How to protect your strays/ferals better

If you can afford it, get security cameras installed around your property that also have infrared night vision. Some cameras only take photos triggered by movement so you can also observe who is visiting. Good against anyone who might try to hurt your cats and will know you'll have them caught on camera!

Yeah, such a night cameras is a nice device. Not only to increase the protection, both of cats and property. But also for observing of the cats night life.  Especielly if they are really feral, and thus to shy to show themselves when you are watching on.

Our forumite JTBO had made good use of these cameras.

I think that I should write something about this, as my method is something that almost anyone can afford.

I have used old cheap webcams, old laptops that have had no use anymore and free open source software.

For single setup costs around $30-40 I would guess, if computer has enough power one can attach more than one camera, but adding more than two computer's power and USB bus bandwidth can become limiting factor.

Laptops with windows can use this relatively easy to setup software, they do offer also paid subscriptions of extra services which one might consider to support developer of program, it is one guy's project and he is trying to make his living out from it so I find very easy to pay for him a little from this great software:
http://www.ispyconnect.com/

If laptop has Linux, then there is program called Motion, it is also one guy's project, Kenneth Lavrsen:
http://lavrsen.dk/foswiki/bin/view/Motion/WebHome

You can get to know guy from here:
http://lavrsen.dk/

I would say that iSpy is lot easier to get around with, Motion requires one to know Linux system relatively well so it might not be so great choice for most, also if one likes to get system installed, guys at local pc shop surely can make ispy installed, but it is very difficult to find guys that know Linux systems.
It should not be more than two hours from professional to setup 1-2 cameras and one computer, still lot cheaper than full grown security system.

Any webcam really works for the job, but there are differences in image quality and also in how they see in dark. I have used Creative NX Pro, until it did broke down, best in low light conditions from what I have had, Logitech Communicate STX has been one I have used more recently, with this one good bit is that it has M12 thread so I can order fisheye lens from dx.com for it for relatively cheap price.
Of course I had to dismantle whole camera to install the lens, but low cost solutions often need some extra work.

Fisheye lens is really useful as webcams tend to have bit narrow field of view, so one can't see whole yard, just small fraction of the yard, solution is to have more cameras or larger field of view.

I have had cameras outside, even laptops outside, but if one likes them to last longer, then indoors are better place for them. Also USB has limitations of cord length. So I have placed yard cameras to window, or between windows, so they take video trough the window. Top edge is giving better view than lower edge of window.

Now as cats move at dark mostly, I have PIR sensor equipped motion detecting flood lights on yard, relatively inexpensive and as they lit only from movement they don't take too much electricity, also cats got used to those in day or two. That is cheapest way to get them to film, without flood light one can get some of them, but when it gets to dark one gets only black image.

One could also get real security cameras to the job, but they do cost quite a bit, good part with them is that they see much better in dim light and one could use also infrared flood light, that is lighting yard without anyone seeing there being light.

Cameras being so small can be placed in very creative way too, like for example to trap:
http://jtbo.pp.fi/images/road_pics/nisakkaat/arkajalka.jpeg

Or inside feeding station:
http://jtbo.pp.fi/images/road_pics/nisakkaat/nakkirosmo.jpg

Greatest thing is that video is recorded when movement is detected, so you only need to look what kind of video have appeared and no need to monitor screen constantly.

But it does take quite bit of adjusting until sensitivity is correct and also to find perfect direction and place for cameras takes few tries.

There are also wireless ip-cameras where you need only power supply, but those again cost bit more.


Then there are cameras that hunters use, no need to have computer, I believe trail camera is english term for those, most simple but not very cheap option, you can put them anywhere, no wires needed, they take pics even in a dark, just place them bit higher than ground level, these are very good solution if one has money to spend to them.
Those are used here quite often to guard summer homes, those are very hard to spot so burglars can't find them usually. Also image is really good and they work long times with single battery set.
Only reasons why I don't use those is that cost is too much for me and purging videos is not as simple as it is with laptops as with laptops I can put them all to wireless network and browse trough files without getting up from my seat. Also I can have live feed from all cameras to single screen so I see everything around the house and at warehouse with single look.

Even if I'm away, I can see realtime feed from house and I can setup videos to be send immediately to remote location, I can get even alerts to phone immediately if indoor cameras pick up motion when I'm away and as laptops consume little amount of electricity I can have hours and hours of backup power so power outage will not cause any change to security.

With modern LED lights one can hook them up to backup battery too and have hours of illumination and tens of hours of standby for relatively low cost.

I have PIR motion detection LED lights indoors too, really great things especially at the stairs.

Installing shelter is always a good idea. You can get old dog houses cheap online and they work great. 

I have shelter, but that doesn't protect from people or let me keep track of cats passing through