never noticed any of them peeing on hay. But they have gone in my trailer and used the shavings before.

Just wanted to throw this out there.. I actually got two feral cats for my barn through a local feral barn cat rescue near me. They provide everything and the cats are even spayed/neutered and have all of their shots and the best part is they were free. I’m not a fan of cats but I started to develop a rat problem in my barn and was sick of trapping them and laying bait.. so the fact they don’t like people is a big plus for me and my allergic boyfriend! I was able to get two males, the only slightly annoying part is I’ve had to keep them in a large cage for 4 weeks in order to acclimate them to my barn before releasing them but other than that I think it’s a great program to look into!! 

When the toms cats are peeing on your hay they are really spraying their scent marking their territory and its really a horrible smell. Get the boy cats fixed at a young age and then they wont do that, but if they get older and start marking and when you do get them fixed they will still mark territorys not all of them will but some still do. So getting them fix as young as possible will be a big help, I get all my males cats fixed at around 5 months are younger and never had them spray.

As long as you get the males neutered, they shouldn't spray on the hay.  I can't imagine the headache that putting a huge litter box outside would create!