When is it to cold for a stray?

tanjkn3 · Dec 12, 2005

Here is the story my neighbors moved out and left behind a cat(also left behind dogs but AC got them) anyway I have been trying to find someone to take him I have called local shelters/rescues and can't find anyone with any room I can't bring him in my house cause my dog wants to carry him around in her mouth. I would LOVE to keep him but it really wouldn't work out. so for now I have just been feeding him I am wondering how cold is too cold from him to be outside? I do have an inclosed porch that he slept on the other day when it was snowing. Is sleeping on the porch enough? it isn't heated but is fully enclosed and there is a couch with blankets that many summer strays have slept one but this is our first winter stray. we live in New England where it can get quite cold it is supposed to be single digits later this week.
Any info would be great

tnr1 · Dec 12, 2005

Originally Posted by tanjkn3

Here is the story my neighbors moved out and left behind a cat(also left behind dogs but AC got them) anyway I have been trying to find someone to take him I have called local shelters/rescues and can't find anyone with any room I can't bring him in my house cause my dog wants to carry him around in her mouth. I would LOVE to keep him but it really wouldn't work out. so for now I have just been feeding him I am wondering how cold is too cold from him to be outside? I do have an inclosed porch that he slept on the other day when it was snowing. Is sleeping on the porch enough? it isn't heated but is fully enclosed and there is a couch with blankets that many summer strays have slept one but this is our first winter stray. we live in New England where it can get quite cold it is supposed to be single digits later this week.
Any info would be great

Cats can grow pretty thick fur coats during the winter and although your porch is not heated..sounds like it is insulated against wind, rain etc. I think he should be ok during the winter...you may want to provide him with some moist food that has been heated and even some chicken broth. BTW...thank you for caring for this cat. I would also check with neighbors to see if they are looking for another cat and certainly take this cat into the vet at some point to verify that he is healthy and that he has been neutered.

Katie

tanjkn3 · Dec 12, 2005

Originally Posted by TNR1

Cats can grow pretty thick fur coats during the winter and although your porch is not heated..sounds like it is insulated against wind, rain etc. I think he should be ok during the winter...you may want to provide him with some moist food that has been heated and even some chicken broth. BTW...thank you for caring for this cat. I would also check with neighbors to see if they are looking for another cat and certainly take this cat into the vet at some point to verify that he is healthy and that he has been neutered.

Katie

He has NOT been fixed yet we are going to make an appt to get him nutered and UTD on shots at our low cost clinc in our state, And I think he may have worms but since I have never had a cat that has had worms I don't know what to look for but I can tell you what has led me to think this. when we started feeding him he was extremly skinnyand like a few days later his belly got HUGE and my mom(lives next door) and I thought he was a she and that she was pregnant so we caught him and I relized that he was not a she. In a way I was let down cause I know it would have been a lot easier to find a shelter to take him in if it was a pregnant female
I don't think anyone in our neighborhood would take him we are the only cat people, my husband and I currently only have one but my mom has 4(one is also a stray that another neighbor left when they moved! nice neighborhood huh!)
The porch does keep him sheltered from rain, wind ect, I had never thought of warming food but I will try that thanks

tnr1 · Dec 13, 2005

Originally Posted by tanjkn3

He has NOT been fixed yet we are going to make an appt to get him nutered and UTD on shots at our low cost clinc in our state, And I think he may have worms but since I have never had a cat that has had worms I don't know what to look for but I can tell you what has led me to think this. when we started feeding him he was extremly skinnyand like a few days later his belly got HUGE and my mom(lives next door) and I thought he was a she and that she was pregnant so we caught him and I relized that he was not a she. In a way I was let down cause I know it would have been a lot easier to find a shelter to take him in if it was a pregnant female
I don't think anyone in our neighborhood would take him we are the only cat people, my husband and I currently only have one but my mom has 4(one is also a stray that another neighbor left when they moved! nice neighborhood huh!)
The porch does keep him sheltered from rain, wind ect, I had never thought of warming food but I will try that thanks

That's great that you are planning to have him neutered...and yes, he sounds like he has worms. Let us know how it goes.

Katie

kittenkiya · Dec 13, 2005

I have ferals that live on my porch that is NOT enclosed. I put a blanket down on the porch floor, and put a table on it, then pulled up the loose ends of the blanket and tied them under the table.

Then I took another blanket and put it over the table and let it hang over and enclose the area.

The ferals feel secure because there are many ways to get out, they are not penned in.

I live in Arizona and it does get as cold here as New England, but maybe a blanket tent would be a nice addition to your enclosed porch.

When is it to cold for a stray?

tanjkn3

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