As much as cats are known to laze in the warmth of the sun, they also love to keep busy and have a purpose. For these barn buddies, a productive day involves a good mouse chase.
About five years ago, Jaime Wrightson adopted Cadence from the Cochrane and Area Humane Society (CAHS) because of her “street cred.” Wrightson needed a “mouser,” and Cadence was already used to being on her own in the outdoors.
As an animal lover, it was also important to Wrightson that her new friend was cared for.
When Wrightson first brought Cadence to her new home, they didn't see much of the cat. If it weren’t for the slowly-emptying food dish, they may not have known Cadence was there.
“Now, she loves attention and will talk your ear off with her stories,” Wrightson said about the once-feral cat who has become part of the family.
Outdoor cats are often essential in rural dwellings as a natural way to eliminate mice. This is their life, and where they are most comfortable. Because of their independence, they don’t ask for much; however, they do like their hard work to be noticed. Barn cat owners will occasionally receive a gift on their doorstep of a mouse or rodent caught by their furry friend.
Owners can show their appreciation for their hard-working feline companions by doing their part in ensuring their outdoor pet is provided with adequate food, water, shelter and safety. It’s also imperative that responsible pet care is practiced by ensuring outdoor cats are spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and receive identification and any other veterinary care as needed. This is all given to CAHS' cats before adoption.
When cats come into CAHS' care, staff first determines their level of human interaction to help find them the best-suited home. Kittens and the majority of the organization's cats are placed into permanent indoor homes, but there are some exceptions.
With consideration given to each cat’s history and level of socialization, a cat may be adopted out as an outdoor pet. These fall into two categories – companion and non-companion barn cats.
Companion barn cats are those who are not suitable to be a house pet, but would do well living in a heated or insulated barn or out-building. Non-companion barn cats are those which have not had previous human interaction and are sometimes known as feral, and are often fearful of humans.
Over time, many outdoor cats eventually build trust with their people – just as Cadence did.
Recently, two non-companion barn cats, Jack and Ash, came into the shelter together and, fortunately, it did not take long before they were adopted together. After being slowly introduced to their new barn environment, with a soft blanket, food and water, they are finding comfort in their new home.
Shelter life is very unfamiliar for these special performers, so CAHS strives to find them a home as soon as possible. If you are looking for an outdoor cat to add to your rural residence, please visit the shelter – we might just have the perfect barn buddy looking for you.
