Working Cat Program
Looking for a natural, eco-friendly solution for vermin control?
Animal Services Center of Mesilla Valley (ASCMV) can help you find the perfect working cat!
Each day, cats arrive at our facility. While many are suited for adoption into loving homes, some are more independent by nature. These cats may not thrive as traditional indoor pets —but they do excel as working cats in outdoor environments like barns, farms, stables, warehouses, and garages.
Benefits of a working cat:
- Natural hunters: Cats are instinctive predators that help reduce rodent populations protecting your property, crops, and supplies.
- Natural deterrent: The presence (and scent) of cats discourages rodents from settling in.
- Eco-friendly: Cats provide a green alternative to poisons and traps, which can harm local wildlife or contaminate the environment.
Simple Care Requirements:
- Daily food and clean water: Ensures they stay healthy and encourages them to remain on your property.
- Secure shelter: A weather-protected space like a barn, shed, or garage. In colder months, use straw for insulation — not blanks or towels, which can trap moisture and freeze.
- Initial acclimation period: Keep the cat in a safe, enclosed area (like a large dog crate, tack room, or workshop) so they can adjust to their new surroundings and recognize your property as home.
There are no fees associated with the working cat program, and these cats will be fully vetted prior to leaving our facility. This includes spaying/neutering, microchipping, vaccinating, and ear-tipping.
For more information or if you have any questions, contact our Community Cat Program Coordinator at (575) 202-5360.
Working Cat Program FAQ’s
What is the Working Cat Program?
The ASCMV Working Cat Program is designed to place cats that are not suitable for traditional indoor homes into alternative environments where they can thrive. These cats are typically independent, unsocialized, or semi-feral and do well in settings such as farms, barns, warehouses, or other properties where they can contribute by naturally controlling rodent populations.
How much does it cost to bring home a working cat?
There is no fee to bring home a working cat.
What should I do when I bring the cat(s) home?
When you bring your new cat(s) home, they should be confined to a secure, escape-proof space—such as a tack room, garage, coop, or extra-large dog crate—for 3 to 4 weeks. This critical acclimation period helps them adjust to their new environment and recognize it as home. During this time, provide fresh food and water daily, and maintain a clean litter box. After the confinement period, the cat(s) can be gradually given access to a larger area, with continued access to food, water, and appropriate shelter.
Are working cats spayed/neutered?
Yes. All working cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and ear tipped.
Do you have any friendly working cats?
Generally, the cats in this program are not socialized with people and are not suitable as household pets. They are independent and often prefer minimal human interaction. While some may become more comfortable over time, many will remain distant or fearful of people.
Do you have any working kittens?
The youngest cats available though the Working Cat Program are typically around 3 months old. The ASCMV does not place younger kittens as working cats, as they lack the size, knowledge, and skills needed to stay safe outdoors. Most cats in the program are young adults, between one and five years old, although occasionally we have both younger and older cats available for placement.