Working Cats

In partnership with Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control, our Working Cats Program gives a second chance to outdoor cats and cats who would otherwise be deemed unadoptable. This program is designed to give homes to cats who want to live outside.

Working cats live in barns or other secure structures, and they do so at the benefit of their caretakers! Working cats control the rodent population in barns, removing the need for poisons that are dangerous for children and pets. We don’t always have working cats available, but we maintain a waiting list for those interested! 

Cats in our Working Cats program are: 

• Cats whose litter box habits are not consistent enough to be indoor cats and/or have spent time outside per their previous owner;
• Cats found as strays and may be too independent to appreciate living indoors, or
• Cats who are shy/fearful of people and prefer the company of other cats/animals.

Important notes about the Working Cats program: 

• The purpose of this program is to provide a live outcome for cats at Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control (FWACC) that are not considered “adoptable” as house pets, and are at risk of being euthanized when space runs out.
• Cats who are best suited to be house pets will not be considered to be working cats.
• Many, perhaps even most working cats become friendly over time, but we cannot guarantee that any working cat will have a human-social/friendly temperament, or ever allow touch or handling.
• Feral/unsocialized cats pose no danger to humans who respect their boundaries. Take it slow, and let a shy cat decide how social it wants to be.
• Kittens under four months of age will not be considered to be working cats.
• A minimum of two working cats must be placed at the same location at the same time.