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Question on food for strays and semi-feral

post #1 of 9
3/3/10 at 8:20am
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We have been feeding some strays and semi-ferals on our back deck and fixed some boxes for them which they sleep in at night. For the last two months we have been feeding them wet food several times per day due to the severe cold where we live (near the Great Lakes). They really like the wet food and have been feeding them that several times a day to get them through the winter. Will they go back to eating the dry food when the temperature gets a little warmer, the wet food is getting to be expensive since we go through a couple of cases per week when it gets real cold. Also, at what temperatures will they not need boxes to sleep in. Thanks for suggestions.
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post #2 of 9
3/3/10 at 11:55am
Oh, they'll still want their wet food and if they've tamed enough to ask you for it they will beg. Past ferals I've fed were given dry with some wet food daily - the dry was always offered each day so they would eat it.

Hm, up there things can be frozen well into April. I'd say definitely keep well insulated hides out until the lakes thaw - but it's good to keep something out year round for them to sleep in during bad weather.
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post #3 of 9
3/3/10 at 11:59am
In my experience, my guys aren't picky at all. They eat what I give them, and love whatever it is.
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post #4 of 9
3/3/10 at 12:40pm
The only problem with canned food during the freezing weather is that it will turn into a brick if it's cold enough. I always fed the strays dry food. Fill the bowls in the morning and evening and your set. Most of the strays in my area don't come around at the same time every day, so feeding canned food at 30F or below gets tricky. Same thing in warm weather, it can spoil.

My feral Tabby that I captured last Oct. loved canned and dried food mixed together. I started feeding him in March when the weather warmed. He only came to eat after dark. There is always a problem keeping canned food fresh durind warmer weather and freezing hard during cold weather. Dry food is so much easier to feed.

Don't those strays love you to death, their so greatful.
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post #5 of 9
3/3/10 at 12:54pm
Mine tend to get fussy when they get wet and its hard to get them back on dry so I keep them to dry and give them treats of wet food now and then, ours have boxes set up in a neighbours shed and we leave them out all year for rainstorms etc so no idea on when to bring them in
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post #6 of 9
3/3/10 at 2:03pm
I tend to feed less wet food when the wild life returns as the weather warm up.. but i always keep boxes and blankies out all year long for them...
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post #7 of 9
3/5/10 at 3:27pm
Dry food is higher in calories. It's very hard for cats to keep weight on if they're only eating canned food (which is why it's recommended for weight loss). I'd make sure they get at least some dry food during the winter. They might be picky about it when you try to switch back. Just start adding some dry food back now and maybe they'll be OK with it.
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post #8 of 9
3/6/10 at 12:33pm
I have an accessible garage (not by design ), so I keep two large pans of dry food there during the winter and summer. It doesn't get wet when the snow comes, nor in the summer when the rain comes.

I keep wet food on the porch...and some water, too. It's true that the wet food will freeze...I keep an eye on it....bring it in and warm it up in the mw, swirl it around and add some new wet food to it. Then hope that one of the strays smells the warmed food and comes and eats it before it freezes again.

We've been having some nice weather here and even the water has not been freezing during the night....there might be a very thin layer of ice on the top, but a kitty could easily break it for a drink. I know they've been drinking it because I see specs of the wet food in it.

We have a stray, Buddy, that I would dearly like to keep.....he's been in the house during the bitter cold we had....and he purrs, rolls around, lets me rub his tummy and hops against my knees for petting....he's just a love......but if a sound occurs....furnace coming on, dishwasher, etc...he's wanting out like a flash.....I'll keep working on him.........
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post #9 of 9
3/14/10 at 8:35am
I set up a prefabricated, wooden insulated weatherproof "feral villa" for 2 or 3 porch cats this winter and they have LOVED it. Put a bowl of dry food along with fresh water on top every morning, occasional wet if I have some left over from my cats or I see them scrounging through the bird seed and that seems to do it for the day. There were a few times recently I was nervous about leaving food out overnight with possible raccoons coming out of hibernation (although there haven't been any sightings for a year now)...but one little porker in particular who likes grazing all night was eating so fast in the morning and throwing up it was pretty much a wasted effort. So kibbles are fine, just make sure it is a brand that is halfway balanced and nutrient rich without all the nasty stuff (byproducts, grain meal, gluten, etc). I just Purina Naturals.


Their house :

http://www.feralvilla.com/
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