Cat standing on a barrel in a distillery while a person standing behind them looks on

Save the life of an independent cat

Working cats (sometimes called barn cats) are cats who prefer to live on their own rather than inside a home, and they’re ideal residents for stables, barns, backyards, breweries and warehouses. 

When community cats — cats who live outdoors and are cared for by community members — are unable to be returned to their previous outdoor home and aren't good candidates for traditional adoption programs, they might become what we lovingly call "working cats."  

Working cats are healthy, independent cats who act as natural pest deterrents for businesses and other properties. These cats are often killed in shelters simply because they’re unable to be adopted into homes, but working cat programs can save their lives. 

When you welcome working cats from Best Friends in Utah into your barn or business, you’ll not only be providing a lifesaving second chance, you’ll be freeing up space in shelters for other pets looking for homes.    

 

Working cats thrive in breweries, garages and warehouses — anywhere rodents like to roam. 

A win for cats and humans alike 

The working cat program gives independent cats the space they need to roam. Customers and business owners get to enjoy the company of the cats every now and then, too. 

Even better than saving one life? You’ll be helping local shelters by making space for other animals waiting for a home of their own. 

What to expect with a working cat 

In return for providing basic care, you’ll be gaining a natural deterrent for rodents and protection for your enclosed property. 

Caring for working cats is easy. Once they are acclimated to their new space, you can let them roam freely and independently. As a caregiver for a working cat, you provide food and water daily, shelter, and veterinary care. 

While some working cats are friendly with people, many are not entirely comfortable with human interaction, though they can be happy living close to them. 

Fees are waived for these cats, and are available to people with a safe, suitable place for the animals to live. All cats placed through the working cats program are healthy, vaccinated, and sterilized. 

I Want a Working Cat
Person feeding a cat in a barn

Happily ever afters

Heartwarming stories of cats who found their callings in Salt Lake City area barns and businesses. 

Person sitting with a cat in a Salt Lake City distillery

Rescued cat scores a sweet job in a Salt Lake City distillery

Cat adopted from Best Friends is now working at Beehive Distilling in Salt Lake City, Utah, as a "working cat" to deter rodents.
Gimlet's story
Krueger the cat relaxing on a box in a warehouse

A cat who works from home

Krueger calls True Leaf Seed Company his home, and he has worked wonders for employee morale, just by being himself.
See Krueger at work
Willy and Doom the cats in the office of Simple Performance auto shop

Two cats keep this auto shop in top notch shape

Willy and Doom found their place at Simple Performance, where they keep the shop in tuned and at peak performance.
Meet Willy and Doom
Line drawing of person with cat

More ways to help cats in Salt Lake City

Every action you take for homeless pets helps to save their lives and gets the country closer to no-kill; we’ll show you how.

Person sitting with a dog and a kitten on a bed

Foster a pet

Welcoming a furry houseguest into your home, even for just a few nights, helps that pet while freeing up space in the shelter to save more lives.
The fun of fostering
Smiling person holding a small dog while sitting in a yard next to a house

Adopt a pet

When you adopt a cat or dog from a rescue group or animal shelter near you (instead of buying one from a puppy mill or breeder), you’re making a lifesaving difference for a loving and grateful animal.
Find adoptable cats and dogs near you
Smiling person petting a tiny kitten on their shoulder

Volunteer in Salt Lake City

Whatever your experience or interests, there are countless ways to volunteer your time for pets in need here in Salt Lake City.
Getting started as a volunteer
Smiling people relaxing with a dog between them on a couch

Support change for homeless pets in Utah

Use your voice to advocate for homeless pets in Utah so that every cat and dog can safely find their way out of shelters.
I want to help

You can help a Utah shelter or animal rescue group

Best Friends Network Partners are made up of thousands of public and private animal shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups, all working to save the lives of dogs and cats here in Utah and across the country.

Each and every one of our network partners needs caring people like you to adopt, foster, donate, volunteer, and advocate to help save the lives of pets where you live.

Find an animal shelter or rescue group near you today: 

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About Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Society is working to save the lives of cats and dogs all across the country, giving pets second chances and happy homes.

As recently as 2016, 2 million cats and dogs were killed in shelters in this country simply because shelters didn't have the community support or the resources to save their lives. That number is now less than 415,000 per year, but there’s still work to do to ensure a bright future for every dog and cat in America.  

Best Friends operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and is committed to saving the lives of homeless pets by working with shelters and passionate people like you. We’re sharing our resources and what we know to help shelters around the country achieve no-kill in their communities. 

Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill in 2025.