Adopt a Working Cat

Some cats brought to Lollypop Farm just aren’t right for your typical home. These feline friends are happiest living primarily outdoors. Some may be nervous when confined while others may have litter box avoidance issues, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for them in our community. If you have a barn, brewery, winery, stable, workshop, or warehouse you can save a life while receiving companionship and potentially expert, environmentally-friendly rodent control!

two types of working cats:

Barn Buddies: These friendly, social cats have outdoor experience, and may want to hang out with you while you’re between chores. They may even enjoy getting petted while taking a break together, but they are happy enough to be roaming around, and keeping the mice away.

Lone Rangers: These independent, feral cats take their work seriously and aren’t as interested in being friends. You may catch a glimpse of them snoozing during the day, but you can be sure they are getting their job done at night.

Most of our available working cats will be Lone Rangers. Because we make every effort to place friendly, adoptable cats in great homes, it is less common for us to have Barn Buddies available for adoption. If you are looking to adopt a Barn Buddy, we encourage you to submit a questionnaire and indicate your preference. We will keep it on file and contact you when a Barn Buddy becomes available in the order in which your questionnaire is received. Both these types of working cats have some things in common: a need for a suitable shelter like a barn, shed, garage, or other building. They will need someone to feed and water them because they cannot survive on hunting alone, but don’t worry—feeding them will not reduce their inclination to hunt rodents.

We look forward to working with you to offer this lifesaving program for cats with special placement needs.

Interested in adopting a working cat?

Fill out THE working cat Questionnaire

What We Do for Your Working Cat

Before going home, your new working cat will be:

  • Spayed or neutered
  • Vaccinated
  • Microchipped
  • Dewormed
  • Treated for fleas
  • Vet checked
  • Ear-tipped (to indicate that they are spayed/neutered)

Plus, there is no cost to you for adopting one of these cats!

Working Cat FAQ

What do I need to provide? How can I help my working cat during the winter months? How can I help get my cat acclimated to their new home? Get the answers to these questions and more in the Working Cat FAQ.

Some cats brought to Lollypop Farm may not be ideal candidates for a normal home adoption. Some may be too scared or nervous to live comfortably around people in a confined environment. Others may have had problems with house soiling. While these cats might not make ideal house pets, they still have a place in Rochester’s community. As working cats, these cats can live comfortably in a barn, stable, warehouse, or workshop while providing companionship, and potentially expert, free rodent control.

Barns, stables, warehouses, breweries, wineries, and workshops have all benefitted from working cats. To see if a working cat would be a good fit for you and your space, email or give our Animal Outreach Manager a call at 585-223-1330, ext. 105.

You’ll need to provide food, water, and shelter for your working cat. Your barn cat’s new home will need to be approximately 500 feet from the road, and you must provide hay or blankets for your working cat to cuddle up in for warmth.  These things will help provide your cat with a warm “home base” to get away from the weather and potential predators.  Also, while initial vaccinations are provided by Lollypop Farm, your cat will need to be kept current on vaccines, flea treatment, and deworming.

Your working cat will be spayed/neutered to prevent future litters of kittens. They will also be vaccinated and microchipped. Upon adoption, you will receive a copy of your cat’s health records.  We’ll loan you a large crate to be used to introduce your cat to their new environment.  You will also receive some food, blankets, and a temporary litter pan.

Most importantly, you’ll have a support system of staff and volunteers who will answer any questions about getting settled or the long-term care of your working cat.

To help your cat get used to their new environment, you will need an area where the cat can be safely contained for at least one week. Make sure they have warm blankets and a place to hide. Lollypop Farm can provide you with a temporary large crate if needed. Covering the crate may make your cat feel more comfortable.

You’ll need to be patient as your cat gets used to their new space. There are lots of new smells and sounds.  For more information, email us or give us a call at 585-223-1330 ext. 105.

It may be better to have two cats if there will be very little human interaction. They can keep each other warm and look out for one another. However, this is only true if they get along. Some cats just prefer to be alone.

You can help protect your working cat form the harsh Rochester winter weather by providing them with shelter and warm spaces. If you leave some blankets or hay for your cat, they will have a place to get out of the wind, snow, and rain, and will be able to survive well.

Most cats are great hunters and their natural instinct will be to provide you expert rodent control, but of course, we aren’t able to guarantee that every working cat will be an expert hunter.

Cats are opportunistic feeders. Providing them with a steady food source will reduce the effect they have on traditional prey, like birds.

Contact Us

Email or call us at 585-223-1330 ext. 105 to learn more about our working cats available for adoption.