Pictured above are some of the cats which have been adopted through Operation Fancy Free, Inc.'s Working Cat Program. Photos include cats inside their enclosures upon arrival, as well as after being released into their new environments. OFF, Inc. has an adoption plan that works for both the cat and the caretaker. Read all about our program below!
WILL WORK FOR SHELTER, FOOD AND Pets
OFF, Inc. Program matches people with Working Cats
Operation Fancy Free, Inc., does not operate a foster program. The mission of Trap, Neuter or Spay, Vaccinate and Release is to return the cat to its “home,” fully vetted and sterilized.
However, there are times when cats are in imminent danger and/or an unsafe environment presents an issue regarding their return.
OFF, Inc. has developed a Working Cats Transition and Adoption Program which allows the relocation of cats in imminent danger to transition to a new “home” (often barns, warehouses, garages, businesses) with the permission of, and assistance from, the property owner/caretaker.
The cats receive food and shelter and provide rodent control at their new residence.
OFF, Inc. has a process and program in place to give these cats, and their new owners, the best chance at a successful transition. This program was developed utilizing trial and error, as well as advice from Alley Cat Allies, a group known around the world for being a champion of the humane treatment of cats, and the programs which assist in that mission.
OFF, Inc. Founder Kathy Stone explained the new caretaker must ensure the cats are contained within their new environment for 30-60 days, possibly less, if that caretaker spends time with the cats. By securing the cats, it allows them to acclimate to their new home and prevents them from escaping into an environment they know nothing about – this presents countless hazards and defeats the purpose of saving them from the dangers of their previous situation.
Though cats are resilient, they are also creatures of habit and routine – basically, like people, they don’t know what they don’t know. Dumping a cat into a new environment is often a disaster for the animal. For example, could you survive being dumped, or lost, in a city you knew nothing about? With no resources? No food? No water? No money or phone? No idea where you are? In short, give the cats time to be shown what they don’t know in their new environment to make the relocation successful.
Stone reflected on past examples of successful transitions within the program.
In 2021, it appeared someone had dumped two adult Tortie females and seven kittens at a business in Millwood, W.Va.
“Both moms were friendly. Kittens too,” Stone said. “Well, it’s easy to adopt kittens but very hard to adopt adult cats. Luckily, we had a prior foster mom in Kenna with a barn who had lost her barn cat. She took both the moms, most likely sisters, to her barn.”
Though these cats were friendly, it appeared they had never been around horses which was something presumably new in their environment. Stone loaned the new caretaker a large crate to contain the cats which was placed in the cats' new safe space (the barn) for about a week – a week where Daisy and Delilah (the Tortie sisters) warmed up to their new humans quickly.
“Horses were a different matter,” Stone joked. “But that turned out okay also. I get updates on them from time to time.”
Also in 2022, an OFF, Inc. supporter rescued four cats from an elderly neighbor. OFF, Inc. vetted the cats and the supporter built them an outside kennel for shelter. Due to the fact they were semi-feral cats, and the supporter was already the caretaker of several other felines, the journey to find these four a barn was underway.
After listing the cats on Petfinder as a pair of working cats, an application for the working cats program was received. The new home was inspected and the application approved.
Stone noted, in this case, the new caretaker refurbished a stall in her barn, covered the top with chicken wire per OFF, Inc.'s request, and “prepped it perfectly.”
The cats were moved into the barn and a minimum of 45 days was requested to give the situation the best chance at succeeding.
“We should get an update soon,” Stone said.
A week after the first application, another application arrived for the remaining two cats to get their chance at a barn as well. All four cats were eventually placed.
“Our application process is important to make sure that the barn owner is actually willing to do what it takes,” Stone said.
So, who benefits from this program?
“First, the cats…they have a home, shelter, daily food,” Stone said, noting OFF, Inc. volunteers also benefit. “We don’t have to worry about cats in danger.”
Stone also added caretakers benefit because, “They get free rodent control, plus, the joy of rescuing an animal in need.”
Of course, the mice, chipmunks, lizards and squirrels may not care for the arrangement.
Find OFF, Inc.’s application for the Working Cats Transition and Adoption Program here.
For additional questions, email us at [email protected] or call 1-304-531-8710.
For more helpful hints and advice regarding the relocation of cats, check out the website for Alley Cat Allies.
However, there are times when cats are in imminent danger and/or an unsafe environment presents an issue regarding their return.
OFF, Inc. has developed a Working Cats Transition and Adoption Program which allows the relocation of cats in imminent danger to transition to a new “home” (often barns, warehouses, garages, businesses) with the permission of, and assistance from, the property owner/caretaker.
The cats receive food and shelter and provide rodent control at their new residence.
OFF, Inc. has a process and program in place to give these cats, and their new owners, the best chance at a successful transition. This program was developed utilizing trial and error, as well as advice from Alley Cat Allies, a group known around the world for being a champion of the humane treatment of cats, and the programs which assist in that mission.
OFF, Inc. Founder Kathy Stone explained the new caretaker must ensure the cats are contained within their new environment for 30-60 days, possibly less, if that caretaker spends time with the cats. By securing the cats, it allows them to acclimate to their new home and prevents them from escaping into an environment they know nothing about – this presents countless hazards and defeats the purpose of saving them from the dangers of their previous situation.
Though cats are resilient, they are also creatures of habit and routine – basically, like people, they don’t know what they don’t know. Dumping a cat into a new environment is often a disaster for the animal. For example, could you survive being dumped, or lost, in a city you knew nothing about? With no resources? No food? No water? No money or phone? No idea where you are? In short, give the cats time to be shown what they don’t know in their new environment to make the relocation successful.
Stone reflected on past examples of successful transitions within the program.
In 2021, it appeared someone had dumped two adult Tortie females and seven kittens at a business in Millwood, W.Va.
“Both moms were friendly. Kittens too,” Stone said. “Well, it’s easy to adopt kittens but very hard to adopt adult cats. Luckily, we had a prior foster mom in Kenna with a barn who had lost her barn cat. She took both the moms, most likely sisters, to her barn.”
Though these cats were friendly, it appeared they had never been around horses which was something presumably new in their environment. Stone loaned the new caretaker a large crate to contain the cats which was placed in the cats' new safe space (the barn) for about a week – a week where Daisy and Delilah (the Tortie sisters) warmed up to their new humans quickly.
“Horses were a different matter,” Stone joked. “But that turned out okay also. I get updates on them from time to time.”
Also in 2022, an OFF, Inc. supporter rescued four cats from an elderly neighbor. OFF, Inc. vetted the cats and the supporter built them an outside kennel for shelter. Due to the fact they were semi-feral cats, and the supporter was already the caretaker of several other felines, the journey to find these four a barn was underway.
After listing the cats on Petfinder as a pair of working cats, an application for the working cats program was received. The new home was inspected and the application approved.
Stone noted, in this case, the new caretaker refurbished a stall in her barn, covered the top with chicken wire per OFF, Inc.'s request, and “prepped it perfectly.”
The cats were moved into the barn and a minimum of 45 days was requested to give the situation the best chance at succeeding.
“We should get an update soon,” Stone said.
A week after the first application, another application arrived for the remaining two cats to get their chance at a barn as well. All four cats were eventually placed.
“Our application process is important to make sure that the barn owner is actually willing to do what it takes,” Stone said.
So, who benefits from this program?
“First, the cats…they have a home, shelter, daily food,” Stone said, noting OFF, Inc. volunteers also benefit. “We don’t have to worry about cats in danger.”
Stone also added caretakers benefit because, “They get free rodent control, plus, the joy of rescuing an animal in need.”
Of course, the mice, chipmunks, lizards and squirrels may not care for the arrangement.
Find OFF, Inc.’s application for the Working Cats Transition and Adoption Program here.
For additional questions, email us at [email protected] or call 1-304-531-8710.
For more helpful hints and advice regarding the relocation of cats, check out the website for Alley Cat Allies.
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