I care for two adult cats. They were here in my yard when I arrived three years ago and I have been caring for them ever since. I feed them daily and have made two outdoor homes for them out of old dog cages that I had lying around. During the winter, I usually put a nice soft cushion down on the bottom of the cages and wrap the cages with layers of old moving blankets. My problem is that I have run out of blankets and winter is approaching rather quickly. Does anyone have any advice on how to keep these little guys warm? Do you know where I can find cheap blankets? Or is there a better way to keep these guys safe? Believe me, If I could bring them inside I would, but my daughter is allergic to cats. Besides, they are both males and don't really get along. They have come to trust me and are very sweet, social and affectionate animals. Any advice would be great. I don't have a lot of experience with cats. I have owned dogs my entire life. Thanks!
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Outdoor Stray Cats - Need Advice
- Thread starter dreamvine
- Start Date
What I don't see is that you have had them neutered.
This is HUGE!
A few reasons are-
It is unfixed males that are the leading cause of spreading felv and fiv, because they fight.
They wander and are in danger of being hit by cars or attacked by dogs/wildlife, etc.
They spray, yeowl, and can be a real pain.
The really big reason is, ONE male cat, in one years time, can be responsible for 2,500 more cats!
So if they are not tnr'd please do them a big favor....
As far as keeping them warm, what I do is line the inside of the crate all the way around it, including the top with carpet padding which makes excellent insulation.
Then I cover the outside with layers of those big heavy duty black trash bags, I even create an awning so the rain doesn't come inside.
I also raise it off the ground, using a pallet or scrap 2x4 pieces of wood.
Works beautifully
This is HUGE!
A few reasons are-
It is unfixed males that are the leading cause of spreading felv and fiv, because they fight.
They wander and are in danger of being hit by cars or attacked by dogs/wildlife, etc.
They spray, yeowl, and can be a real pain.
The really big reason is, ONE male cat, in one years time, can be responsible for 2,500 more cats!
So if they are not tnr'd please do them a big favor....
As far as keeping them warm, what I do is line the inside of the crate all the way around it, including the top with carpet padding which makes excellent insulation.
Then I cover the outside with layers of those big heavy duty black trash bags, I even create an awning so the rain doesn't come inside.
I also raise it off the ground, using a pallet or scrap 2x4 pieces of wood.
Works beautifully
Getting them neutered is a must. You can borrow traps and take them to a low cost clinic. Since they are males, it is cheap and quick. They can be released back to your yard the next day. They only need to be kept in the traps overnight in a garage or basement and then released the next morning.
You also can stuff the shelters with clean straw. The cats will burrow into the straw and stay warm. Mylar pet blankets works well too as they use the cats body heat to warm up. You want to be careful of using blankets and other materials that might get wet. Once wet, mold can grow and you will need to change the blankets or carpet frequently. If you can keep the shelters on a covered porch then blankets or other materials are fine.
If you do a search on Google and use the image tab, look under "feral cat winter shelters" and you will find lots of ideas.
Thank you for caring for them.
You also can stuff the shelters with clean straw. The cats will burrow into the straw and stay warm. Mylar pet blankets works well too as they use the cats body heat to warm up. You want to be careful of using blankets and other materials that might get wet. Once wet, mold can grow and you will need to change the blankets or carpet frequently. If you can keep the shelters on a covered porch then blankets or other materials are fine.
If you do a search on Google and use the image tab, look under "feral cat winter shelters" and you will find lots of ideas.
Thank you for caring for them.
We tend to a momma feral and her two three year old kittens. We had them all fixed and ear tipped. We are lucky as they will come close to our house so we can use extension cords. We bought an outdoor kennel heating pad that only heats when the cat is laying on it. We also went to a farm supply store and purchased a chicken heating lap for the inside of their house. We have it set on a timer for on 15 minutes, off 15 minutes, with the heating pad on at all times. We also got them heated dishes. Foam board is a good insulator, mylar blankets that you can get for camping to line the inside of the house will reflect the heat back on them. Out side the house old tarps or pool liners, some large cat/dog food bags are a plastic material and your could upcycle. Straw is a good insulator inside as it does not hold moisture like blankets.
I second the neutering (and shots) as a high priority, and also straw. Before our Mama Patience followed her kittens inside after the freezing weather got really bad last winter here in NJ she did very well in a makeshift shelter of a big old carrier stuffed with straw. I covered the outside in batt-type insulation we had leftover from a renovation, wrapped it in an old shower curtain carefully taped to make sure no insulation was exposed to curious cats, and encased the whole thing in a big contractor garbage bag with an overhang for the entrance. I sat it on our roofed but otherwise open front porch beside the front door on top of an old rubber-backed bristle door mat (nice and thick) with a sheet of heavy cardboard to block the wind on the most exposed side. Straw is cheap and stays dry and clean, and cats can burrow a nice nest in it to stay warm. I'm getting ready to "winterize" the same box again - all our cats like to hang out in it.
