Hi again, people! I've kind of been donated a cat. I've been feeding him for the past year. His owners live on my street,but he won't go home. The lady asked me today if I'd look after him as they are moving houses and he is an "outside cat" and refuses to be caught. I said I can't have him in as the dogs would go potty. He wouldn't come in anyway, I would have loved it if he would. She said that's fine if you could just watch him. I said I wouldn't see him go hungry,and she seemed happy with that.
Now I need ideas. I will have to make him a windproof bed in my entry for over winter. Any ideas? Wood might be best, my entry is under cover but the wind howls through. I will find a way but I just wondered if you clever people have any ideas? I have a cat too,as well as the dogs. Thanks for any ideas. xxx
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Dear Colliepam, in response to your question re: sheltering your "donated" cat, this was our experience with a feral cat that we had begun feeding. (Once you feed them they're yours, of course!!). We have an unheated and screened porch which has a flap in the bottom portion of the door, and he would use that entry to come and go. We placed a number of blankets and old quilts on a chair and he would burrow under them at night.
thanks ana! so far ive come up with a wooden box with a lid,about 2feet long.my daughters partner will cut a "cat flap" in one side and i will line it with vet bed_i can tack it to the walls and lid,then the base will be thick newspaper and more vet bed-which is lovely and warm. he wont come in further than my entry because of my 3 collies who are rather lively(!),also my resident cat doesnt like him-although i have no doubts he ll try and pinch the nice warm bed! xxx
Colliepam,
If you or a friend are handy with simple tools, you could build a wood house for the cat, where the entrance door comes in to an L-shaped alcove, before going into the sleeping area. Line the sleep area with an old blanket or some thick towels. To help block the wind from getting to the inside, screw/nail/staple a piece of heavy canvas or use a piece of carpeting over the outside opening as a wind-break. If a wooden structure is more than you can make, you could use a sturdy cardboard box that is big enough to glue or sew to the inside walls and floor, a thick towel, quilt batting, or piece of carpet--anything for insulation.
Bless your heart for helping out. There are several places on the internet that can give you suggestions for making a winter home for outdoor cats. Many organizations that help feed feral colonies have good experience with this. We had an outdoor stray cat that adopted us and we had to make him this sort of shelter. We used a styrofoam box with a fitted lid, the type that is used to ship food that needs to be kept cold, like meats, because they are made to be very well insulated. We lined it with blankets and some old wool sweaters that I was going to donate anyway.We cut a small opening in the side but not down too low so snow or water couldn't leak in.
'Stray' cats can be very finicky about going inside almost anything so I hope this one will actually go inside something you make for him.
I hope you find a way to accommodate your new baby as it can be a true 'worry' if you think they are not warm.
Thanks for caring for one of these 'otherwise' lost babies.
You are the Cat Angel! Animals know where to go to seek help , shelter and love. You could make a shelter like structure with a open front. It could be a large box, a covered cage , or even a dog house. Add some warm blanket pieces/bedding, This can be made with little money. Also you can talk to human society in your area may be able to offer some help with you fostering a animal. Another idea is to inquire to your Vet's office, they often have connections to help, samples and freebies. This cat loves you and also it's freedom to come and go. Good Luck & Thank You!
Awww...poor kitty. Why do people not understand animals are not disposable. Blessings to you for taking care of it.
Here are two links I like:
Fabric and old people bedding can harbor fleas and other pests can will freeze when wet, so avoid those!
Clean, dry straw is the best and is usually not expensive, BUT be sure it has not been treated with any pesticides or chemicals as that can be toxic.
Blessings and prayers for you and your guest!
You are such a kind person! I see great suggestions here - so will add only that drinking water in the freezing temps might be a challenge for the cat too. You can cut a sort of styrofoam donut to surround the cat's water dish from a spigot cover or ice chest.
thankyou all you kind people who answered-some really good ideas there,as someone said,itd just be my luck if he wouldnt go in it!theres been a shallow!10" plastic tray for his use in my entry with vet bed in-i have never seen him in it-tho my cat has a few times! i felt so sorry for him last winter -theyd manage to get him in for a few days,then he d be back yelling at my front door-"feed me!". he seemed to just live under parked cars,but i really hoped he d found somewhere warm to sleep.he got a bit grubby but seemed fit and well-and not at all thin!mind you,he could eat!xxxx
Bless you. You're doing all you can. I so hope he will use his house.
Marg from England.
You might want to try this idea: www.cuteness.com/
From what you are saying the cat does not like to be inside and prefers to live under parked cars during the winter months. if this is the case you may need to make a small home out of plastic for the cat to live in during the winter months. I know a lot of people will take an old plastic trash can and lay it on its side to build a home with this. They can now line the can with blankets and stuff to keep the cat warm while he sleeps. If you do receive a lot of snow and rain during this time of year it is a good idea to put the little home up a bit and off the ground. You may need to keep the home outside your door that he visits and where you feed him. This way he will come to sleep in the home you have provided for him and be able to eat their tool. This might be the only hope to get him out of the cold during winter. He may never go to the area inside your home or enclosed porch because he will be afraid of being trapped inside again. If the home is outside by your back door he will use this more because he is still outside and able to leave when he wants.
I've seen plans online for making an old cooler into an insulated cat house. That might be a good way to protect him from the cold. If you have a shed or some other outbuilding that the cat could use, that would be another layer of protection.
Good luck and thanks so much for taking care of him.
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