There are many cats that are brought to the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter  that have had minimal contact with people.  While we do our best to socialize them, some cats may not ever become true house cats.

Yet these cats can live useful lives as barn cats. Their owners can benefit from the satisfaction of giving these kitties a second chance on life and possibly see that pesky rodent population kept at bay!

Before a barn cat is adopted, we will have the cat spayed or neutered, checked for FeLV and FIV, and brought up to date with its shots.

If you have an outbuilding like a barn that can provide a safe haven for our cats, won’t you consider adopting one or more?  We can provide you with more literature to help you in deciding if adopting a barn/feral cat is right for you and your lifestyle.

Usually when we adopt out a Barn or a Shed cat we are doing so with the understanding that the cat was previously unwanted or lost and lived on its own with minimal or no human contact, and/or may have been rescued by us from a dangerous or unhealthy situation. This could have long-lasting effects on the cat, they may always be fearful of human contact, or they may decide that you are the best thing that happened to them since catnip.  SRAS is making no representations or warranties about the temperament, personality or condition of the cat.  We are just hoping that the two of you find your relationship to be mutually beneficial... whatever that relationship turns out to be.

For health and safety reasons, and to help ensure that the cat is properly acclimated to his/her new home,  the cat should be kept in a  homing crate for three (3) weeks after adoption. (If not kept crated/locked in for that length of time, the cat will most likely run away and never be seen again.)  After release, the cat should be given free run of the building and yards.  We will provide a homing crate for 6-8 weeks with a $50.00 check deposit.   We ask that the crate be returned promptly in good, clean condition so that we may pass it along to the next adopter.
Your new cat needs to be provided with daily fresh water, cat food (even if it's a great mouser, your barn cat needs the vitamins and nutrition a store-bought cat food will provide) and comfortable, safe and sanitary shelter in your barn or other outbuilding at all times after release, and for the rest of the cat’s life.