city folks "dumping" cats by my home

hello.we have an unfortunate but all too common problem. We live in the country and uncaring, thoughtless, cruel people abandon cats down the road.of course the furry kids find their way to our home.we catch them when we can, give them their shots, a vet visit for rabies vaccine and wellness check, and to be spayed/neutered.last count was 10 cats.could anybody please give me insight as to what type of shelter to build for our many cats? im not savvy on cat habits, like would they share a big cat house or should i place many small shelters near our home? i want them near at night because we have coyotes and other wild critters that hunt at night.thanks for any ideas and plans.

First off, thank you so much for taking care of these kitties.  I cannot understand people who feel it is ok to dump their animals.  I believe that what goes around comes around.  So hopefully those that dump the cats will get what's coming to them.

There are many shelters that you can build.  There are the simple and cheap large rubbermaid totes that can be made into shelters and stuffed with straw.  You would need several of these.  I assume 2-3 cats could use a container.  If you are handy, there are the feral villa shelters that you can build yourself or order.  They are really nice.  My DH built one with a few modifications. 

Here is a link to the Alley Cat Allies Shelters  http://www.alleycat.org/ShelterGallery

I use a very unconventional shelter for my 2 or 3 ferals.  I tried the rubbermaid containers as well as the feral villa.  My cats did not like the small confined space.  i also found that they really need an exit and entrance to feel safe and not trapped in case of predators.  I purchased a 6x6 Shelter Logic, Shed in a Box.  I then have an outdoor love seat inside that has outdoor approved heat pads on it.  I have it on my deck.  The front opening I can adjust, but the cats freak if I put it down all the way.  It works for us as the direction it is pointing doesn't get too much wind.  The cats love it and use it to stay warm as well as get out of the elements.  The material of the shed heats up during the day so as long as the sun is out, it's nice inside during the day.

Here is a picture I took of the setup this morning.  It's not the greatest pic as the sun was not cooperating, but you get the idea.

First, thank you so much for taking care of these innocent victims.
If you want a really elaborate shelter, check out this article.
Here is a current thread about winter shelters.
If the cats get along, you have the space where you live, and no Grumpy Old Men complaining about all the cats ( three big "ifs"), then I'd build one helter. On the interior walls you can put shelving for cats who want to get away from the other cats. And, depending on if you have access to electricity, you can use heating pads and heating disks.
I would make it sturdy, so the coyotoes can't knock it down.
Personally, I'm using a simple, cheap, large Rubbermaid type container lined with styrofoam, chained to an immovable object. The colony is 1/2 hour from where I live, I get there only on the weekends (a co-taker feeds them Tuesday and Thursdays), and this is the same location where people stole two of my humane traps. But the only danger to the cats are humans, not coyotes or other wild critters.

You can also buy a shed and set it up with two or three cat doors (small enough for cats but too small for coyotes). Shelving is a good idea as are boxes filled with straw for beds. I have a chicken coop set up for my outside cats - the nesting cubbies are where they sleep and I can feed them in the main area. I also have a litter box in there but it doesn't get used much. They prefer dirt.

Thank you so much for helping them!

God bless you for taking these poor innocents in, they must be so scared and bewildered! People 'dump' cats around my house too, I've found homes for many, but many die here too, on the busy road and from predators. I'm sure they'd be happy with ANYTHING you provide, they ask for so little. Once again, thank you!

its a blessing having them around.we do our best to return the coolness of having them around.at least our friends know they are loved again, and we wont abandon them.thanks for the advice.ill open up the old henhouse so they may find a peaceful place to hang out.

thank you all so much.i actually have a large henhouse and thanks to you good folks a great idea to help our friends stay safe and warm.the laying boxes they already have claimed so i will just button up a few places,clean it up and have happy cats.we live in the desert so winters are usually mild.oh and....no grumpy old men around here unless i see one of the lowlifes abandoning animals.i do get all redneck then.again thank you good people.

varmint said:

i do get all redneck then

Click to expand...

I've always said that's why God doesn't let me win the lottery.  I'm afraid I'd hire someone to take the dumpers out to the middle of nowhere with no cell phones, just so they could see what the cat feels like.

just an update on project henhouse. as a manservant to some abandoned cats out here in the boonies, i have been watching closely trying to figure out a cats social graces.our old timer "fuzzyhead" seems to hold court about twice a week.unless i am a total idiot he is the one in charge of showing the "newbies" the ropes around here.the old henhouse. is now a cathouse and about half the kids will actually stay inside for their safe place.i have converted heavy duty plastic livestock mineral buckets (35 gallon capacity) into individual shelters and most of the cats can be found in one of them at one time or another.i have cut 2 holes 3 1/2 inch diameter for front and back doors and use oat straw for a bit of bedding for them.4 of the original cats have been adopted, by what i believe are stable, responsible people but yesterday ol fuzzyhead broought 2 more abandoned or lost souls to the feeding station. i hope the @#!!&/# people who anandon animals would at least knock each other in the head so these amazing animals wouldnt ever be the scared confused kids they are when i first see them.thanks for the tips all of you fine people have shared with me.with your help, our love and a bit of effort i will keep on trying to find my kids forever homes. much love and respect to all of you

Thanks for the update.  So glad you were able to set things up.  Now, if you can insure they are all spayed and neutered, your little colony will be in really good shape!

way ahead of you on the spay/neuter/wellness check/shots.i dont mindn having them around until i find them good homes, but have no desire to have a breeding population of diseased cats that would have even less of a chance at finding a good stable home.we try to trap them as soon as we know that another cat has been dropped off at the old trailer park.thank you for your concern

varmint said:

way ahead of you on the spay/neuter/wellness check/shots.i dont mindn having them around until i find them good homes, but have no desire to have a breeding population of diseased cats that would have even less of a chance at finding a good stable home.we try to trap them as soon as we know that another cat has been dropped off at the old trailer park.thank you for your concern

Click to expand...

Wonderful!  I always like it when people are proactive.  Keep up the good work!

A friend said her grandma lived at the end of a dead end street outside of a town. It was a popular dumping place. She always knew if she heard a car door at night there would be a new face on the porch come morning.

I believe that karma will get these people one day. But I love to image dumping them in the middle of the national forest without their cell phone...

@redcat57. we live in the desert in a place that must be the bermuda triangle for cats.as city folk dump them at an alarming rate.however knowing many farmers, ranchers and horse people i have an easy go of finding homes once we get the poor critters.spayed/neuteres and shots.its just so sad to see their confused, sad faves because i know they are missing a person who they love.i agree with the hauling dumpers off without cell phones.i would rather dump those folks out here in the vast desert during july or august, with no water, food or phone same.as they have done these.precious cats.

I'm sorry I'm late seeing this thread. Just wanted to give you a standing ovation!!!     You are amazing! Fuzzyhead sounds like he's quite a rescue helper, too.

The hen house turned cat house is perfect. Don't know if it's possible in there, but cats love shelves and high places. The mineral buckets and straw sound great for houses.

If the poor little guys had to have this happen to them I'm just so thankful it happened some place that they could find YOU!

well thank you so much.its a very humbling experience for.me.my ex and i became housemates (room mates) after i was in a farming accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.after all the rehab was done, she and i stumbled across a frightened, starved and very sick cat some bad person had dumped.(we live in the boonies) in the desert by our mailbox.i took him to the vet and as he recuperated we fell in love.that cat is pop pop.we started taking walks by an old abandoned trailer park and were appalled.pop pop is my first cat ever.fuzzyhead, ricardo bony bob(he died) somehow the crew sought out their buddies and brought them around .since i have limitations that keep me from doing other things, these sweet animals literally recycled me.we find homes for about 3 cats a month, after they have been spayed/neutered, wormed and doctored up.those are the abandoned kitties fuzzyhead brings us, who have been forsaken by humans that are just cruel, heartless and worthless.after tlc and regaining trust we then find stable homes for them with an agreement that they bring the cat back if they ever find it necessary to get rid of them.i tend to many animals.(horsies goats sheep rabbits and 3 turkeys.a few cats arent going to bother anybody abd as i said before.they recycled me, gave me purpose in life and unadulterated love.they rescued me.they sure are life confirming animals.even my black lab loves his "babies"the ferals watch my every move, like jungle cats.lol.we trap the ferals and the shelter here makes sure they have no infectious diseases, spay/neuter, chip, and notch an ear so we wont have disease riddled armies of wild cats running around.its an outstanding program, the county runs to control the feral population.i am truly blessed that they found me.in my instance, they are MY HEROES! sorry bout the typing and or any errors as it is still hard for me to put proper sentences in order.have a wonderful morning and thank you again.

I've often said I get a lot more out of helping the kitties than the cats do!  Sound like you feel the same way, Varmint.  Bless your heart!

Such a wonderful story and a great inspiration. It is truly amazing what emotions and feelings these little critters can stir up. Animals have a fantastic way of bringing us out of our troubles. They're great listeners, too! I love your phrase, "recycle", as in re-purpose. Between all of your other animals and all of the cats that Fuzzyhead keeps bringing home, I think you've definitely found where you're needed most right now.  And the cats have also found where they're needed. 

This thread has several great ideas for homes for strays. We've had a plastic doghouse on our deck for years and sometimes cats use it and sometimes they don't. I had some straw in it, but today I insulated the roof and walls with that reflective insulation that comes on rolls.http://www.lowes.com/pd_13357-56291-BP24025_4294925567+4294964084_4294937087?productId=3011904

It was interesting to feel the difference it made just sticking my arm in it. I made the entrance smaller by using more of the insulation. I don't know if a kitty will use it, but it seems worth a try. The chicken coop idea is a grand one. 

I don't live in the country, but my house is also a stop over for kitties.  Down the street there are many 4 plex apartments and one apartment complex. I suspect that people move and leave their cats to fend for themselves. It's endless. It's frustrating and it makes me really dislike people.

At present there is a set of young cats, one a black and white tuxedo and a gray and white tuxedo that look about the same age. The black and white one though seems a lot smaller on more frequent observations so it may be younger. These two showed up after the stray resident Boo Berry (my avatar) became part of the household. These new visitors are skittish and run if I come outside. I have a covered feeding station by the patio door and the black and white kitty sits there in the evening.  Now there is an orange tabby and a long haired, much larger tuxedo. WHAT the heck anyway!  Endless.

I never know if these are free roaming pets or abandoned pets. Boo Berry definitely was a pet at some point.  Many years ago an orange tabby we called Ralph used that house and would also bring friends by. They would share the house. Never know if unconnected strays will use the house together or not. Heck they might all know each other already. They don't eat together and there is an order to who eats when. The little black and white cat gets first dibs. The others come along after it eats.