social

Dealing With Stray Cats


Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 157 Feedbacks
October 25, 2020

Hi again, people! I've kind of been donated a cat. I've been feeding him for the past year. His owners live on my street,but he won't go home. The lady asked me today if I'd look after him as they are moving houses and he is an "outside cat" and refuses to be caught. I said I can't have him in as the dogs would go potty. He wouldn't come in anyway, I would have loved it if he would. She said that's fine if you could just watch him. I said I wouldn't see him go hungry,and she seemed happy with that.

Advertisement

Now I need ideas. I will have to make him a windproof bed in my entry for over winter. Any ideas? Wood might be best, my entry is under cover but the wind howls through. I will find a way but I just wondered if you clever people have any ideas? I have a cat too,as well as the dogs. Thanks for any ideas. xxx

Answers

October 25, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

Dear Colliepam, in response to your question re: sheltering your "donated" cat, this was our experience with a feral cat that we had begun feeding. (Once you feed them they're yours, of course!!). We have an unheated and screened porch which has a flap in the bottom portion of the door, and he would use that entry to come and go. We placed a number of blankets and old quilts on a chair and he would burrow under them at night.

Advertisement

Although wind and snow would blow through the porch we kept his bed close to the side of the house where he would be completely out of the elements. He stayed with us for about two years and seemed to thrive although we never could domesticate him. As long as they can burrow, and with their fur coats they seem to manage to keep warm I hope this helps you somewhat.

 

Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 425 Answers
October 25, 20201 found this helpful
Best Answer

Colliepam,
If you or a friend are handy with simple tools, you could build a wood house for the cat, where the entrance door comes in to an L-shaped alcove, before going into the sleeping area. Line the sleep area with an old blanket or some thick towels. To help block the wind from getting to the inside, screw/nail/staple a piece of heavy canvas or use a piece of carpeting over the outside opening as a wind-break. If a wooden structure is more than you can make, you could use a sturdy cardboard box that is big enough to glue or sew to the inside walls and floor, a thick towel, quilt batting, or piece of carpet--anything for insulation.

Advertisement

Also put a flap of something over the entrance into the box. then put the whole thing inside a big plastic tote with the entrance to the box pointed toward an end of the tote's inside...that way there is no direct wind entrance and the box will stay dry. Good luck, and thank you for being a kind soul to care for a feral stray. With time and patience, it may come to accept your presence and touch.

 
October 25, 20201 found this helpful
Best Answer

Bless your heart for helping out. There are several places on the internet that can give you suggestions for making a winter home for outdoor cats. Many organizations that help feed feral colonies have good experience with this. We had an outdoor stray cat that adopted us and we had to make him this sort of shelter. We used a styrofoam box with a fitted lid, the type that is used to ship food that needs to be kept cold, like meats, because they are made to be very well insulated. We lined it with blankets and some old wool sweaters that I was going to donate anyway.We cut a small opening in the side but not down too low so snow or water couldn't leak in.

Advertisement

We put it under the overhang by our back door on top of a piece of scrap wood elevated by two concrete blocks so it would never be sitting directly in water. I put a small plastic box in the corner that always had a bowl of water and food in there. On really cold nights I would put a plastic bottle of hot water all wrapped up in a towel under his blanket for extra warmth. We kept the fitted lid on the box unless we were putting things in or taking them out. He used that box all during the cold season and it was his home for a couple of years until the end of his life.

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
October 25, 20201 found this helpful
Best Answer

'Stray' cats can be very finicky about going inside almost anything so I hope this one will actually go inside something you make for him.

Advertisement


Last year a friend had a sudden need for a winter place/shelter for an orphan cat and this is what we fixed; not very substantial but it lasted all winter. We are in Florida so we only have weather in the 30's occasionally.
We found 2 medium large boxes and as it happened one fit inside the other which made it more sturdy. We placed a large kitchen bag over the box to make sure it remained dry. We had to tape the bag to the box because cats seem to be very frightened of anything 'moving' in the wind or making noise.
We then placed a baby comforter inside (but a large towel or similar item would work). Since this cat had been around for a couple of weeks we decided to place an item of 'worn' clothing inside so it would have a familiar smell.
Advertisement


We have a really nice Humane Society store near by and she purchased a heated cat pad (electric outlet was near by) and Ms. Cat was set for our winters.
We tried to put a curtain over the door but she would not use it that way so we worried but the cat pad worked great. This pad only gets warm when the cat is on the pad and the temperature is low heat and she loved it. This box was placed on the floor of a carport with a container on either side to make sure the wind did not move it.
The pads were kinda expensive last year but I see where these are very affordable now.
Here is a link if you want to take a look.
www.walmart.com/.../?query=electric%20car%20bed

I hope you find a way to accommodate your new baby as it can be a true 'worry' if you think they are not warm.
Thanks for caring for one of these 'otherwise' lost babies.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts
October 25, 20201 found this helpful

You are the Cat Angel! Animals know where to go to seek help , shelter and love. You could make a shelter like structure with a open front. It could be a large box, a covered cage , or even a dog house. Add some warm blanket pieces/bedding, This can be made with little money. Also you can talk to human society in your area may be able to offer some help with you fostering a animal. Another idea is to inquire to your Vet's office, they often have connections to help, samples and freebies. This cat loves you and also it's freedom to come and go. Good Luck & Thank You!

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
October 25, 20201 found this helpful

Awww...poor kitty. Why do people not understand animals are not disposable. Blessings to you for taking care of it.

Here are two links I like:

facespayneuter.org/.../

www.alleycat.org/.../

Fabric and old people bedding can harbor fleas and other pests can will freeze when wet, so avoid those!

Clean, dry straw is the best and is usually not expensive, BUT be sure it has not been treated with any pesticides or chemicals as that can be toxic.

Blessings and prayers for you and your guest!

 

Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 320 Answers
October 25, 20201 found this helpful

You are such a kind person! I see great suggestions here - so will add only that drinking water in the freezing temps might be a challenge for the cat too. You can cut a sort of styrofoam donut to surround the cat's water dish from a spigot cover or ice chest.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 107 Posts
October 26, 20201 found this helpful

You might want to try this idea: www.cuteness.com/.../build-cat-house-plastic-tote

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
October 26, 20201 found this helpful

From what you are saying the cat does not like to be inside and prefers to live under parked cars during the winter months. if this is the case you may need to make a small home out of plastic for the cat to live in during the winter months. I know a lot of people will take an old plastic trash can and lay it on its side to build a home with this. They can now line the can with blankets and stuff to keep the cat warm while he sleeps. If you do receive a lot of snow and rain during this time of year it is a good idea to put the little home up a bit and off the ground. You may need to keep the home outside your door that he visits and where you feed him. This way he will come to sleep in the home you have provided for him and be able to eat their tool. This might be the only hope to get him out of the cold during winter. He may never go to the area inside your home or enclosed porch because he will be afraid of being trapped inside again. If the home is outside by your back door he will use this more because he is still outside and able to leave when he wants.

 

Silver Post Medal for All Time! 267 Posts
October 27, 20201 found this helpful

I've seen plans online for making an old cooler into an insulated cat house. That might be a good way to protect him from the cold. If you have a shed or some other outbuilding that the cat could use, that would be another layer of protection.

Good luck and thanks so much for taking care of him.

 
Answer this Question
<< First< Previous
Categories
Home and Garden Pest Control CatsOctober 10, 2012
Pages
More
🌻
Gardening
👒
Mother's Day Ideas!
🐰
Easter Ideas!
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Instagram
Categories
Better LivingBudget & FinanceBusiness and LegalComputersConsumer AdviceCoronavirusCraftsEducationEntertainmentFood and RecipesHealth & BeautyHolidays and PartiesHome and GardenMake Your OwnOrganizingParentingPetsPhotosTravel and RecreationWeddings
Published by ThriftyFun.
Desktop Page | View Mobile
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Generated 2024-03-28 08:54:35 in 3 secs. ⛅️️
© 1997-2024 by Cumuli, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.thriftyfun.com/Dealing-With-Stray-Cats-1.html