In an effort to curb euthanasia rates for feral animals and offer a humane solution to rodent problems, the Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter (VBAS) are calling on the community to help place what they call “working cats” into barns, backyards, warehouses, and other nontraditional homes.
These cats — feral by nature and temperament — are not suited for indoor living or human companionship. But through the shelter’s Barn Cat Program, they can still find a place to live out their lives with purpose and protection.
“These are not housecats,” the group emphasized in a recent release. “They are feral and are perfectly content to live in their barn, yard, or working area and will avoid human contact.”
The organization occasionally hears stories of these animals growing accustomed to humans, but such outcomes are the exception.
Each cat is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and delivered by VBAS volunteers to a working home, where they are initially kept in kennels to help them acclimate to the new location.
Adopters are asked to provide ongoing food, water, and shelter while the cats, in turn, help control local pests.
While shelters often prioritize domestic and adoptable animals, the fate of unsocialized feral cats is often bleak.
“Sadly, the overwhelming majority of feral cats brought to shelters are euthanized because there are not enough working homes for them,” the release noted.
The Barn Cat Program, operated by the nonprofit VBAS, aims to reverse that trend. Since its founding, the initiative has sought to pair cats with a wide range of environments such as barns, stables, vineyards, warehouses, and even residential yards, where they can live independently but safely.
The shelter currently has a number of working cats ready for placement and says the need for new homes is urgent.
Those with suitable outdoor or industrial spaces are encouraged to consider adoption, not for companionship, but as a mutually beneficial arrangement that saves lives and supports natural pest control.VBAS volunteers supply the initial materials and guidance to help ease the transition. Interested parties can reach out to the shelter to learn more about participating in the program by contacting [email protected].
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