Instructions for a Successful Transition
The first step in transferring a colony cat from one place to another is to secure them in a confined space for no less than 3 months. At 3 months, there is an 80% success rate that they will not run away, anything less than that, it’s a 50/50 chance that they still stay around.
When they leave, they are trying to find and return to their previous colony and die in the journey – often starving to death.
A room, like an office or tack room is ideal, one that is secure on all 6 sides, including the floor and ceiling. Adult cats can get out of a 3” hole and they are crafty, they dig, claw, find ways to try and get out, so the area must be secure. A large dog kennel inside a barn area is sufficient as well.
In those 3 months, you and the new kitty are working on getting to know each other, you learn their habits, they learn the sights and sounds of their new home and they are becoming trusting and comfortable in their new environment and their safe space.
Feed kitty twice a day if possible, including wet food – tap on the wet food can and call their name around the same time each day so that they can create a routine and get used to the sound – this way you can call them in at night after their transition time so that you can keep an eye on them. Do not leave food out at night – you don’t want to attract raccoons.
It’s a good idea to have a shelter inside the transition room, like a winter cat shelter, so that they can make that their safe space. They can have it while transitioning and then after as well. Anything to get them comfy and encourage them to want to stick around.
After the 3 month confinement, leave the door cracked open so that kitty can come and go easily – a cat door will work, but you have to leave the flap open so they can easily come and go. After another 6 months of the flap open, you can close one flap so they can get used to it, but some barn cats never learn the flap. Propping open a door 3-6 inches is best so they don’t have to figure anything out – at the beginning. Once kitty has been there a few years, you can change things up, after they know the lay of the land.
We suggest using cameras if you can, so that you can keep an eye on them and learn their habits when you aren’t nearby, as they will likely hide when you're around since that’s what typical feral cats do.
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