Leo & Juno

** This post has been sitting in my drafts folder since last summer - 'thought I should finally publish it!

Barn cats are controversial. Most adoption organizations will not let you adopt a cat for your barn, despite the huge population of cats and kitten in the shelters who are waiting for homes. Yes, there are more dangers for cats that live outside: coyotes, cars, fur traps, nasty people with guns. A barn kitty's life expectancy is shorter and that is a hard fact. It is true that to simply set free cats on your property (or worse yet, somebody else's property) is an abomination, but a properly cared for barn cat is the happiest form of feline.

So what constitutes proper care? Absolutely every single thing you would do for your indoor cat.

First, both males and females need to be fixed. It keeps them from roaming as much and - duh - it keeps them from making more cats. We have a neighborhood cat periodically visit our barn and it sprays, so not only is this cat making more cats it is smelling up my barn (yes, smelling up my barn because cat urine odor is extremely offensive, even in a barn). It astounds me how many people have unfixed cats.

Barn cats also need a constant supply of food and water. Well fed cats will still hunt, contrary to the myth that you have to keep them hungry. I guarantee your barn will be rodent free even when you have healthy food available.

Regular worming and vaccinations are also a must. These kitties are exposed to more than any inside cat, and it is our responsibility to keep them safe and healthy. By the way, even the goats are vaccinated against rabies.

A warm bed is also a must. My cats love the hay, but when it gets cold they want their comfy bed to snuggle. Leo likes to snuggle in the stalls with the goats, and some mornings I find Juno in a hay rack :) but most mornings I find them in their beds.

Barn cats need grooming from time to time. Of course their claws need to be intact, but their coats may get burrs or matts, and it is your job to take care of them.

Human affection needs will vary from cat to cat, depending on if the kitten was more feral or more tame. In my experience, my barn cats are friendly but will not go near our house even when we have tried to bring them in on the harshest winter days. They are too stressed and they feel safest in the barn. However, they love their humans, and they love attention.

So now to the fun part of this story: the addition of Leo and Juno.