winter shelter
- Hercules Huskee styrofoam cooler (available at Kmart) is plenty large ... I use it turned upside down so water doesn't leak down ( I also tape the lid edge all around to keep out rain and wind), and cut a hole in a short side. Place straw inside for extra comfort (if get wet) and warmth (but may not be absolutely necessary since so well insulated).
- —Guest Howard
nscholefield@hotmail.com
- I have been taking care of a cat that showed up on our back door step, so skinny you could see his ribs through his fur, he will come in the house for food, only with the sliding door open, then leave. We built him a great shelter,but last week, did not know he was in there & opened it up to check on the straw, he took off, came back to eat 1 day later, but will not go back in the shelter,he climbs through snow banks and now this week the temperature will only be -19 at best, how do I get him to go back in the warm shelter by our door?Put lots more straw and catnip and even treats, but he won't stay there anymore. Have I screwed up his comfy outdoor home forever?- Nancy S
- —nscholefield
Looking after my 3 ferals
- Due to a neighbour not allowing us to get involved with her find of a mummy cat that had just had 4 kittens, we now have 3 living outside. We were able to get them all fixed and 2 were caught early to get rehomed. The plan was to get all 4 rehomed and us keep mum, however only 2 were placed. We had them at the end of our garden but noticed they wanted to be near the house especially for food. We brought them a large dog house and insulated it and placed it right near our home for winter. They love it! They are warm and well fed, enjoying a nice bowl of warm milk after each meal to wash it down with. We would love to have them in however have an old spitfire of a cat that would not be keen. Also have a puppy that they like as well. We have named them, Puss, Badger and Foxy and they enjoy us as much as we do them. We have built their confidence up so they know that they are well fed and looked after, warm and more importantly safe with us. We love them
- —Anne5359
Very cold
- It's very interesting reading other people's stories, awesome to know other people care enough about God's beautiful creatures to take action.Right now in New York it is about twenty five degrees and I'm so concerned for our outdoor stray cat Twix. Although we cannot touch her she allows us to sit and watch her. She is so cute. We feed her every morning on the deck. My fear is the cold winter and what to do. During about twelve to three in the day the sun shines on part of the yard and she goes their and is fine. But when it is morning and the worst night time I'm so scared for her but my mom assures me she'll be okay. Cats are smarter than us and will find shelter. Still we left for her a new wool blanket in the garage for her, the garage has a hole she goes in sometimes. Also I put out my sweater on the bench outside and caught her curling in it today which made me so happy. All we can keep doing is loving, feeding, and trying to help them stay warm anyway we can. Buying more blanket
- —Guest Tray Tray
About my ferals
- I have anumber of ferals and domestic cats,I used to have a big warm shed with a heater in the yard for them about 10 would sleep init it lasted for about 4 years,then i had to pull it down, they dident know what the hell was going on with there shelter. I eventually got them used to staying in and there fine some are still timid and dont let you stroke them, but i hop there happy here i often think have i done the right thing.Just caught 2 kittens months ago which i have kept they were about 3 months old wen i caught the male is so lovng his sister is the shy one but she is getting there, then the mother got pregnant again before i could catch her she had 2 more kitens i caught one kitten got her rehomed, the mum i have just had spayed and is now letting me stroke her and her female friend is spayed there in a nice warm bathroom in a cage but i dont wanna release them back in the wild as its on the docks still trying to get the other kitten and another cat just dont know what to do
- —Guest christine
Caring for feral cats!
- I feed daily and care for about 18 Feral cats for about two years. They all have been neutered. They live on Long Island in New York. Tonight it is snowing and cold. On top of the cold, it has rained often this past week. I get double cardboard boxes from Costco, cover them with plastic. Line them with newspaper, put in hay. I put plastic over the entrance, then cut it in strips, so they can enter, but the opening is still covered. I also put a few boxes together and staple a long sheet of plastic across the boxes to keep the openings dry. It hurts to know that they are out there in the cold. Next week the nights will be 12 degrees. It is so sad. These poor creatures don't deserve what happened to them.
- —Guest Barbara
feral cats
- I have 5 feral cats in my home that are my family, also there is about 20 feral cats outside, but they are not mine. I have turned the crawl space under the back of my home into a shelter for the feral cats. I have a lot of straw under there, the straw works the best for cats to stay warm in the winter. They can move it around to make a bed for themselves. I can crawl under there on my hands an knees, I have a water dish with straw around it to help keep it from freezing, also there is a food dish. It stays warm under there and protects them from everything, the opening is big enough for them to get in. It's a board slid over the opening of the crawl space, they are protected from the wind/ snow/ rain/ and the cold, it's a safe haven for them. The most ferals I've had in my home was 20, I have a live trap I use to get them fixed an relocate them to a farm. I live in the city an feral cats are destroyed here, with me they get a 2nd chance to live, been doing this for 15 yrs.I LOVE CAT
- —heinzes57
ferel cats how to tame her
- I love reading about all the lovely people here that help ferel cats I have 2 babies now a male who sleeps now finally in my studio he has his own cat flap and sofa and food so she is all good for winter. the little girl came to me only 2 months ago she looks small and young, she tries to be with my older female cat maybe she thinks its a mother figure sinds she is so young herself, I have seen her play in the bush, she cmes twice a day for food and waits under my partners motorbike where its save and I have put a sheepskin there for her. she does not seem to like the males coming to close or me but she does not mind me sitting a few meters away to talk to her. I want to keep her warm in winter to plus hope I can tame her enough to keep her or give her a new home, my cat is 18 and she does not like other cats in the house she is sick so its fair enough. we live next to bush in new zealand so the cats come and go from the bush into our garden. be happy to hear from cat lovers with advic
- —Guest escha
how I keep a cat warm from outside
- Someone abandoned a cat and I try to keepit warm. There are night sit does go inside and some night not Is there a reason? I keep it warm and even put cat nip in it. I just don't understand her.
- —Guest lisa
Igloos and heated rugs
- I have several outdoor cats who appear to have been spayed/neutered but will not come inside. I purchased a couple of igloos with outdoor heated rugs inside from amazon. They love those. They keep them cool in summer and warm in winter. I have those in an open back patio that has a roof over the patio area. That with regular feedings and extra vitamins in the food, we have some of the healthiest strays I've ever seen. There was one who was obviously abandoned and did not appear to be as equipped as the other cats in finding food and taking care of herself. We coaxed her in our back sun room (separate from our indoor cats), had her checked out, vaccinated, dewormed and flea dipped. Now she is a happy member of our family. I would take them all in, however, they appear to be quite happy outdoors. Brewers yeast in the food will help keep them flea-free too!
- —Guest linnybug719
feral cats in winter
- Be sure to use straw not hay for insulating warmth. Straw will dry .Hay will mat and stay wet.I use a small dog house with an extra entrance cut out. Ialso put a solar pool over house to cut down the effects of wind.Best wishes to all who help feral cats. Also see if there is a spay neuter release program such as Pawswatch in your area.
- —Guest mary
Feral cat houses
- Contact your local rescue, they make styrofoam houses with front flaps, and straw never used blankets they get wet and cold. I got my feral cat house for free from a local rescue.
- —Guest Runt
Ferals
- Feral cats should NOT be taken to any shelter, if they cannot re home them, they put them to sleep and all of the shelters are so over full right now only kittens get re homed.
- —Guest Runt
Keep cats warm,hay and straw.
- Dear fallow readers: I have two cats inside (rescued) cats and the third one is out side I have tried to give her a place in my garage but she won't go because other cats chase her off. I know dogs go away to die, One time I worked for a farmer who loved his dog. The one day the dog as old as he was played like a pup. They let him stay out later then normal and we never found him again ( I was told to keep my eyes open just in case) I would seen it or it's remains. I never did, this was in early fall and I worked for him till the season was done, and so was my job. This dog was their kid, as the owners where 70 years old. So the story goes that animals care enough for their humans that they will go away to die. Maybe it's to spare the pain for the human (who knows) but I have jeard of this more then once.
- —Guest Edwin
Feral/Stray Advice
- I keep my feral fur-kid warm with an outdoor cat house specifically made to keep him warm during the colder months. It's insulated and has straw plus a purr pad on the inside to trap his body heat. A warning about hay - don't use it!! Hay retains water. If your fur-kid is wet when they crawl into their outside home, the hay will absorb and retain that water. Straw is much better and doesn't absorb water. The cat house I have is raised just a few inches off of the ground with small holes in the bottom to drain any water that might end up in there with him. I'm currently debating purchasing an outdoor heating pad to stick into his house, which can be found on a site like Amazon.com (where I also purchased his outside home). He loves his little house!
- —Guest MoonDog
