1- Place the cat in a large cage or kennel within the building they will be calling home. Also, give the cats a hiding place – such as an insulated shelter filled with straw. In addition cats will need a litter box (we use horse pellet bedding for litter), food and water bowls. PawsWatch supplies the relocation cage and everything to go in it, including a starting amount of wet and dry food and litter.

*- Put clothing from family members in the cage so the cats can determine smells that are “safe”,
** When feeding cats, call them to the food so after release they recognize the call to mealtime.

2- Scoop the litter box and give fresh wet & dry food ,water daily. Keep dry food in the cage at all times.

An evening meal of wet food should be established so your cats are used to getting this special meal at the same time every day, thus reinforcing routine behavior to be sure cats come back in the evening to be locked in safety at night.

3- After 4 weeks, you can open the cage door. Dry food and water should be kept in the cage, then over time move it outside the cage. Feed the special evening meal to ensure cats get locked in.

* Be sure to establish comfortable and warm accommodations for your kitties.

5- After two more weeks, the cats should be comfortable in their new home so the cage and extra supplies can be removed. Their hiding place should be kept in the general area in which they were housed so they have the reassurance that a safe space is readily accessible.

6- Caring for your barn cat is as easy as providing fresh food and water daily. Most barn cat caregivers keep litter pans inside their barns. Never rely on outdoor cats to sustain themselves on rodents alone; they need a nutrient rich diet to maintain a healthy life.

We will respond to you as soon as possible. We are an all volunteer organization so it may take us a few days to get back to you. But we will, because we want these kitties to have homes and not be stuck in a cage at our shelter!