Our goal is to place cats in environments that will allow them to thrive and live their best cat-lives. Community Cat Support Network recognizes that not all cats are socialized to living indoors and that some cats can only thrive when living outdoors, hunting, and interacting with people on their own terms. Our first choice is to return cats to the outdoor homes they’ve become accustomed to as we believe this is the most humane option. However, from time-to-time, a cat is unable to return to their outdoor home and a safe alternative home is needed.

If you have a barn, brewery, winery, stable, or workshop, a working cat would love to join your family in exchange for daily food, water, and safe housing. As a bonus, they’ll even help with rodent control. To inquire about adding a couple of our working cat to your home, please look at our cats below and submit an application below.

Working Cat Adoption Application

Whisker Workers Cat Program Process for Employment

Through our Working Cat program, Community Cat Support Network places healthy cats that aren’t suitable as house pets in environments where they can flourish, working to control snake, rat and mice populations. These cats have been born and raised on farms or industrial spaces. At no fault of their own, they have been laid off due to change in management or downsizing and need to find other working arrangements.

Whisker Worker cats are not house cats

Working Cats will not be successful family members in a home or a business where people would expect a high amount of direct interaction. These cats will be successful with access to the outdoors or in large spaces — a farm, workshop, winery, warehouse, or any other type of property that rodents are prone to inhabit. Working Cats are typically independent animals that prefer humans at a distance, and do not enjoy being handled.

Whisker Worker cat adoption details

All working cats will be sterilized and ear tipped.
Adopters will not be allowed to visit or handle these cats prior to adoption.
Multiple-cat adoptions are required except for specific circumstances where the priority is what is best for the cat.
Working cat adopters must agree to provide:
- Consistent access to warm, safe shelter like a barn or shop to provide protection from the elements
- Food and clean water every day. It needs to be a safe, dry, warm location with a caregiver that provides food, water and proper care. These cats cannot survive on mousing alone. Adequate food and fresh water must be provided daily.
- Future medical care
- A room or space to keep the cat confined for 2-3 weeks with a litterbox and soft places to lie down, hide, and sleep, in order to acclimate to new surroundings

Adoption fees are waived for working cats. If you're interested in employing a working cat please fill out our adoption application.

Working Cat Adoption Application

Post-adoption requirements and care

Confinement period

Cats need time to adjust to new surroundings. They’ll acclimate better in new environments if introduced to smaller spaces before being allowed to roam. Confining your new barn or business cat for 2-3 weeks will help it become comfortable with its new home, while a cat allowed to roam outdoors immediately may not realize food and shelter are available — and may never return. 

To ensure your new cat remains confined, the initial shelter must have no escape routes, including holes in siding or open windows. If the shelter has escape routes, you may use a large dog kennel to contain the cat(s). We are happy to work with you to provide an initial shelter.

After 2-3 weeks of confinement, you can allow the cat to explore the property. Ideally, you should release the cat when the weather is clear (no rain or snow) so that they can explore in comfort. If the cat was originally housed in a crate, leave the crate in the area as a safe place to hide or sleep for at least a week. If the cat is primarily indoors or in a barn, consider offering a litter box to contain waste.

Confinement structures

A simple extra-large dog crate or large exercise pen covered with mesh wire will work well as a confinement structure if you do not have alternative options. If you choose to use a crate, a portion of it should be covered with a towel or a sheet so the cats feels more protected.

The confinement area must include:

A soft place for the cat to lie down and sleep. In the winter, this space can be bedded with thick towels or straw for extra warmth.
A litter box, cleaned daily.
Fresh food and water daily. During cold weather, make sure the water is refreshed frequently or a water bowl heater is used to prevent freezing.
Proper ventilation to prevent overheating during warmer months.

The confinement area should never be fully exposed to inclement weather, and must be sheltered from rain, snow, and full summer sun.

Integrating with other animals

Once the confinement period is over, it’s time to let your cat explore. We recommend that the first time you do this it be daylight so you can monitor for any problems. It can be overwhelming for your new cat to see the full property the first time (especially if there are dogs or other animals, people, or equipment moving around), so try to keep the property as quiet and stress-free as possible when you first open the doors.

If you have other animals on your property, your new cat (and other animals) will need time to adjust to living together. Most cats, given enough time and space, will transition into a happy coexistence with other cats, dogs, and even farm animals (or tractors and forklifts)! If you have other cats, let them work out their differences — sometimes cats need to make noise or scuffle a little to learn their place in the social order, and this is normal behavior.

If you have questions or concerns, before or after adoption, please reach out and one of our volunteers will do their best to provide assistance.