Working Cat Program

What is a working cat? (ASPCA Definition)

Living indoors with humans isn’t an option for every cat. Working Cats, sometimes called barn cats, are not candidates for adoption as a typical house cat. When they were young kittens, these cats didn’t have enough exposure to humans, causing them to become under socialized and fearful of people. Some working cats may eventually learn to enjoy some human interaction while others prefer to have no human contact at all.

Why do you have a working cat program? (Humane Society of the United States Definition)

For cats who won’t tolerate living indoors and who are unable to continue living where they were found outdoors, our working cat program provides an alternative to euthanasia and a second chance at life. We pair people looking for a nontraditional adoption with cats who are already well suited to the lifestyle. The adopters agree to provide their working cats with daily care and veterinary treatment as needed. At Humane Society of West Michigan, we believe these cats deserve a second chance at life and forever homes of their own!

How do you decide if a cat should become a working cat?

Every cat that comes to the Humane Society of West Michigan is given abundant time, care, and attention. If a cat is not tolerating living indoors, showing a decline in quality of life as a result of being indoors, or came to our organization as cat previously living outdoors/away from people and is unable to acclimate to indoor life, they are assessed by our Animal Behavior Coordinator as a potential working cat. It is important to note that aside from our assessed working cats, HSWM only adopts cats into indoor homes. 

What do I need to provide my working cat? (ASPCA Recommendations)

  • An acclimation period of 3-4 weeks: This is critical for cats to feel at home in their new environment and to keep them from running away. During this period, they’ll need to be confined in a crate or small room with their food, water, litter, and a box to hide in.
  • Provide ongoing shelter in an accessible and permanent building after the acclimation period. (such as a barn, shed, or greenhouse)
  • Provide food and fresh water close to the same time every day to teach your barn cat that you are a regular food source for them on a predictable schedule.
  • Provide routine and emergency medical care as needed throughout the barn cat’s life.

How do I manage my working cat's impact on wildlife? (Humane Society of the United States Recommendations)

  • Consider native animals that may be extra vulnerable to cats, like ground-nesting birds. Working cats aren’t appropriate in all settings.
  • Feed working cats on a regular schedule, at the same time and location every day. Feed only as much as the cats will eat in one sitting and remove leftover food bowls right after mealtime to prevent attracting wildlife.
  • Remove bird feeders; they cause birds to congregate and be more vulnerable to predation. Consider native plants and bushes, which provide food and hiding spots for birds and other wildlife.
  • Provide toys with your cats that will satisfy their hunting instinct.
  • Spay/neuter and vaccinate all barn cats to keep them healthy, minimize disease transmission and prevent overpopulation.
  • Providing posts/fences around your property or other elevated areas that predators cannot climb can help protect your working cat. Additionally, providing other structures around the property with multiple entry/exit points provide safe spaces for your cat to utilize. 
Adopt a Working Cat
Our adoptable working cats are spayed or neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations, microchipped, and ear-tipped. We prefer to adopt working cats out in pairs. The adoption fee for two working cats is $10. 

Interested in adopting a working cat? Fill out the application below! (Note: Even if you do not see any cats available, we recommend still filling out the application. This will put you on a waiting list for when one becomes available!)
Available Working Cats