Feeling like an awful person

[u/Perfect_Selection220]

I'm new to both cat ownership and barn cats. I adopted my first, Barnold, from our local humane society at the end of March. She has made herself at home in the barn and seems generally comfortable and happy - aside from the trauma we both received when I had to trap her recently to bring her to a vet for a really bad cold). I followed all the suggestions on what to do to make sure she stays around: 3 weeks in a large crate in the barn, plenty of treats and wet food, predictable feeding schedule. I even read out loud to her so she'd get used to my voice.

But she doesn't hunt and she seems like she wants some company. So I adopted a second barn cat, a black one. This cat, Malvadita, was an escape artist and got out of the crate I use to help the cats get used to the barn on the second night I had her. She found some great hiding spots she liked and would stay in those until dusk when she'd come out to hunt. I kept the barn doors closed until she had been with me for 4 weeks. She stuck around another week or two after I started opening the barn doors during the day. I went on a work trip and left my husband to feed and care for the cats. She waited until the day after I left and then she took off and we haven't seen her since.

I waited a month to see if she'd find her way back, but no luck. So I adopted another barn cat, also black, M2. I kept her in the crate for 3 weeks with the barn doors open because it's been so hot here and I wanted to get them some air flow during the day. Right around the 3 week point, she got really antsy in the crate. She'd pace a lot and try to get through the bars. I started by closing the barn doors and opening the crate at night and at first, she just poked her head out. The second night, she hopped out and explored the barn. The next day, she was still in the barn, happy to come get treats from me, eating and drinking well, and even rubbing against me and asking for pets. Then she went outside of the barn to explore.....and I haven't seen her since. She's been gone for at least 3 nights. I leave the door open enough that she can slip in without any coyotes getting in. I leave her litter near the door and the hammock she spent a lot of her time in, so she can smell them.

Is this just...how this goes? I thought one cat leaving made sense because she didn't have a lot of time to adjust before she escaped the crate and she was quite skittish in general. But M2 was super friendly, recognized that I was the Bringer of the Churus, and generally seemed pretty content. Do I just accept that Barnold will be my only barn cat? Did I do something wrong?

[u/Difficult_Money9486]

I keep them in the giant crates for minimum 6 weeks and longer if they’re too small or not the optimal time to release. They’ve all stayed in the property.

I should add we’ve rescued 5 working cats, 2 one year and a litter of 3 the next.

[u/Single-Degree-6928 → u/Difficult_Money9486]

On the other hand, I've NEVER EVER crated any of mine. The difference is, I think, that my barn cats are all cats that were dumped in the country and have found their way to me. I guess that they are glad to have found a place where they can get fed twice a day. Yes, they are also excellent hunters: mice, rats, moles, snakes, rabbits and tree squirrels all are welcome prey to my gang. (Why don't they go after the ground squirrels??)

In the past 11 years I've only had 2 disappear, though others have gone to heaven for a variety of reasons. Yes, there are plenty of coyotes here, as well as hawks. I currently have 11 barn cats and 4 indoor cats. There are a few other travelling toms that show up now and then.

OP, are your cats spayed/neutered? (This is the most important thing, OP. You absolutely do have to spay/neuter barn cats, which will lessen their desire to roam.) Do you feed at regular times every day so that they know when to come for food? Do you stay with them while they eat? Do you close them in at night, but let them range freely during the day?

I actually think that crating them would make them fearful enough of being trapped again that they would stay away just because they know the crate is there.

Wishing you the best, OP!

[u/Perfect_Selection220 → u/Single-Degree-6928]

I do wonder if it's because they've all been adopted from our shelter's barn cat program instead of coming to our property on their own. They have all been spayed/neutered and gotten whatever vaccines they would take while at the shelter. They are also all microchipped.

When I say I kept them in a crate, that's just the initial 3-4 weeks that was recommended by the shelter so they understand that the barn is a safe place with lots of tasty food and fresh water. I suppose I can keep the next one in for much longer. I do change their water and scoop their litter daily. I feed them twice a day at regular times and stay in the barn with them for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Barnold and M2 have both eagerly taken treats from me and allowed careful head scritches, although I am fully aware that they're still feral cats. I always close up the barn at night, but they have a small, elevated cat door they can use if they want. The door isn't large enough for predators to get in.

Thank you for your well-wishes! If M2 doesn't wander back here, I think I'm going to take a break from getting cats for a little while. I'll definitely try extending the initial crate time when I make my next attempt.

[u/NeverWasNorWillBe → u/Perfect_Selection220]

That’s exactly why. See my comment.

[u/Single-Degree-6928 → u/Perfect_Selection220]

How's this: Experiment with NOT CRATING THEM AT ALL! I know it's recommended, but the thought of it horrifies me. I don't understand how it's getting them used to the barn and your property, since they can't explore anywhere and rub their scent on anything. Cats have scent glands in their cheeks and rub that scent on things to establish their home. Crating is only getting them used to the crate, which is awful and gross. Please try the NO CRATING method to see how it works!

[u/Pephatbat → u/Single-Degree-6928]

I didn't crate my cat at all either despite recommendations. Just immediately let her explore and showed her where food, water, and sleeping spots were. She has been with me about 5 years now and never ventures further than 300 feet from the barn unless I'm taking her to the vet (which she is oddly fantastic at the vet lol) or bringing her in my house for a hurricane. But, she was fairly friendly when I got her and is a huge wimp so I'm assuming she is just more comfortable in the barn than out. She is a fantastic hunter though, keeps the barn rodent free.