First major winter storm and I am terrified!

plucky's dad

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Hello all,

I've been caring for a small family of 3 kittens since I noticed them under my back sundeck porch in May. Over the last 5 months they thrived (the kitties were getting the same Innova Evo/California Naturals diet I fed my own l'il guy, Plucky!) and they have grown to be adorable friends, greeting me morning and night and even following me around the block on walks!

I set them up with a pair of small rubbermaid shelters lined with straw, and have ordered them one of these heated pads http://cozywinters.com/shop/kh-1070.html with another to come soon.

Today, Montreal was hit with its first storm of the winter; high winds, blowing snow, 30 centimetres of snow (a good foot or so). My little guys wouldn't use their shelters and instead were huddling under balconies. The two small females have snow caked into their belly fur, while the male seems to be having a fun time with it all.

Should I be worried? Will they be ok until the heated pads arrive and I can add them to the little shelters? I've already taken one female into the vet for an abcess under her eye...and they all are so loving and trusting...I want them to be safe.

I asked my room mates to allow them into the house; no go. So, I am trying to make the best of a bad siuation and give them a good life.
 

addiebee

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THank you and bless you for looking after these guys. I am not expert in caring for outdoor cats. Hopefully someone will come along with solutions. Maybe put some food or treats or something that smells like YOU in there and that will attract them to the houses.

Why won't your roomie(s) let them in? Did they give you a reason?

Are the cats fixed?
 

lisar

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What is the condition of the basement in your house? If its decently insulated and not too open perhaps you could let them camp out in the basement during the night? Let them out in the morning and they'd be indoor/outdoor at that point. I only did the equivalent to that down here in Texas when Isie was outdoor which equals let into the garage when it was raining. I set her up a bed with a cardboard box and some towels and she was happy to get out of the rain even if it was into the garage.

You can put some treats and food in the shelters and they will get the idea. Perhaps start feeding inside the shelters all the time.
 
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plucky's dad

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The roomies wonin because they don't like cats, and there's 3 of them. One would already be a big deal to them


The basement isn't accessible except through the front door (it's a split level house).

I saw them this morning; still snow-caked, still purring when I saw them...but that heated blankie cannot get here soon enough.
 

ldg

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How wonderful of you to take care of them!


Can the shelters be placed under the balconies? Near where they were hanging out? Do they hang out huddled together?

Cats tend to like shelters that have an entrance and an exit. And maybe try to make a container large enough for the three of them to get in there together if that's how they hang out. And take a t-shirt you can live without, get it really sweaty, and put it in there with the straw. Cats are all about smell. If they feel safe (the location of the container) and like they can escape (an entrance and an exit), it's large enough for all three (if they hang out together) - and it smells like you - this may encourage them to use it.


Have you gotten them spayed/neutered? If not, I'd look into finding a low-cost place to do it so your family of three doesn't grow into a family of 8 or 10 or 12 this Spring.
 

icklemiss21

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How friendly are they? It sounds like they are socialising quite well if they greet and follow you.

Steri-Animal is based out of Montreal and will work with adoptable ferals to home them or help you spay/neuter them if not - they may also have other ideas to help you
http://www.steri-animal.org/home_eng.html

I think the SPCA there ran low cost spay neuter clinics last winter too, its too far for us so never looked into if they carried them on, but worth looking into, like Laurie said, you dont want 10 more kitties in spring!

Alley Cat Allies may have someone near you who can offer some support and tips
http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=355
 
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plucky's dad

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Thank you icklemiss!

I tried leaving a message to Steri-Animal in the fall but they were no doubt swamped and didn't get back to me. Since then I've been wracking my brain about how to go about getting the little ones all fixed (my local vet charges close to $120 for the pre-op vaccinations, and another $100-$130 for the actual operation...per kitty). I couldn't really afford the $220 per kitty, so...this will hopefully be a help.

I've seen them a bit more since the snow died down and, despite them obviously not enjoying the high winds and subzero temps much...they seem to be coping for now. My heated cat bed is in El Dorado, California right now *shakes fist at U.S. Postal service* so hopefully by next week I will have it.

I want to get them all squared away before the *real* winter weather hits (30-40 degrees celsius below zero...brrrr!!)
 

mrblanche

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Wow, $220 each!

My vet does neuters for the shelter for $25, including first rabies shots and any other necessary vaccinations. Of course, the fact that she's on the board of the shelter support group might have something to do with it. I think she charges $40 for females.
 

killerapple

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Originally Posted by Plucky's Dad

I tried leaving a message to Steri-Animal in the fall but they were no doubt swamped and didn't get back to me.
I think you should try giving them a call again - maybe they are less busy now. Good luck!!
 
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plucky's dad

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I thought I would provide a small update on my three little kitties. I got the heated cat bed I ordered yesterday afternoon. I must say I am really disappointed. Despite the fact it's meant for outdoors, it clearly isn't meant to get any animal through even a moderate Canadian winter (never mind the stiff, bitter cold that's still to come).

The problem is that the pad will only heat up if there's a cat on it. Otherwise, the warming elements turn themselves off and the blanket is as cold as the air around it, i.e. in this weather; frozen. My little guys have shown absolutely no interest in it whatsoever, even when I pick them up and plop them down on it and pet them for a few minutes to keep them in place.

Two of them have been walking around lately and favoring their front paws when they sit, lifting one off the ground for a minute and then switching to the other. They're still eating a steady diet of California Naturals chicken and brown rice with plenty of fresh water I switch out at various times during the day, but...I am really starting to wory about them making it. Despite my wanting to take care of them and how much I will miss them, I don't think I can take the chance of *not* catching them and putting them in a shelter for adoption.

Coverted from Celsius to Farenheit...the outdoor temp right now is 5 degrees farenheit. In a few weeks, it will dip to anywhere from -15 to -25 degrees farenheit (yes, that cold).
 

farleyv

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I think if I were you, I would catch them. The poor babies. Try to find a no kill shelter. Can you bring them in till you contact someone?

Their poor little toes.

You have a great heart to care so much for the voiceless ones.
 

farleyv

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Google "outdoor cat shelters". Lots of low cost ideas to keep the little ones warm.

I would blitz the animal shelters and try to find someone to take them. It's better than freezing. Please try.
 
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plucky's dad

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Yet another update: the little guys (they are named Tar Pit (male), Trio and Scout(both females)) have adopted the warming pad in the little shelter I made them. They will still roam around a bit outside (there's about 2 feet of snow on the ground) to within 2-3 houses of mine but for the most part they will stay in this big rubbermaid container lined and covered with straw that I have put the heating pad into.

In the morning when I leave for work and when I get back at night, they will come running up the front steps to greet me. I am feeding them Innova Evo now (to help them keep their little inner heaters working!) and spend a half hour each day outside, sitting on the steps and petting and cuddling them. I've placed two large pieces of plywood around the shelter and secured them in place with large rocks to cut the wind coming in, and heaped straw between the boards and the shelter.

They're adorable and affectionate little guys, and they seem to be doing fine so far. Every now and then they perch on the stone railing on the steps outside my front door, and sometimes, I am greeted by a little furry head as they step out onto the window ledge (it's only about 6'-7' high so no worries) and crane their necks to look at me inside the home.

They are fit, furry and (although maybe colder than I would like) they have a nice shelter with a warming bed and a nice dry interior. Only 8 more weeks or so before they can start thinking about a spring warming!
 

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They're lucky to have you! Keep us updated on their condition. Did you end up using that bed even though it only heats with a cat on it?
 

ldg

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Oh I'm so glad you got them fixed up with something more insulated!


Do you have any way to provide them water? What we're doing for the outside gang is using a wet kitten food and mixing warm boiled chicken water into it to help with Winter hydration.


Thanks for the update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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plucky's dad

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Unfortunately I have no heated bowls yet for the water; I just make sure I give them a big bowl of water in the morning when I feed them, another when I get home, and a third before I go to bed. I have to switch them out because obviously, they freeze over.

They are happy and comfortable in the little shelter, and the heated blanket seems to be doing its job and providing some warmth. I'm sure they'd rather be inside with me, but for now we're all making the best of i and even getting to spend some real quality time together!
 

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It is wonderful what you are doing for this kitties! I used to care for a feral and used a rubbermaid type dog house for his shelter. I loaded it with straw and then used a warming pad that would warm when he laid on it. Sounds like what you are doing.

He was warm enough, but the sides and bottom of the shelter still felt cold to me. I bought "purr pads" and lined the bottom, back and sides, which also covered the top. I found them at Petco and 2 are in a package. What a difference they made! His shelter was much warmer. I still had it loaded with straw and then put the warming pad on top. But the purr pads really did the trick.

On his second winter outside, I invested in a heated cat house. I think he actually preferred the original shelter as I would find him in that one more than the heated one.

Now you can find him curled up on one of the beds in my home, and he never wants to go outside again.
 
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plucky's dad

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Apologies to all for "resurrecting" what seems like an old thread but I just wanted to share some good news.

My three little kitties made it through the winter healthy and whole (we were lucky to have a VERY mild winter in Quebec, which is highly unusual!). The two females were fixed thanks to StÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]ri-Animal, a wonderful organization here in Montreal (the male is next!). As spring started to creep around, I started having issues; the small runt-of-the-litter female, Scout- all 5 pounds of her - had to be taken to the vet's for a swollen, abcessed face resulting from a bite. Then, a month later, I had to take her back again because she wasn't using her rear right leg anymore. The vet shaved her leg after checking for breaks, and found 7 ragged, deep bites!

I took Scout in and kept her in a room, giving her anti-inflammatories and anti-biotics as prescribed. She has recuperated and is now a member of my home. She and my big strapping Plucky get along well and chases each other everywhere.

As if that was not enough, 2 weeks after taking Scout in, the male of the 3- Tar Pit - turned up with a badly swollen snout and deep bite wounds to his lips and eyelids. *HE* went to the vet, is now in my house healing...and I have decided that despite some protesting, all 3 are coming in to live with me in the house . It's a large house, so they will have lots of play room and be safe from whatever it is that's attacking them (I suspect racoons or a ground hog).

So now my family is made up of Plucky, Scout, Tar Pit and Trio! I will post pictures of my little ones soon.
 
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plucky's dad

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They are indeed very tame. I found them under my back porch last spring when they were just a month or so old, so I discovered them young and have been feeding them outside since. Around fall of last year, they started waiting for me on the front porch to open the door and feed them, and would be there waiting for me at night when I came home from work. They would follow me around when I went for walks, and would come when called.

Scout and Trio will both climb up on my belly and roll over to sleep. Tar Pit prefers to flop over next to me so I can rub his chin and throat.
 
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