Little Rock Animal Village launches Barn Cat Program!
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Note: The LRAV is not currently fulfilling requests for barn cats. Please check back with us in the fall.
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (News release) – The Little Rock Animal Village is finding homes for hard-to-place felines by putting them to work in a new pilot program.
Under the initiative, healthy feral cats that aren’t suitable candidates for a traditional adoption will be considered for the "barn cat" program.
“This is a win-win program,” Animal Services Manager Tracy Roark said. “These animals in our community who need help the most are given another chance and a much-needed place to call home, and businesses get safe pest control and maybe even a new mascot.”
Barn cat programs have proven successful in many areas of the country. Barn cats are not a new idea, but introducing the animals into businesses is a recent trend.
Barn cats can be placed not just in barns but also in warehouses, businesses, farms, and rural residences that need rodent control. Adoption is free. As part of the arrangement, adopters must agree to provide safe shelter, food and clean water, and veterinary care.
Each cat will be sterilized, vaccinated, and microchipped. The cats will need to be kenneled for a few weeks to become acclimated to their new environment. The Animal Village will provide training and support to adopters.
Why adopt a Barn Cat?
When you adopt a barn cat you save the life of a healthy cat and in return your cat will take care of small rodents. Barn cat adoption is free although LRAV appreciates any donation you can make to help us offset the costs of the program.
What does LRAV provide?
All barn cats will be spayed or neutered, up to date on vaccinations and microchipped. LRAV provides crates, litter boxes and all other needed supplies other than food and litter, and will transport cats to locations within a 30 mile radius. Those outside of our transportation area will pick the cats up at LRAV. All supplies must be returned to LRAV after the cats are acclimated to their new home.
Barn cats are typically adopted out in pairs, although in some cases one cat or more than two may be approved.
LRAV will provide training and support to help you with a successful adoption.
What will you provide?
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A safe permanent shelter protected from extreme weather such as a stable, barn, warehouse, brewery, or outbuilding.
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The ability to keep the cats confined for a period of three to four weeks while the cats acclimate to a new environment
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Continuous fresh food and water during confinement and after release
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Clean litter boxes and litter while confined
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Veterinary care as needed