Feral Colony Question about straw vs blankets

We have a colony here in Philadelphia. There are 2 dog igloos and one custom cat box there, with a feeder tent. The box and igloos are filled with straw, and I thought It would be nice to put some blankets in there. It rained today, and when I went to check, not one paw print on any of the white T shirts or blankets indicating that no one entered their houses since i added the pillows, blankets and t shirts.

Could this simply be that it was rather nice out today (besides the slight rain) and they didn't bother going inside, or is adding that kind of comfort unappealing to feral cats? I did this for an abandoned house cat and she loooved it, but it seems the ferals went over 24 hours without entering their homes, braving cold weather and rain rather than snuggle into the new comfort items.

Is there something someone can tell me?

Blankets aren't as nice outdoors---they tend to absorb moisture and feel cold to the touch. That's why straw is recommended; it wicks moisture away from the surface. But if you want to know for sure, put the blankets in half of the boxes and see which ones the kitties like .

Well it seems like they were untouched over the first night. I used my white t shirts (big deal as a 29 year old man!) and I saw no paw prints or evidence in ANY of the igloos. Is it possible that the smell of my 5 cats is deterring them? They were dry as a bone, so that wasnt it, and I will closely monitor the station and if they do get wet ill replace them with dry items. Is It possible they arent used to such comfort and flat out prefer the straw, or like I said before, it was 55 and rainy here, so maybe they didn tneed to huddle inside. I just want them to have more comfort than straw, it seems so icky, and theres very little chance theyll get the items wet short of there paws being a bit damp walking (we waterproofed the bejeesus out of the camp). Thanks for the advice and hope to fget more replies. I need all the help i can get.

Personally, I would opt for the blankets. Straw retains moisture and can easily and quickly become mildewed. Not to mention, the cats will most likely find the straw to be 'attractive litter' and begin soiling it. Blankets can be washed and replenished. Cotton is the best, along with fleece and sherpa as they hold the heat better.

I suggest you wash them with an unscented detergent and run them through a hot rinse cycle to be sure your and your cat's scents have been completely removed. Cats are sensitive to change, so the addition of t-shirts might have alerted them to a 'potential danger'. You might also want to scatter a few treats in the boxes to draw them in.  When the weather drops to freezing, be sure to replenish their water frequently (and wear freshly washed clothes that won't have your cats scent on them). 

When I had the farm, I hung a heat-lamp in the barn for the strays (the same type I used for the baby lambs that were born in the dead of winter) to keep them warm and their water bowls from freezing. And be sure the openings of the boxes are protected from wind, rain and snow. 

Thanks for protecting them!

Cats seem to really, really like straw. I'd stick with that - its easy enough to replenish it if needed.

Straw is much much better.  If you use blankets and they become wet, with the cold weather they will freeze.  No warmth there.  Straw does very well when it is in a covered shelter such as the igloos you are using.  It can easily be replenished throughout the season.  Unless you want to change out blankets every time it rains or snows, please stick with the straw.  Cats love to burrow down into the straw for warmth.

They certainly seem to prefer the straw. As much as I don't get it, well you know, the answer is just, cats right? I tried both, one half straw one half blanket, and the silly animals love straw. I neglect to realize we find straw unpleasant to the skin, but to their fur, it probably is more than tolerable, possibly preferable to fabric. My other cat I share taking care of with a neighbor prefers her privacy and her warm hut with fabrics. Im working on improving her shelter to a maximum, as she is an older gal and has only two teeth, so she requires a wet food diet. I feed her frequently to avoid food freezing and have just received my 10 hr heating pads.

Any tips on hiding her new home at the business she prefers to live at? The occupants rarely go out back, but once spotted her home and trashed it (even with a wonderful note my gf wrote as the cat, telling her story and how this small container is her home and she has special needs as she is a former house cat who cannot hunt, people can be mean). I currently have her home hidden between two giant air conditioning units, and as the yard is heavy with debris, I have piled on vines and stick to create a "junk pile" look.

But I'd like to build something darn near permanent and 100% waterproof and durable, out of sight. I have a few options. One in under a giant porch at the business, where she loves to hide. But that would require buildimg at night and hidden under a porch essentially illegally. There is a small, 80ft long but only 5 foot wide tree line with bushes, but a gardener comes along and trims well enough it could be in plain sight, and both businesses (the one next door) could see it. Both of these businesses are based out of houses and are unoccupied nights and weekends, so I do get time to get creative.

(sorry for so many questions)

Any tips on getting her to move two houses down, to my property to better manage her? It would require her crossing a parking lot in her usual route to her other shelter offered by my friend, but it would do wonders to get her on my porch instead of the backyard? I think the quick safety of the deck is what keep sher on the property two doors down. Also, this cat is much more domesticated than the feral colony, and can sometimes be held and carried.

Straw is apparently very comfortable to outdoor cats and it does not does not retail moisture, just the opposite (I think maybe another poster confused straw with hay, which does retain moisture). You can also use a Kitty Tube heating pad you can purchase on Amazon with straw, I bought one for my feral to use in his cedar house this Fall and he loves it.  The other option is to purchase a thermal self-warming cushion to put beneath the straw, which does not require electricity.  Blankets are not comfortable to most outdoor cats for the reasons others have cited--they get moldy. Also, I suspect they feel unnatural to a feral, whereas straw is more familiar to them. I change the straw in my cat's pet house each Fall. There are a lot of old threads on this forum about the different shelters people have constructed and purchased, I bet you can get some ideas from those if you're thinking of doing a different kind of shelter.

In terms of changing shelter location, I'd recommend putting a shelter on your porch and offering food there, as well. I wouldn't take down the shelter she's used to or stop feeding her where she's been getting fed, but to offer your porch as a second (and even cozier) option. Once she starts using the shelter and food bowl on your porch, then you can take down the other shelter and she will settle in on your porch.  Cats are smart, and once she realizes your porch is being offered as her "home," she will likely make the transition.

I completely agree with @MsAimee   Start offering her food at your place too as well as a cozy shelter.  You can start with something really simple such as an insulted rubbermaid container.  I use a couple of these with heat pads instead of straw since I have electricity outside as well as a covered  shelter.  Yet you can just insulate them and then stuff with straw.I have pictures of my shelters on my blog which is linked below. 

My very first feral spent his first winter under my neighbors screened porch.  He would venture into my yard and I started by feeding him in the back of my yard.  I would leave food out in a covered rubbermaid that I put together.  I would only leave food at during the day as I didn't want other wild life.  Once he started to eat there, I started moving the feeding area closer and closer to my deck until it he was eating right on my deck.  It didn't take long at all.  I tried my best that first year to get him to use the shelters on and under my deck, but he would not use them.  Yet, he would come multiple times each day to eat.  I kept working with him and by the next winter, he had officially moved to my deck.  Food was the big motivator, but he also had to feel comfortable.  He still continued to go to my neighbors when he was frightened, but that was ok.  He needed more than one place to feel safe.

Thank you so much for working so hard to help this little one.  Do you know if he/she is spayed/neutered?