Working cat program: What’s it all about?

At the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, we strive to find each and every animal that comes into our animal centres, a safe and loving home. Sometimes community cats end up in our centres and cannot be returned to their original colony site, for various reasons. Once these cats are deemed “unadoptable”, due to their lack of socialization, there are limited options for them. The Ontario SPCA believes in finding an alternative home for these cats, by giving them “jobs” as working cats!

These cats are healthy, sterilized, vaccinated, microchipped, ear tipped and in need of a new, non-traditional home environment. Some examples of these new homes we are looking for could include barns, stables, auto repair shops, woodworking shops, wineries, breweries, greenhouses/nurseries/garden centres, churches, storage facilities/warehouses. Working cats are not suited to be your typical indoor pets and, as unsocialized animals, they have no desire to be lap cats. These are working cats, former street cats who are used to outdoor life, prefer minimal to no human contact, and who will happily tend to any mouse, mole or vermin problems for the small cost of a bowl of cat food and water set out daily, as needed veterinary care and shelter in a garage, barn etc.

And because we spay/neuter these cats before they leave the Ontario SPCA, adopters never need to worry about endless litters of kittens!

Interested in adopting a working cat? Read the FAQ on our website and apply to adopt at the bottom of this page!

Cassandra is an employee of the Ontario SPCA Provincial Education and Animal Centre. When she heard of a cat at the centre who needed a special home that would allow him to work, she offered her barn as a resource.

Listen to our podcast or watch the video to learn all about the program, and how it’s helping cats like Jax!