3's Company

knottybuoyz

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 27, 2008
Messages
99
Purraise
1
Location
Iroquois, ON
This is the feral family that we feed. Lately, because it's cold, we've been giving them soft food. Hopefully they'll put on enough weight to get them through the long cold winter. I'm not too worried about "Boots" the tom but the other two I'm concerned about. We're gonna talk to the shelter lady today and see if she can take them if we sponsor them. They'll need spay'ing and shots etc. but we'll pay for that.
 

krz

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 24, 2008
Messages
594
Purraise
13
That's great of you to take care of them and even better if you know someone who can take them in. But if not, can you provide a nice warm shelter for them? There is a great website that has already built heated shelters and you can also provide shelter with just a rubbermaid box. I worry all the time about the cold temperatures and the ferals I care for.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

knottybuoyz

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 27, 2008
Messages
99
Purraise
1
Location
Iroquois, ON
Originally Posted by KRZ

But if not, can you provide a nice warm shelter for them?
That's KnottyGirlz's "Plan B". If we can't get them into the shelter we'll build them an insulated shelter behind our shed and keep feeding them. It'll be well insulated, out of the wind and high enough off the ground snow shouldn't cover it.
 

knottygirlz

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 15, 2008
Messages
34
Purraise
1
Location
Iroquois Ont Canada
We visited 2 shelters yesterday. One has over 300 cats and 40 kittens and the other one had over 120. They are both well over capacity and both are dismayed by the number of cats being abandoned. The SPCA is an option, but I'm pretty sure they will be having the same housing issue and that would mean euthanizing cats faster so not an option we want to use. So today we will build a shelter for them. Rick won't let me use his power tools so I guess I am supervising him!


Lori. Rick, Shadow and Squirt
 

krz

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 24, 2008
Messages
594
Purraise
13
Depending on the cat and how long it has lived outdoors, sometimes providing them with food, water, and a nice safe shelter is all that they need. I care for a cat at my husband's office and he would never be a candidate to go to a shelter so he is going to stay there. He has 2 shelters and a feeding station and he is invited to come in every day and we try to get him inside for the night. Sometimes he will come in and sleep in his bed, but most of the time he just enjoys being outside. He is alone and not in a colony, but he has avoided the trap so we are taking it very slow. I think your cats will be fine with a shelter and knowing how dilligent you were in getting Squirt back, they will have great care from you. Good luck!!
 

knottygirlz

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 15, 2008
Messages
34
Purraise
1
Location
Iroquois Ont Canada
We started to build the shelter this morning, shortly after my post. Rick decided to build it behind our shed at the back of our yard. This gives them solid protection from the west winds (prevailing here) and a cedar hedge and a shed on the property behind us will buffer winds from the east. The back faces north and the front faces south. We manadged to build it will scrap materials we had around the yard, and the we lined it with heavy plastic sheeting to cut the wind as well. We have a hinge on the front of it so we can add/change hay or straw and heavy material on the inside and outside over the door. Now we just have to get the cats to use it. I have thrown some old blankets into it until I can get some straw or hay.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_0948.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_0949.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_0950.jpg


Our only question now is - how do we get the cats to use it??

Lori, Rick, Shadow & Squirt
 

krz

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 24, 2008
Messages
594
Purraise
13
It looks great!! I would just try and move their food close to the shelter, when they see a warm, safe place that should do it.
 

rosiemac

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 3, 2003
Messages
54,358
Purraise
100
Location
ENGLAND... LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY!
How lovely are you both!!


I'm sure once they see the food near to it they'll soon realise theres a shelter waiting for them, maybe leave a trail of kibbles to it with a small bowl of some inside?.
 

knottygirlz

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 15, 2008
Messages
34
Purraise
1
Location
Iroquois Ont Canada
Originally Posted by Rosiemac

How lovely are you both!!


I'm sure once they see the food near to it they'll soon realise theres a shelter waiting for them, maybe leave a trail of kibbles to it with a small bowl of some inside?.
We have issues with racoons around here, so I am trying to be careful about leaving food in their shelter. This morning before I left for work I left a trail of treats to the door. They had eaten their way towards the house before I left.

I have a line on some hay or straw. I hope to get it tomorrow and then the house will be complete.
 

krz

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 24, 2008
Messages
594
Purraise
13
Isn't it just the BEST feeling to know the stray and forgotten kitties have food and shelter and someone to care about them. I hope they enjoy their new shelter.
 

rosiemac

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 3, 2003
Messages
54,358
Purraise
100
Location
ENGLAND... LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY!
I'm just looking at the pictures again, and on the last picture is that a flap on the entrance?, because i wonder if that might put them off entering it?

Originally Posted by KRZ

Isn't it just the BEST feeling to know the stray and forgotten kitties have food and shelter and someone to care about them. .
Isn't it great!
 

ondine

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
5,312
Purraise
780
Location
Burlington, North Carolina
Actually, raccoons can't jump, so if you remove the ramp, they can't get into the shelter at all. That way, you can provide food in there -- at least temporarily until the cats understand the concept.

I too would remove the flap for now - they may not care to venture in unless they can see what's ahead of them.

You are an angel to provide them with this shelter.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

knottybuoyz

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 27, 2008
Messages
99
Purraise
1
Location
Iroquois, ON
Lori brought home a bale of hay to line the cathouse. Haven't had a chance to line the house yet but the family have taken to the bale of hay like flies to hmmmm? day old cat food!
 

knottygirlz

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 15, 2008
Messages
34
Purraise
1
Location
Iroquois Ont Canada
Originally Posted by Ondine

Actually, raccoons can't jump, so if you remove the ramp, they can't get into the shelter at all. That way, you can provide food in there -- at least temporarily until the cats understand the concept.

I too would remove the flap for now - they may not care to venture in unless they can see what's ahead of them.

You are an angel to provide them with this shelter.
Ok, the weather is a little warmer so we can remove the flap. We were just looking for ways to block some of the wind. We have a small piece of plexiglass that would have been perfect, but it was a little too big. Maybe we can remove the flap for now and try to find another solution before the weather gets really cold. As for removing the ramp, we wil have to build a lip or something for them to jump onto...or maybe just a series of "steps" up for them. I have a 4 day weekend coming up so I can spend a little time leaving food/treat trails to get them there. It is dark when we get home and we can't do it after dark because of the raccoons. I'm hoping the hay will be a familiar scent by the weekend and that might help.

Lori, Rick, Shadow and Squirt
 

lizzie

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 29, 2002
Messages
3,468
Purraise
15,335
Location
missouri
I feed 7 outside myself and my husband built them 2 houses that are insulated with that foam insulation board with the foil backing and plastic over that.One end is closed and the other has an opening just big enuf for them to get in and out.Inside they have dry shredded leaves,cedar shavings and hay.When it turns really cold,I'll cut up one of those 4.96 blankets from wal-mart so they can really snuggle in.I leave food out for them during the day but take it in at night,but they seem to love their houses.They're in them every night,warm and dry.
 

rosiemac

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 3, 2003
Messages
54,358
Purraise
100
Location
ENGLAND... LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY!
Originally Posted by Knottygirlz

I'm hoping the hay will be a familiar scent by the weekend and that might help.
It should help a lot


I think it would be better without the flap, because their still being protected from the wind, and maybe like Lizzie, put some form of blanket on top of the hay for added warmth.

They look as snug as bugs already in those pictures
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #17

knottybuoyz

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 27, 2008
Messages
99
Purraise
1
Location
Iroquois, ON
It's getting awfully cold here at night. Last night it was -20C (-4F). Lori & I put together another shelter made out of a storage box (will post pics later) for the front porch as we weren't able to get Momma & Baby to adopt the shelter we built earlier. They appear to like the underside of our front porch but it doesn't offer much shelter from the westerly (predominant) winds. Baby met me on the porch this morning and it was so cold she sat up like a bunny because her front paws were cold.

The storage box was lined with blankets & hay and then covered again with even more thick blankets. It should have provided good insulation & cover from the cold temps last night. If they haven't figured it out by this evening we might have to........ (Lori will finish this I'm sure).
 

pami

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
17,482
Purraise
17
Location
Birmingham
Is there any possible way to get them into a room inside? Even just one tiny room? She is obviously friendly to have come up to you like that and if it gets cold like that without shelter, not only can they die but they can also get frost bite and thier flesh starts to die.
 

skimble

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
930
Purraise
13
Location
MS
When I make storage box shelters, I line the bottom with a thick layer of bubble wrap packaging and tape it down with duct tape. I have used those disposable foam drink coolers.

Then I fold to fit one of those foil looking 'emergency' blankets sold in the camping section. They retain body heat. Put straw packed in last.

Next I put the box in a heavy guage trash bag. Like those made for leaves.

Tape everything very well with duct tape and cut the plastic bag away from the entrance hole.

Wa-lah, one very insulated shelter. Raising the shelter off the ground some, even setting it on a few pieces of lumber, will keep the cold from wicking up from the ground.

So lucky they have you to keep them warm. Great job with all the shelters.
 
Top