Cats of Colonia de las Rosas

The shelter familiarization seems to be a success. Tonight, to be sure, I left food on top and in the boxes so I can check and see if it's eaten tomorrow night.

I got home tonight just at feeding time. When I walked in the gate, only Sneakers was sitting on the feeding bench. "Kitty Cats, Kitty Cats," I call, and they come streaming from the front door. "What are you doing over here?" they seem to be saying to me.

All confusion disappears when I get out the bag of food I brought with me and start pouring it out. The happy crunch-crunch-crunch starts right away.

Someone left a container of food for them. It's almost empty. Even though I don't like to think about their health with these offerings, I love that the people show their concern and affection for the cats like this.

When I'm throwing it away I see a cardboard box that looks the exact size to be insulation in the shelters. One's a Rubbermaid Roughneck and the other's a Sterilite copy cat.

I bought some men's tube socks to hold rice or beans that I can throw in the microwave to provide a little warmth in the shelters, too.

It is pretty ironic, isn't it? I'm actually hiding the shelters in plain sight. I think I will take kluchetta's advice and wrap them in black plastic garbage bags tied with string. Then they will look even more like something the gardeners would have.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Oscar, Sneakers. 9 Total.

Glad to hear the kitties are taking to the shelters!

Yes, they are using the shelters. All the food was gone in both boxes about 1 pm today when I went down to get one of the boxes. I brought one box upstairs and put the cardboard box inside with newspapers around the edges. I hope that makes it a little warmer for them.

I know you must think we're weenies but it is very cold for us at the low 40s. Those thin plastic boxes don't offer much warmth without insulation. After I finish here I think I'll get the other box and at least line it with newspaper.

Home late again tonight. They are astounded to see me come in with my daughter. They stare, but they're not sure what to do. When we come back down they are at the door. Then when we keep going to her car, they're amazed and disappointed.

Finally I come back with the food and with their box which I tuck under the plants. I'm so cold I come quickly back upstairs.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Oscar, Red, Sneakers. 11 Total.

Spoke waaaaaaay too soon about it getting warmer. It's going to be in the mid-30s tonight in this part of L.A. Cold for anyone. At least there are two shelters out. I brought in the second shelter and lined the sides and botton of it with newspapers. I hope that 3-4 of them find warmth there tonight.

I keep seeing my mischievous cats shedding the newspapers from the sides of the shelter!

I gave the little so-and-so's more food tonight. I'm thinking they need more calories to keep warm.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Oscar, Sneakers. 10 Total.

Originally Posted by katie=^..^=

Spoke waaaaaaay too soon about it getting warmer. It's going to be in the mid-30s tonight in this part of L.A. Cold for anyone. At least there are two shelters out. I brought in the second shelter and lined the sides and botton of it with newspapers. I hope that 3-4 of them find warmth there tonight.

I keep seeing my mischievous cats shedding the newspapers from the sides of the shelter!

I gave the little so-and-so's more food tonight. I'm thinking they need more calories to keep warm.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Oscar, Sneakers. 10 Total.

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Hopefully they will keep each other warm in there!

My guys made it through the night. Everyone but Red showed up tonight. He will probably came by later. I went out early.

It is cold. Hovering in the mid-30s in my area, according to the newscasts.

They seem very hungry. The gobble up half (literally) 0f their food before I can even get the water bowls filled. Usually they are much more lackadaisical about it. I gave them extra food again tonight. Plus I left some on and in their shelters.

It's really ironic to me that I can hide the shelters in plain sight. When I moved here the people were complaining about the cats to the office a lot. There was a lot of animosity and I got a lot of discouraging remarks about the cats.

I guess my work at spaying/neutering and my finding homes for the abandoned kittens has paid off in goodwill. When I went out to get my petitions signed I was amazed at how easy it was. Twenty out of 22 people I asked, signed. That's when I began to realize that the atmosphere had changed considerably. Now I can "hide" the shelters just by putting them in people's gardens.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Oscar, Sneakers. 10 Total.

I'm sure glad they have you!

Thank you, I get so much joy from being part of their lives.

Home late again. That makes three times in five days. Oh well, its Christmas.

I used to worry that they would think no one was going to come, but I think they know now II will show up sooner or later. Three years ago, when Jose got sick and couldn't feed them anymore, no one told me for five days. They weren't fed for some of that time, but one of my neighbors was feeding them some. When I first started feeding them I thought it was important that they know I was coming, so I was very strict about getting home on time. I guess I feel I deserve some shopping and playing time now.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Oscar, Red, Snearkers. 10 Total.

At last, home to feed them on time. Actually I went early.

I made two new shelters because the weather forecast is for rain before morning. Cutting the openings is the hard part. I went back to Walgreen's because the man there was so helpful to me. I thought I could buy the little rings he used for the doors, but it turned out he MADE the rings by hand from baling wire! He actually stood there and made four more for me! I've got to send an email to human resources praising him.

I lined the boxes with newspapers and put newspapers on top and covered them with plastic bags. I put them under the overhang of the rec bldg. That's where I found four of my boys scrunched down and miserable looking the last time it rained.

I added cat snacks and catnip to all the the boxes with a little prayer before I came back in.

I feel sort of weird worrying about my cats getting wet, considering the awful storm covering the mid-west and northeast the last few days. I hope all of your cats managed to keep dry and warm.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Oscar, Red, Sneakers. 10 Total.

The shelters are definitely a success!

When I was pouring out the food in the tiny dry space under the rec bldg, four cats came tumbling out of the box nearby. The space where they had been crouching during the last rainy night.

I was so delighted!

When I approached the shelter under the plants, Blackie jumped out. Then he stood there in the rain looking confused and getting wet.

The other two shelters had been used, too, because all the treats and food I left were gone.

This was the whole reason for getting the shelters, so I'm so happy at their success. I know at least seven of them are keeping dry. All the shelters can be shared so it could be two-five more.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Lady Day, Louie, Oscar. Six Total.

Wow, they adapted to that pretty quickly!

Katie: Wow oh wow! How happy I am to hear you've decided to do the shelters and not worry! Hiding them in plain sight indeed!

So long as the gardeners and neighbors are okay with it - and you keep
them on the low down, you should have no problems

6 cats are using them, that's six cats that are fine!! Warm isn't so much the problem, what is a problem is the wet and the wind. Cats need shelter from being wet and from wind chills. Otherwise, for temps they can withstand
20s easily. So your shelters should be fine.

You might consider trying to find some mini straw bales at a crafts store - these come into season in the fall... but you never know, there may still be somearound now.... one mini bale is about 5 dollars and will fill 2 rubbermaid shelters.

Other things to use, shredded newspaper/paper. Makes good Nests.
Disposable and biodegradable.

The straw might also pass as garden stuff, and not get tossed away or bothered as much. And you can move the shelter away from rec building when the rainy season dissapates.

Hugs and best of luck. I know how wonderful it is to KNOW they are using the shelters!!!

My crippled paw feral btw isfinally healing, I saw her putting weight on paw. She is / did hange close to the shelters and food, so I think they were instrumental in her survival. With that paw she wasn't able to jump in/out of the drains as usual. Now she seems better - and of course, due to cold, I've been putting food into the shelter bins for them also.

Its a great way to get them to go into the shelters

Kudos to the nice Walmart guy btw.

opilot! I so appreciate your enthusiasm. I'm sure your food and shelters were the reason your little cat was able to recover. Those things are so important.

Yes I slept so much better knowing that most of my cats were in the shelters and that the others have probably found ways to keep warm. It was seeing those four guys just crouching near the rec bldg that set me on fire! Just knowing they were okay helped a lot. Then I saw little Alfie of course. Even Lady Day likes the shelters. She's always hidden under the generator before. Now I can pray for rain again like all other Southern Californians! We got about an inch. Not enough to change the drought conditions which are daily growing worse.

I felt compelled to move the boys' shelter because it was so conspicuous. When I went out to feed them tonight I showed them the new place.

The shelter I made without the rings -- with string for the swinging doors instead -- does not work well. I have to push it in. The food I put in last night wasn't eaten, so Blackie never went back inside.

In fact Blackie didn't show up at dinner time, but finally came after I called him.

Oh, I sent a complimentary email for the Walgreen's guy. Did I saw Wal Mart? It's Walgreen's. I had to word it carefully to make sure it didn't sound like he was neglecting any of his assignments to help me!

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Mamie, Oscar, Sneakers. 10 Total.

It's sprinkling. We need the rain, like always, so it's good. All the shelters had been used. So that's good, too. I think I'm nearly done. Just two more will do it.

I left the food by the rec bldg where it stays dry. As I was walking back, Oscar started following me. To my surprise, when I stopped to pick up my mail, I looked around and he was sitting in front of the glass door watching me.

I went back out to talk to him. I'm not sure what he wanted. I followed him back to the feeding bench and little Blackie started meowing, too. I couldn't figure it out, but when I reached down to pet Oscar he was wet, so I just told them to go get in their little boxes and left. I wonder what it was? I hope they were just thanking me!

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Oscar, Sneakers. 9 Total.

Katie, maybe they wanted more food? When cold and wet, they need to eat more I guess. Besides you represent warmth to them now too. Hey, maybe
they wanted to come inside, LOL? Taming right down for you!!

Good they have the shelters - good to have more about. I figure it at
2 cats per shelter, even when it fits more, since I never see 3 or 4 together sharing, but I've often seen "buddies" in 2s.

I did't put doors on mine, just one opening and left it for them
to jump in/out of.

Hugs and Kudos to you for all your work and successes!!

It wasn't food because he left the food I had just poured and followed me to my door. I'm still not sure.

I went out later and he followed me to the patio. It has a roof, so it's dry under there. Blackie came and was extremely affectionate. He let me pick him up and hold him, while he rubbed my face with his and laid his head on my chest. He was kneading my arms and even drooling.

Blackie used to be an inside cat, so he's tame but not usually that affectionate. I decided he was saying thank you. He's really attached to the shelter under the plants, I think. Oscar stayed back. Lady Day, who was Blackie's roommate when they lived inside, Louie-Louie, and Alfie all watched Blackie. I wonder what my "wild" boys Louie-Louie and Alfie were thinking.

Tonight we were back to normal. The cats waited at the feeding bench and came running when they heard me say, "kitty-cats kitty-cats." They enjoyed their celebratory calling of names and settled down to crunch crunch crunch.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Oscar, Sneakers. 9 Total.

I had to call Blackie to come again tonight.

Everyone else waiting at the feeding bench -- well except Oscar and Alfie. They were both waiting near the door.

One of the water bowls taken. I can never understand why people do that. It was just a flimsy plastic bowl from a 99 cent store.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Oscar, Sneakers. 9 Total.

Nothing like coming home to get the crowd together.

When I got home, they were all waiting for me. Josesito was waiting at the gate, he must have heard me talking to my daughter in the parking lot.

I had the cat food with me, so they didn't have to wait until I went upstairs and came back. Good little kitties!

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Oscar, Red, Sneakers. 10 Total.

Originally Posted by katie=^..^=

Nothing like coming home to get the crowd together.

When I got home, they were all waiting for me. Josesito was waiting at the gate, he must have heard me talking to my daughter in the parking lot.

I had the cat food with me, so they didn't have to wait until I went upstairs and came back. Good little kitties!

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Lady Day, Louie, Oscar, Red, Sneakers. 10 Total.

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Merry Christmas eve to the kitties. Will they get a special treat today or tomorrow?

Hi kluchetta! To tell you the truth, I hadn't thought about it. I've been so busy with shopping, and dining, etc. plus making their shelters and getting them out...... it didn't occur to me. Maybe now that you mention it, I'll try to get them some catnip toys. Except for Alfie, the ones that used to play have gotten too old to want to play with little mice and balls. Maybe I'll get them some canned food. They'd go for that big time.

It was very windy when I went out tonight. I've got an ear infection, so I really noticed it. I was worried about them for awhile, but when I went out for Christmas Eve dinner with my daughter (Norm's was crowded!), it was calm again.

This has nothing to do with the cats, but my daughter surprised me with a Christmas tree and all the decorations last night. I haven't had a tree for awhile (depression will do that to you) and I just love this one.

My kitties seem okay. Since I got the little hidey boxes for them, they seem to really love me all the more. They follow me now even when I'm with other people. They wait for me next to the parking lot, when I'm waiting for my daughter. It's so wonderful, it's heartbreaking.

Roll Call: Alfie, Blackie, Dude, Henry, Josesito, Henry, Lady Day, Louie, Oscar, Sneakers. 10 Total.