Kool Katz of Sparta IL

ajwolf

ajwolf

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Hi, I am part of a group in southeast Illinois, in a small town of 4300 people, we have a large community of stray and feral cats.  we have started a TNR but we are just getting started, and we are working with a vet, but can use all the help we can get.  there are several of us feeding the cats, and the kittens, two of them are as friendly as can be, but the rest of them are more weary but will eat if your sitting away from them.  we are going to attempt to build some winter housing for the cats, as winter is not that far off, and any advice from anyone who has successfully accomplished this would be most welcome.  I am from st. louis and it seems the cat problem here is even worse than St. Louis, at least as far as density population goes.  I have been a cat person my entire life, long before i even had a cat.  my first cat was a stray someone found, and i decided to take him home, i was 17.  I thought my mother would have a fit because we never had any pets due to my older brother's allergies, (though once he got married he and his wife got a dog).  anyway my mother fell in love with the cat.  

Anyways, any information and advice would be most helpful, and if there are ways to find funding, we are working with the city to initiate a TNR program.
 
shadowsrescue

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ajwolf said:
 
Hi, I am part of a group in southeast Illinois, in a small town of 4300 people, we have a large community of stray and feral cats.  we have started a TNR but we are just getting started, and we are working with a vet, but can use all the help we can get.  there are several of us feeding the cats, and the kittens, two of them are as friendly as can be, but the rest of them are more weary but will eat if your sitting away from them.  we are going to attempt to build some winter housing for the cats, as winter is not that far off, and any advice from anyone who has successfully accomplished this would be most welcome.  I am from st. louis and it seems the cat problem here is even worse than St. Louis, at least as far as density population goes.  I have been a cat person my entire life, long before i even had a cat.  my first cat was a stray someone found, and i decided to take him home, i was 17.  I thought my mother would have a fit because we never had any pets due to my older brother's allergies, (though once he got married he and his wife got a dog).  anyway my mother fell in love with the cat.  

Anyways, any information and advice would be most helpful, and if there are ways to find funding, we are working with the city to initiate a TNR program.
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I can't help you with funding.  That seems to always be an issue.  Looking for help from the city is great.  You might also check county Humane Societies or ASPCA.

As for doing TNR and making shelters.  Check out Alley Cat Allies.  Their website is full of great info.  They have videos on trapping and so so much knowledge.

As for shelters their are many ways to make inexpensive winter shelters.  THe cheapest and easiest is to use rubbermaid containers.  Cut holes in the sides of exit and entrance (many cats will not use a shelter with only one hole as they feel trapped) and stuff with straw ( not hay).  There are also ways to insulate it and use other ideas.  Search the internet by searching "feral cat shelters"  You will find tons.

Here is some shelters that I have used throughout the years.  https://feralcattails.wordpress.com/tips-and-techniques/shelters/

Thank you so much for helping these kitties.  The most important things you can do is get them all spayed and neutered, then offer food/water and then offer shelters. 
 
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ajwolf

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thanks, i will check it out
 
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ajwolf

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thanks for the info,  i do subscribe to ally cat allies, and the humane society of randolph county is doing what they can, but they don't have the facilities right now to take on multiple cats.  last winter we built shelters out of the rubbermaid containers,  we are looking for something more structurally sound and making sure we can get the cats and kittens to use the shelters.
 
shadowsrescue

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ajwolf said:
 
thanks for the info,  i do subscribe to ally cat allies, and the humane society of randolph county is doing what they can, but they don't have the facilities right now to take on multiple cats.  last winter we built shelters out of the rubbermaid containers,  we are looking for something more structurally sound and making sure we can get the cats and kittens to use the shelters.
Click to expand...
The feral villa shelters are very structurally sound.  You can buy the kits or have someone handy make them.  My DH built mine.  Yet my cats never loved them.  My DH built a very sturdy structurally sound heated house 3 winters ago.  We now have 2.  Yet they do require electricity. 

If you need to stuff with straw, look for the Feral Villa.
 
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