Feral Cat Friends

11/23/2025

FCF's mission isn't rehoming or relocation, it's Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). But that doesn't mean we don't get asked about rehoming. And we want to provide good guidance for the good of the cats.

You just want a good home for your cat or kitten. But, there are people with ill intentions looking for owners just like you who are desperate to find a new home for their kitties. You owe it to these pets to do a little research before handing over them over to a stranger.

🔺 Be sure the cat is spayed or neutered and vaccinated. I know this is easier said than done, but it's THE MOST IMPORTANT THING for them. No matter where they end up in the future, they won't be reproducing. They won't get testicular or ovarian cancer. They go through heat cycles or yowling and spraying everywhere. It just needs to be done. Make it happen.

🔺 Charge a rehoming fee. It can be small. But a rehoming fee can deter the wrong kinds of people. You want a potential adopter who is going to put a little thought into this lifelong commitment, not someone who is going to grab a kitten on whim and stick him outside once the newness wears off. The fee can even be waived later if you feel the adopter is the right adopter for you.

🔺 Ask about living arrangements, they matter! The person interested in your pet may rent. Does their rental agreement allow pets? Will they have to pay an extra fee to add a pet and are they prepared to pay that fee? It is perfectly reasonable to ask to see a copy of the lease agreement. We have seen many instances where someone thinks they can sneak a cat in. Once the landlord finds out, that cat is usually put outside or rehomed yet again.

🔺 Ask about other pets in the home. Perhaps a senior cat should not be paired with an energetic kitten. Maybe it's fine. You need to be aware of the behaviors you're placing together to hopefully have a smooth transition and not a cat they need to return shortly after adoption.

These are just the high points, but there are lots of other things you could choose to do to help ensure the safety of your pet: Can they currently afford a pet? Can they afford an unforeseen emergency vet visit? Will the cat be indoors or outdoors? How do they plan to acclimate the new cat with their other animals and what is the plan if it doesn't go well? Request to visit for a home check. Check vet references. Etc., etc., etc.

Safe rehoming is possible if the cat is already vetted and you ask the right questions! Otherwise, ask for guidance from a shelter or rescue.

11/14/2025

How can this admin fully convey the hard work the volunteers do every week for community cats? On Monday of this week alone, our founder and another volunteer took in 21 cats for spay/neuter and vaccinations. That is allot of cats in one day! And allot of cats not reproducing or getting sick from being intact. And another cat that had already been TNR'd needed medical care, which meant extra time and money spent at a vet clinic. FCF does not receive funding from any municipality or other source besides the occasional grant or vouchers and our own fund raising, a large majority of which comes via more hard work operating a concession stand at IU football games. Every time someone asks for our help and asks, "What is the charge?" we say, "There is no charge for our services." We know everyone is feeling pinched right now, but if you can spare even a few dollars for FCF, it will go right back into our TNR work for the cats.

11/12/2025

If you or someone you know needs pet food assistance, this is a local resource.

🐾 No pet should go hungry. No one should have to choose between feeding themselves or their pets.

📦 The MCHA Emergency Pet Food & Supply Pantry is here for families in our community who are struggling. Our shelves helped distribute more than 28,000 pounds (or 14 tons) of pet food in 2024— keeping pets fed, loved, and home where they belong. 💚 💙

We’ve seen a significant increase in need this year. Whether it's food or urgently needed pet supplies, our pantry's mission is to support families experiencing temporary financial difficulties while ensuring no pet goes hungry. By keeping pets with their families and out of the region’s shelters, we’re helping build a community where every pet is valued, cared for, and safe.

📦 Need assistance or want to learn more?
Find program details, hours, and how to apply at monroehumane.org/pantry

11/10/2025

This is very important and helpful information to keep handy.

11/09/2025

Yes, those with food needs will need help feeding their pets.

With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters

11/01/2025

Do you oversee a colony of outside cats? This workshop might be very helpful. Its only $10 and its online, and if you can't attend on the stated date and time, you can watch it later if you register.

Join expert instructors to master TNR and colony management. Learn how to trap, communicate with neighbors, manage colonies, and provide shelter. Includes real-life videos, handouts, certificate of attendance, and access to a dedicated networking group.

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween! 🎃🐈‍⬛

10/29/2025

🐱 National Cat Day Tip: Spay & neuter! Healthy cats + fewer homeless kittens = happy communities. Celebrate your kitty and make a difference today! 💛

10/27/2025

It’s National Black Cat Day! From the panther seeds to the full size panthers, show your love 🖤 of black cats by sharing photos of your panthers.

10/20/2025

Keep pet cats safe by keeping them inside.

10/18/2025

This is a sentiment that our founder, who has operated FCF for well over 20 years, would agree with. It explains very well why we will tell folks 99% of the time that we don’t relocate cats.

🐾 Barn Homes Aren’t Always Happy Endings for Cats 🐾

Lately, it feels like putting cats in barn homes has become the new “solution” when people decide it’s better than TNR. It can sound like a kind, responsible choice- but for the cat, it often isn’t.

In my 20+ years of doing rescue and TNR, I can count on one hand the situations where a cat truly could not, under any safe or ethical circumstance, return to its original home.

🔹 Is the cat’s original site always ideal? No.
But it’s their home. It’s where they know the hiding spots, the predators to avoid, the food and water sources, and the other cats in the area. Cats are territorial- familiarity is what keeps them safe.

📊 What we know about relocation:
• A large percentage of relocated cats don’t stay at their new site, even with proper acclimation.
• Many disappear within weeks despite being given food, shelter, and careful introductions.
• Even highly experienced rescuers who do everything “right” see heartbreaking results.

One of my mentors used to run barn relocation classes and oversaw many placements. She set them up with large safe spaces, proper slow-release periods, and great follow-up. And still, the number of cats who didn’t stick around was devastating. She eventually stopped, because even with the best methods, too many cats were lost.

✨ A Real-Life Example ✨
The cats in this photo were originally being considered for a “better” barn placement. But after talking with their feeder and explaining why TNR would be best for them, the plan changed. They were all trapped, neutered, and returned to the only home they’d ever known.

They know the area, they know how to stay safe, and best of all- they get to stay together, because they love one another. 💕

💡 Of course, there are times when relocation is the only safe and humane option- whether due to demolition, extreme danger, or truly unlivable conditions. And when that’s the case, it’s understandable. But too often, people are quick to make that decision for the cat.

👉 Relocation should be the last resort, not the default.
👉 A barn placement may look like a happy ending to us, but to the cat, it can mean losing everything familiar.
👉 More often than not, the best outcome is letting them stay where they already know how to survive.

So the next time you see a post about a cat “needing a barn home,” please remember: it may not be the happy ending it sounds like. For most cats, the real happy ending is going back home. 🐾

10/16/2025

National Feral Cat Day is celebrated annually on October 16 to raise awareness for feral cats, also known as community cats, and promote humane solutions like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to manage their populations. Founded by Alley Cat Allies, a leading advocacy organization, the day encourages cat lovers and community groups to take action through education, spay/neuter clinics, adoption events, and political advocacy. In 2019, National Feral Cat Day was expanded to Global Cat Day to reflect the worldwide scope of the effort to protect and improve the lives of all cats, though the October 16 date remains.