How to Buy a Farm Cat or Barn Kitten in the United States

Is a farm cat a breed, and what are you actually buying?

No. Farm cat and barn cat describe how a cat lives, not its ancestry: most are random-bred shorthaired or longhaired cats born outdoors on a farm or ranch. A kitten that is picked up and played with every day can grow into a relaxed house cat, while an adult that has never been handled may never let you touch it. Sacramento County Animal Care Services, which places barn cats, notes that truly feral barn cats will probably not be touchable during their lifetime.

So start with the job. For a pet, look for a handled farm kitten or a friendly adult. For a mouser in a barn, stable or workshop, an unsocial adult that would be miserable indoors may be the right cat. You can browse farm cats for sale near you on PetzLover and save the search to get alerts when a new barn kitten is listed.

Should you buy a farm kitten or get a cat from a working-cat program?

Many shelters run barn cat or working cat programs for cats that cannot go back to where they came from. The University of Florida's shelter medicine program calls relocation a last resort and says cats in these programs receive spay or neuter surgery, ear-tipping, FVRCP and rabies vaccines, flea and parasite prevention, a microchip and an FeLV test. They are placed in pairs and confined in a large crate for 2 to 3 weeks; in a UF study, 85% of adopters were very or completely satisfied.

• King County, Washington: the volunteer-run Barn Cats R Us program places vet-checked, spayed or neutered barn cats at no charge.
• Sacramento County, California: barn and garden cats are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, flea-treated and microchipped, and must be confined for at least two weeks, up to four in rural areas.
• A private farm litter: you may get a friendlier kitten and see the mother, but expect little vet care and an unknown FeLV status.

What health checks should a farm cat have before you pay?

1. FeLV test. The Cornell Feline Health Center puts FeLV at 2 to 3% of cats in the US and Canada, and much higher in high-risk cats such as unsupervised outdoor cats and kittens of infected mothers.
2. FIV test. Cornell says FIV spreads mainly through bite wounds and that unneutered males with outdoor access are at greatest risk. A positive kitten under six months may carry its mother's antibodies and should be retested.
3. Rabies vaccine. Connecticut and Maine, for example, require cats to be vaccinated from 3 months of age and Texas by 4 months, while about ten states have no state-level rule (Animal Legal & Historical Center). Vaccinate a barn cat wherever you live.
4. FVRCP and FeLV vaccines. Cornell calls the FeLV vaccine core for kittens and recommends it for cats that may be exposed outdoors.
5. Deworming and flea treatment, plus spay or neuter and a microchip if not done.

What should you ask a farm cat seller?

1. How old is the cat, and was it born on this property?
2. Has it been handled every day, and can you pick it up in front of me?
3. Has it, or its mother, been tested for FeLV and FIV, and what vaccines has it had?
4. How many cats live on the farm, and are any sick, thin or sneezing?
5. Is it spayed or neutered, and is the mother being spayed?
6. Has it lived around dogs, livestock, children or traffic?

Send these by message first. A seller who answers openly and asks where the cat will live is a good sign; how to sell farm cats and barn kittens shows what a careful seller should have ready.

What does a barn cat need on your property?

• Shelter: a warm, dry spot that coyotes and loose dogs cannot reach, such as a raised box with bedding in a loft, garage or shed (King County).
• Food and water every day: Sacramento County suggests dry food in the morning and wet food at dusk during acclimation. Regular meals keep the cat at its home base.
• A confinement space where you can feed and scoop litter without the cat escaping; Sacramento County says a dog crate is too small.
• Vet care: rabies boosters, FeLV and FIV retests for cats at risk, and treatment for injuries.

How much does a farm cat really cost?

Because a farm cat is not a breed, a high price buys nothing extra; what matters is the vet work already done.

For a cat that will live as a pet, shelter adoption fees typically run about $50 to $175 (ASPCA Pet Insurance) and usually include much of this care. Free farm cats are common too; how to get a free farm cat safely covers the extra checks they need.

How do you bring a farm cat home safely?

1. Agree the time, place and price by message, and meet at the farm in daylight.
2. Bring a secure carrier. For a cat that cannot be handled, ask the seller to have it in a carrier or humane trap before you arrive; never grab it with bare hands.
3. Get the vet records, microchip number and a written receipt.
4. Keep the new cat away from your other cats until a vet has examined and tested it.
5. Confine a barn cat for the full 2 to 3 weeks with food, water, litter and a hiding box, then open the door and let it leave in its own time.

If you are placing cats from your own farm, read how to give away a farm cat without risk first.