WG...sorry, we haven't had a cat in 30 years because DH is allergic. Very exciting for you. Our DS actually was given a cat about 4 months ago and she turned out to be pregnant, so now he has 5 cats and a dog. He absolutely loves them and is turning out to be a very good caregiver. They have already had their shots and have been altered and they are indoor cats. He sends us photos all the time and I am so happy they bring him such pleasure.

So about all I can say is to really enjoy them! Hopefully, someone who has cats can give you better input.

:-)
pm2

WG,
This is a fascinating program I am thrilled the mspca has a plan for feral cats other than extinction. This summer when I had my barn rat problem in the midst of my initial panic I borrowed my daughters NYC apartment kitty. When he arrived I realised most of the rats I saw were not much smaller than he was. I should mention we also have a large goofy lab so I began the cats introduction by letting him become accustom to our second floor where the dog was trained from day one was off limits. It took Ollie the cat longer than we thought it would (and whispered terms like sissy behind his back)to gather the courage and come down stairs. From day one I repeated the same calming tone when I spoke to him. His biggest hurdle was confronting the large goofy dog and again in this situation we let Ollie (the cat) tell us when he was ready. After 3-4 weeks when I caught him drinking out of the dogs dish and sleeping on the dogs bed (while he was outside) I figured he was right at home. In terms of the out doors he acclimated almost immediately and would spend a few hours enjoying the great outdoors before he came inside. Again I used the same calming tone and repeated the same words (his name, ect)so he knew that sound meant safe. Sadly for Joe and I, Lark came home one weekend to bring Ollie back to the big city with her, we put on brave smiles but honestly we were crushed. However he is coming for a visit over Thanksgiving...I hope he remembers us. I know I must seem like a cat nut but I suspect we might be swapping cat stories before too long. Again my advise patience and let them learn your calming tone of voice means safety. kt

WG,
I work in the pet animal business and currently have 5 cats, each of whom has a previous story of rejection and health problems. In my experience, buying cat food in bulk is not a good idea. I had a large tupperware container that I would empty a 40# bag of food into and even with 5 cats eating like pigs, the food was often moldy on the bottom of the tupperware at the end. So now I just purchase 10-20# bags and replace frequently. In regard to brands, I recommend using some of the premium products such as Science Diet, Wellness, Iams, Eukanuba, Nutro, etc.
In regards to medication, with outdoor cats it is especially important to protect the cats against heartworm disease/fleas/and intestinal parasites. The easiest way to achieve this is with a topical product called revolution (the generic drug is selamectin). This product should be applied monthly between the shoulder blades.
Lastly routine exams at your veterinarian with AAFP (american association of feline practition)recommended vaccine protocols should be performed, And remember, in MA, it it is the owners responsibility to uphold the law and make sure your cats are up-to-date on rabies vaccines.
Please dont hesitate to ask any animal questions, even if it is off-topic from gardening.
Oh yeah, grow some catnip--sunshineboy

4 of my boys in the sunroom

Thanks for the encouragement. I took a trip to Agway today and stocked up on supplies. For the meds, I have to find a type that is mixed into their food since they are ferral and will not allow contact with me, at least not yet. Their current caregiver is reporting that they are just circling the cage and refusing to be trapped so it might be a while before I get them here.

Love the photo, they all look so happy!

WG,
There are two products (heartgard and interceptor) which are oral heartworm preventatives. And there are several types of oral deworming medication--the broadest spectrum would be fenbendazole, which you can get over the counter without a prescription.
Best of luck--sunshineboy

Sunshineboy, that is an adorable picture! 4 adult cats napping so close together like that is quite the sight.

WG, that is very exciting. I don't have much advice to add, and I hope your cats adjust well to their new home (once they get there). Three outdoor males - those voles aren't going to stand a chance! :)

I am a cat lover and owner for 20-odd years, and have 2 spayed, vaccinated females, both rescued as kittens. One is strictly indoors, the other has limited outdoor privileges. SHe usually goes outside for a few hours a day in nice weather, but is a "fair-weather" cat so she rarely goes out in the winter. She is a good huntress and eats most of what she catches, so I worm her every fall when her hunting activities wind down. Not sure if I should be doing it more frequently??

Somewhere I read that male cats wander in much larger territories than female cats, which tend to stay closer to home. This would hold true in my experience. My little female rarely wanders beyond the boundaries of the property, but I had a male for 19 years who was obsessed with prowling the neighborhood, even on the coldest winter nights (and managed to beat the odds and live a long life despite his outdoor activities). I must confess I worried SICK about that cat for over 18 years, but he died of old age on the kitchen floor. Cars and dogs/coyotes are amongst their greatest outdoor hazards. Hopefully your cats will have some street smarts!

Are your new cats going to live in the barn? They will probably need an adjustment period in the barn to get used to their new home. How will they get in and out of the barn? My sister has 3 large Coon brothers who are indoor/outdoor and she has a cat door in her garage and they go in and out of the house at their choosing.

Hi terrene!

Yes they will live in the barn. No worries about a way in and out. There are plenty of holes and none big enough for a predator, so we are all set. The barn is over 100 years old!

I can't wait for them to come and start working! I'll post photos when I can.