I feed a large band of feral cats (around 20) through the winter. It's very hard for me to get there every day but I go 2x a week. I'm wondering what's the best to feed them nutrition wise? What will give them all they need at a low cost? Right now they're eating the cheapest food simply because there's so many and they go through it so fast. Anything I can add to the food to add bulk without decreasing nutritional value? Tricky situation. I'm out of a job currently so I can't feed expensive food. I tried finding help from other rescues but nobody wants to help. Any ideas? Also what is a simple shelter I can build them? They all live in a large barn with many rooms but nothing to hold in heat. No straw. Please help!
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What's best to feed large band of feral cats?
- Thread starter haileey23
- Start Date
Thank you so much for your dedication to these kitties. I know wet food is probably not an option right now, but Friskies pates are pretty cheap and go a long way when mixed with the dry. Honestly, anything you give them is better than nothing. Read the ingredients and see if you can find one with chicken or turkey first. Tractor Supply sells a relatively inexpensive dry (its called Four Health) and its pretty good quality.
If you can buy cheap plastic totes (the 18 gallon ones are a good size), you can cut a small opening on one side and fill them with straw (NOT hay). These will make cozy beds. If they are placed inside the barn and grouped together, they will keep the weather and cold out OK.
You can also pick up some Styrofoam coolers (the cheap kind - Dollar General has them less than $2 each). Cut an opening and fill with straw. Same idea but they'll be even cozier as the Styrofoam will help insulate them more. Each one should hold one cat, possible two if the cats are small.
A bale of straw costs around $7.00 and will fill many, many houses.
If you can buy cheap plastic totes (the 18 gallon ones are a good size), you can cut a small opening on one side and fill them with straw (NOT hay). These will make cozy beds. If they are placed inside the barn and grouped together, they will keep the weather and cold out OK.
You can also pick up some Styrofoam coolers (the cheap kind - Dollar General has them less than $2 each). Cut an opening and fill with straw. Same idea but they'll be even cozier as the Styrofoam will help insulate them more. Each one should hold one cat, possible two if the cats are small.
A bale of straw costs around $7.00 and will fill many, many houses.
Ondine said what I would say. Second thank you so much for feeding these cats.
I use to feed a colony of 10 (now, closer to four). I fed Friskies canned/dry because it was frequently on sale at the local grocery store. Sometimes the grocery stores have reduced prices on dry food if it has a tear in it. Like Ondine said, what ever you feed them is better than nothing--and what they could get in a dumpster. Also Friskies comes in large size (15 oz ?) size cans (at PetCo/PetSmart) which would be cheaper on a per oz basis than the normal size of 5.5 oz.
A bale of straw lasts forever, well, it seems like it. A lot goes a long, long way.
You can find cheap plastic totes in thrift stores, too. (Try to get ones with lids.)
Check for Styrofoam sheets right after Christmas--your neighbor may have gotten a present that required this packing material and may throw it out on garbage day. That's how I got my Styrofoam sheets (free!)
I use to feed a colony of 10 (now, closer to four). I fed Friskies canned/dry because it was frequently on sale at the local grocery store. Sometimes the grocery stores have reduced prices on dry food if it has a tear in it. Like Ondine said, what ever you feed them is better than nothing--and what they could get in a dumpster. Also Friskies comes in large size (15 oz ?) size cans (at PetCo/PetSmart) which would be cheaper on a per oz basis than the normal size of 5.5 oz.
A bale of straw lasts forever, well, it seems like it. A lot goes a long, long way.
You can find cheap plastic totes in thrift stores, too. (Try to get ones with lids.)
Check for Styrofoam sheets right after Christmas--your neighbor may have gotten a present that required this packing material and may throw it out on garbage day. That's how I got my Styrofoam sheets (free!)
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Thank you!!! Does wet food seem to fill their tummies better or why would you mix between the two? I live where there are very harsh winters and the food would likely freeze quickly. Luckily there is a mini horse living at the farm with a low water tank (only about 1 ft off the ground) so they drink from that. Should I get a heated water bowl? I can't imagine what would happen if they'd fall into the tank. They'd be able to get out but the cold would likely give them hypothermia or worse!
I have straw on hand and I'll try getting a tub or many coolers soon. Thanks a bunch!!
Wet food is just better for them - the dry has more grain, which doesn't do them any good. In winter, though, dry might be the best you can do because, as you said, the wet will freeze. If you can get it to them and make sure they eat right away, try the wet. Dry can be left out , if needed, so everyone eats.
If you can get a water bowl for them, that's be great. I too would worry about one of them falling into the horse's water tank.
As long as they are out of the weather, anything you do for them is wonderful!
If you can get a water bowl for them, that's be great. I too would worry about one of them falling into the horse's water tank.
As long as they are out of the weather, anything you do for them is wonderful!
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Maybe www.alleycat.org can give you a local contact. There is for sure somebody in your town who supports rescue groups or TNR . By joining Alley Cat Allies or some local feral cat program you will have easier to get some food donations. There is lot of stores that donate almost expired food to shelters. But they prefer big shelters with 501 status. Cheapest shelter for feral cats is an polystyrene cooler in slightly bigger paper box. You just cut openings in both of them. There are some videos on DIY how to do it.
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