Cats who were once pets but got lost and abandoned and learned to live outside without human assistance are the source of stray cats. Many rescue organizations believe it is best to focus their resources on amiable cats who are willing to acclimatize to indoor life because the majority are hard to tame and adopt. Former pets and their progeny make up the colonies that often house outdoor cats. Though resourceful, others could still require assistance to get through a harsh winter.
What wintertime care is necessary for a stray cat?
What wintertime care is necessary for a stray cat?
1 - Coverage
Even with their thick coats, cats may still require warm, dry environments to keep them safe from inclement weather. It's not too difficult to build your own shelter, and there are many low-cost cat shelter plans online:
1: Shelter made of plywood
2: Foam-filled shelter
3: Bin shelter storage
Size is crucial when building a shelter. It should be both roomy enough to accommodate multiple cats and compact enough to retain the heat from their bodies inside. It will be challenging for cats to maintain a warm environment in an overly large shelter. Because it allows cats to burrow, straw is the ideal material for covering the shelter. Additionally appropriate are pillowcases that have been loosely filled with shredded newspaper and packing peanuts; however, these have to be washed and restuffed on a regular basis. Read This: What does feral cat mean? How are they different from stray cats?
Avoid using these kinds of insulation if you won't be able to keep an eye on the shelter on a frequent basis. Rather, use Mylar to cover the interior walls and floor of the shelter to reflect their own heat. Don't use folded newspapers, blankets, towels, or hay to insulate shelters.
2 - Water and food
Feeding stray cats might have drawbacks, but it can also be a lifesaver during the winter if done in an ethical manner. If you choose to do so, store food and water in a location close to the shelter that is both weatherproof and easily accessible. The Humane Society advises setting up two shelters so that their openings face one another and fastening a board to form a canopy in the space between them.
If you live somewhere that gets cold easily, get a solar-heated dish or put water and canned food in a thick, wide plastic container. Water bowls should not be placed within the cat shelter; however, food can be placed inside.
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