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Feeding outside feral cats

post #1 of 9
1/14/10 at 1:35pm
Thread Starter 
We have three feral cats living outside in plastic bins we made for them. We have started to feed them two small cans each of wet cat food morning and night. We live in a cold area with temperatures at night from 0 to 10. Will the extra wet food help them while it is cold? We customarily give them dry food, but have started the wet food when it got really cold. Is this too much or Ok? They always eat the wet food right away. Thanks,
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post #2 of 9
1/14/10 at 2:51pm
Oh yes, this extra food should help them. It is not necessary the cold their main enemy. Starvation and lack of food is.
Of course, when it is cold they need more calories, especielly as it is also more difficult to find food on their own.

Thus good food, with much animalia contents; proteins and much fat is essential.


The dry food, try to make it kitten food (most nourishments in it) or food "for active cats".
Dry food for indoors cats or older cats has less nourishments (very fat reduced).


Tx a lot for helping these cats!


Good luck!
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post #3 of 9
1/14/10 at 3:14pm
I'd limit it to just one wet meal of food a day - and also make it kitten food (as Stefan points out, higher protein and fat than adult cat food). We do this for our ferals. We mix about 1/4 - 1/3 of a cup of warm water in with the wet food.

They need the dry because it typically (kitten food version) has MUCH higher protein than the wet food (ours is 40% for the dry food vs 9% for the wet food). They need the protein/calories. BUT... hydration in Winter is VERY difficult for cats. That is why we supplement the dry food with the wet with warm water mixed into it.
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post #4 of 9
1/14/10 at 3:36pm
Yes I would continue to feed them wet food. Wet food is really very good for them versus dry food. Be sure to avoid indoor or senior cat formulas as those have less protein and fat which is what the kitties you are feeding really need. What you are doing is so nice. Those kitties are lucky to have you around.
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post #5 of 9
1/14/10 at 4:03pm
It's wonderful of you to take care of these cats. Do you have the plastic bins stuffed with straw to help keep them warm?
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post #6 of 9
1/14/10 at 6:01pm
I take care of a group of ferals, 7 of them. I will add a can of wet food to the dry a couple times per week. I change the water twice per day when it is well below freezing out. In addition to the wet food, I also add some extra fat to the food, usually vegetable oil. I add the extra fat only during the cold winter months. This fat gives them the extra energy they need to keep warm.
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post #7 of 9
1/14/10 at 6:49pm
Thread Starter 
We cut a hole in a plastic storage bin and lined it with styrofoam insulation and newspaper and put in an old pillow and towel. Two of them get in together. Will look at getting kitten food although they seem to like Kit and Kaboodle. There are some really feral ones who sneak up and eat the dry food but are really skittish. The two of the three who sleep in box on our deck were house cats who were abandoned. The third is a feral who we have fed since it was a kitten 18 months ago. Thanks for the tips, we are kind of new at this.
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post #8 of 9
1/14/10 at 6:58pm
Another quick tip - if the towel or pillow get wet, they mold easily. If you can locate straw, it's best to remove all the other stuff and put straw in there loosely - they'll make it a little cave and it is an AMAZING insulator. Just change it out every week or so - quick and easy.
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post #9 of 9
1/14/10 at 7:03pm
Here's a couple links about outdoor shelters if you want to read about insulation materials.
http://www.indyferal.org/index.php?page=shelters
http://www.urbancatleague.org/Shelters.html

There are some threads here on the forum about what other members have made for outdoor cat shelters like you have. What you're using sounds great but you may need to switch the towels with something that can't retain moisture and get mold.

You're at a great place! Many nice folks on here with great advice (who have helped me a lot! So ask away!
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