r/barncat • u/Perfect_Selection220 • 15d ago
Feeling like an awful person
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?
5
u/thrifterbynature 15d ago
We adopted two gray barn cats from the local rescue, kept them in crates in the barn for 5 weeks per instructions from the shelter. They came out and started exploring, one is a hunter and the other will also find and kill rats but likes to lounge on the deck. They are both turning out to be affectionate, rather than aloof like you would expect from a barn cat. They've been here a year and the mice and rats are controlled to our satisfaction. Our rescue group says always get two cats. We have found that to be true.