Many horse owners know the joys of being greeted by cute, feline friends when they arrive at the barn. But they may have never thought about the care that should go into these cats. We’ll run through a few quick tips on barn cat management to help anyone who wants to better care for their working felines!
1. Provide food and water.
Many people believe that barn cats can survive by hunting mice alone. However, this isn’t the case. Feeding your barn cats encourages them to stick around and hunt for mice in their free time (which we all know cats have a lot of). Not to mention, feeding your cats a balanced meal helps keep them healthy and ready to hunt!
2. Spay and neuter your barn cats!
We all love kittens, but having multiple young cats running around a facility can quickly lead to tragedy. I have seen far too many kittens get injured or killed in barns, whether by passing cars or trampling.
You can help prevent needless suffering and loss by fixing your barn cats. Multiple resources across the country provide free or discounted spay/neuter services.
Accidents do happen and, if you find yourself with a surprise litter of kittens, consider attempting to adopt them out. You can try this yourself or find a local no-kill shelter that can take them in as well.
Also, check out the BarnCatLady’s list of reasons to spay/neuter your barn cats, here.
3. Vaccinations are key.
Vaccinating your barn cats is of utmost importance. Much like feeding them, vaccinating your working felines ensures they stay healthy and happy. Most importantly, since these cats may encounter wild animals from time to time, all barn cats need to get vaccinated for rabies.
4. Regular veterinary care is still required.
Barn cats are not that different from house cats. They still need regular checkups and veterinary care. Barn owners must also be willing and prepared to bring these felines in for emergency care should an accident occur.
You may be surprised at the number of barn owners who let these cats stay injured or sick because they can’t be bothered. Please don’t be on of those people.
5. Bring your cats in at night.
If you have a room that your barn cats can be confined in overnight, consider bringing them in. Many wild animals can harm or kill your cats, especially at night. By bringing in your cats, you can establish a familiar routine while you protect them from these dangers.
6. Put food away overnight.
Along with bringing your cats in overnight, make sure that their food is not left out. Cat food is a favorite of raccoons and other wild animals. Leaving it out will only attract these creatures to your barn which can lead to numerous problems for you and your cats.
Thank you so much for reading about barn cat management. Let me know if any of the information in this post surprised you! I’d love to hear from you.
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