Pawley - and all of us - could use your vibes

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ldg

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We stopped trying to trap him heading into the storm. At that point, we just wanted him undisturbed so he'd keep routine and use the shelter and eat. :heart2:

@southbaycats48 it has been explained to me that the idea of tying the trap open is so it can be left unmanned - which just never occurred to me. :lol3: I was going to put the trap out today tied open, but with all the snow, I'm not sure when we'll put it out. But right now, that's the route we're going to take - let the trap become part of the environment. So thank you. :hugs:

I'm deathly afraid for all the ferals in this bitterly cold weather everywhere. Six of our 11 regulars are hunkered down - there were no tracks to two of our feeding stations this morning or all day. :(

The good news is Little Dot is using the feral villa! I put it out in the field across from the RV, where I have the original feeding station set up. THAT is a HUGE relief!

And Pawley seemed fine both this morning and at sunset tonight. :cross: He didn't want many pets, he just wanted to eat and get back to his shelter. :heart2:

Tonight's the worst one, we've been at 0 with -11 windchill for several hours, and it's expected to drop to -10F, windchill of -18 to -23. :(

:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: for ALL animals and people without homes in this weather.
 

tammyp

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Lots of vibes.  You are a hope and inspiration.  Go Pawley, and all the others!  That's one type of weather we just don't get over this way.
 

betsygee

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I cannot imagine what you do, taking care of ferals, especially in this weather!  I would be beside myself with worry.  I so admire and am in awe of all of you who take care of these babies!!!
 

happybird

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What a sweet looking little guy! He reminds me of my Pooper, he even has the same silly little white eyebrows :D
Pawley couldn't have found a better home to shelter beneath! :nod:
Sending trapping vibes your way
:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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ldg

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Yes, the ferals everywhere in this cold weather need your vibes. :heart2:

It "only" got down to -4F (-20C) with windchills of around -15F (-26C), so at least it wasn't *quite* as bad as predicted. But WOW that wind is cold. For the first time this year I had to wrap my face, it was just stinging when I went out this morning.

The GREAT news is all of the kitties that are here are OK. :woohoo: NO signs of frostbite - no one was shivering. Can anyone hear that giant sigh of relief? :lol3:

Pawley wanted his pets - briefly. ;)

Smokey jumps into my arms as part of our normal routine, and he was WARM and full of extra large purrs this morning. :bigthumb:

Baloo was out, checking the territory - playing in the snow. Nutty cat! :doh3:

Little Dot continues to use the feral villa. :D

Khol - I was worried about her, because when I fed them the meal at sunset yesterday, it was ... 9 and falling, and insanely windy. And she wasn't leaving for her shelter elsewhere (which, following her tracks, is at least 1/4 mile away). She was just hunkered down under the (cold) car. There are PLENTY of heated shelters around the RV - but she doesn't like being right around here - she HATES other cats. She dances around, arching her back, hissing - just in CASE there's another cat around. :lol3: So I didn't know what to expect. This morning she trotted out from the back of the RV. There's another drum shelter there - set up differently, and not heated, but stuffed with straw. As Gary scared her out of that shelter the night before when he had to fix the heater, I'm pretty sure that's where she stayed. :rub:

We'll get a break for 2 days from these bitterly cold temps - it'll just be "really cold." :rolleyes: But when we're back into the negatives with this next storm, I'm going to toss a handful of those hand warmers (these things: ) in that drum for her.

Froggie.... :sigh: There is no trail of pawprints from where she's holed up to over here. I walked food over to roughly where she's staying again. The wet food I'd left yesterday was uneaten, frozen, but some of the dry had been eaten. I hope it was her. :heart2: :vibes: I did not see more trails of pawprints out from under the trailers in storage. Not sure if that means anything or not, but :vibes: she's OK. :rub:
 

goholistic

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Just lots more vibes for all the ferals out there.
  I don't have anything to add in terms of advice, but wanted you to know I'm thinking about you, sending lots of vibes, and wishing you (all of you) the best of luck with the ferals in this bitter cold. 


 

ritz

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.I remind myself that if a cat can fit its head it a spa e, it can fit its body. I think that how the anonymous funerals and lost cats survive. And bow Ritz and her liter mates survived a 20 inch snow storm. Bit yes vibes to all outdoor creatures.
 
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ldg

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Yes, that's correct. Cats don't have collar bones - their front legs are attached to their body via a floating clavicle. So if their head fits, they fit.
 

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Adding in my :( and worries for all of the feral kitties. But, wanted to add in this as a positive note. We have had over a foot of fresh snow here in the Chicago area with more coming overnight. The heavy "blanket" of snow is insulation for our feral kitties and will help keep them safe plus blocking out all blizzard conditions and winds. Our temps here are dropping over the next few hours to dangerous levels - highs of eleven below zero predicted. :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: FERAL KITTIES :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:

p.s. Good plan for Pawley - the trap becoming just part of the environment. Just get through this terrible, awful cold weather and keep things calm for all of your feral babies. At least, you know he is safe and not in any distress at this time, so no rush. :nod: It will happen when the time is right. :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs:
 
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ldg

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Yeah... only we're not getting more snow. It was 30 today and RAINED. We're expecting 1" of ICE by tomorrow morning. And it's going to warm up to almost 45 degrees tomorrow, and rain all day. :rolleyes: THEN, when the kitties are all nice and wet, it's going to drop to -5 overnight.
 

lrosewiles

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Here in New Jersey we have also had a big snow storm followed by icy rain today, very nasty.  Our 3 rescued kittens are safe inside as is their still half feral mama Patience, who decided to stay inside with us during the bad weather.  She is not totally happy, mostly hides in the basement and asks frequently to go out, but when she sees what's out there she comes right back in again, smart girl.  Still having a problem getting her to use the litter box, but I put paper down in the basement where she has decided her "bathroom" is and we are working on it.  At least she is safe and warm and getting to spend time with her kittens and me, she has progressed to allowing me to stroke her and rub her head.

But a more general message for those of us worrying about outside cats is their amazing ability to survive frigid temperatures.  Our neighbors "care for" a stray in the most minimal way, poor little ginger cat has only a cat carrier on their open porch and as far as I can see only kibble to eat.  I've been checking on him regularly since he had a respiratory problem some weeks ago (which he recovered from) and happily the small improvements I convinced his people to allow me to make are still in place:  moving the frozen pillow and blanket from inside the carrier to provide outside insulation and adding straw inside, and wrapping a heavy duty contractor plastic garbage bag over the "house" for at least some insulation.  I don't feel it's enough, but each time I check on him he is hunkered down in the straw and seems to be managing despite the frigid conditions.  They did make one additional improvement, what looks like a coffee table outside the carrier to make a covered eating area.  I have been sneaking him a can of good quality wet food each evening to help him out and each time he comes out to greet me and eat with much purring.  Several times poor boy had ice in his coat but amazingly he was warm underneath, it must surely be the straw that is keeping him that way as he has nothing much else.  I do wish they would bring him inside, but he seems to be managing --- ferals are sure tough.

So I guess the message there for all of us worrying is that even a minimal shelter is better than none, and giving some extra food may just be enough.

Can't wait for the warm up tomorrow and then ... back in the deep freeze again.
 

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  I don't have anything to add in terms of advice, but wanted you to know I'm thinking about you, sending lots of vibes, and wishing you (all of you) the best of luck with the ferals in this bitter cold. 


Add my vibes to everyone as well!
 
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ldg

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Consider catnapping that kitty!

And we're in NJ too! We're near Blairstown, NW, near PA border.
 

bastfriend

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More warm vibes for the feral kitties!  
 
Okay that's an angry face, but flames are coming out the top to create some heat!!!!  
Ok this one's probably best
 

lrosewiles

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Yes I'm tempted to nap him, but we have 4 inside our small house already so even if I could tempt him inside it would be problematic.   Also his people aren't very nice - I worry they will bust me for trespassing on their property when I sneak in to give him some wet food and a little petting on these cold nights.  Thank heaven it was warm today and a lot of the snow melted but now we are heading back into the deep freeze with record low temps.  I went to check on Little Ginger three times already, the first time I saw him heading to another neighbor's house (ignoring my calls that I had food for him) and no sign since, so I'm praying she took him in or he found better shelter there.  I wish he would find Mama Patience's house on our porch which she is not using at night now she is inside, it is not heated but is very well insulated and has plenty of straw inside. She was in there when I got home from work tonight (having asked to go outside this morning) and her fur was good and warm, but she was very prompt to come inside and join her kittens when I opened the door - and the temperature has dropped steadily since then.  I'll go out for one last call before bed but then we are hunkering down. 

best wishes to you and all feral carers, my prayers are with all of you.
 
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