Getting New Barn Kitties Next Week!

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello friends!

So, we've reached out to several barn cat organizations and we are going to be getting 2 new barn cats next week. We've never had cats before so this is a new adventure for us. Any advice, suggestions, tips, etc. are most appreciated. The kitties will be using our straw/hay barn as shelter. We are going to be keeping them in the barn in a crate for 3 weeks to help them get acclimated to their new home. When they are free-ranging around our property, do you have any tips for how to discourage them from peeing on the hay and straw bales? Should I keep a litter box in there for them in an effort to prevent that from happening? Any ideas about how to make them feel comfortable but also not scare them? I'm going to be feeding them the same times every day in the morning and evening and I hope that after the evening meal I can lock them up in the barn to keep them safe. Is that something you do also or do your cats free range at night? There is a chance that they may find a way to get out of the barn even if I close them in there at night. I'm just a new cat mom so I'm nervous and trying to prepare for different situations that may arise. Thanks so much!

 

[AOrchard]

Are they feral barn cats, semi-socialized, or friendly barn cats? Are they adults / kittens?

I don't lock mine up at night normally. I got two kittens some years ago who were very friendly. I let them out during the day and locked them up at night until they grew up a bit. Otherwise always out.

I have a microchip cat door into my barn. It uses the microchip implanted in the cats to let them in. Keeps strange cats and raccoons out of their food. It's a little more of an expense, has been totally worth it to me! Would also be easy to lock at night if you wanted.

Mine love the clay litter box and the sandbox.

 

[Weeg]

I would lock them up when they're young if possible. If you live in an area with lots of predators, only the toughest cats survive at night. We've lost to many smart tough indoor-outdoor cats to predators to risk leaving them out when we can get them in. We kept our cats in at night every chance we got until they were at least a year old. We still keep them in when possible, but our Siamese mix prefers to be out all the time, so we don't keep her in since she's lived so long already, 3 years.
Cats love routine, so whatever you do decide to do, just make sure you have some kind of time frame. When we were socializing our stray kitty, (she had it rough and was terrified of people.) We gave her something to hide under, and would come into her room and watch a movie at the same time overnight. Just be quiet and chill at a distance so she could warm up to us. We'd also encourage her out of her hiding place with treats, which she loved to chase when they bounced.
Your kitties will be more socialized then her, but may still come in handy when socializing them.
I bet your so excited, congratulations! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

 

[DuckDuckSook]

The organization asked if we wanted feral "stealthy" cats or ones that were a little more friendly. We asked for some that were more friendly since we have three children. I think I'll plan on locking them in at night. I'm hoping I can set up a routine where I feed the cats in the evening every day so they come around and then I can lock them in the barn. However, it isn't 100% fool proof because there may be some spots in our barn that they could use to get out, but I guess they'll figure it out. I'm going to ask a lot of questions when the rescue drops them off and maybe they'll have some suggestions too.
Thanks!

 

[pennyJo1960]

We have three that started life feral .. We have a small shasta trailer we raised them in going in daily to set with them eventually they came to trust us then we cut a door out .. They have food in there and go nightly for dinner but also kill vermin