Ha anyone kept cats outside in the winter?

Question

My wife is feeding 3 stray cats outside of our house. We cannot take the cats in because they are wild and we have 2 dogs and an 8 week old baby. We are however animal lovers and we want to take care of the cats which are so skinny they are close to death. Has anyone ever made a dog house or cat house that will keep the animals warm in the winter in northern ohio even when it snows and gets below 0 F all the time. We feel so bad we want to help them out

Ok, we keep out dogs in the house all the time. They are wild cats. we cannot get within 100 feet of them let alone catch them and take them in. There is no spca in ohio. The only place you can take them is the animal shelter and they have a 5 month waiting list per cat. They will not take wild cats. We were just trying to help the wild cats stay warm this winter in a house that would be out in the woods away from us.

Answer 1

We live out in the country and take in many stray cats. One of them was FIV positive and could not be around other cats, so we had to keep him outside until a home could be found for him. My husband built him a small house, much like a dog house. He wrapped it in Tyvek and put on pink rigid insulation just like you would on a regular house. The doorway was covered with heavy plastic sheeting to keep the wind out. Inside we put old flannel sheets for him to nest in.

He loved his little house, which we put on a ledge up off the gound. We eventually found a home for him without other cats, but he had cozy digs while he hung around our house.

Answer 2

Yes i have kept cats outside in the winter time before but we made them a house that was insulated so they would stay warm and they liked it and used it all the time. It was just made of wood, cardboard and a giant plastic trash bag. By the time winter was over it was pretty dirty inside but it was ok because they didnt need it anymore since it was starting to warm up. I think building them a small house would be a very good idea.

Answer 3

When I was growing up, my family lived on a farm. Over the years, I saw a lot of cats come and go. I'm sure that they didn't live thru the winter. Most weren't around for more than a year or two. It was a horrible way to go.
The only thing I can think of to help them is to possibly live trap them and have them altered by a vet. If, that is an option. You might also have them get their vaccines.
That way they could enjoy a less stressful life and they won't have kittens that have a live like their parents.

Answer 4

cats can be very resourceful. I live in Texas and it doesn't get that cold down here but i hear that cats like warm engines! just kidding. the feral cat will find a place to be warm. and the ONLY humane thing to do is to provide food and water for them until you can find an animal control center that will take them in. I'm sure there is some organization that caters to animals that can help you with your problem.
Also there has to be an old cat lady in your neighborhood that would love to take them in. Drop her a note in her mailbox!
Seriously:
feeding them and providing shelter for feral cats will only encourage them to reproduce. stray cats need to be fixed. and most of them cannot be tamed. they can be dangerous and can stink up your yard, car, and front door- using it as territory.
Just pray for them.

Answer 5

If they are wild cats, they'll probably find some place to sleep. Even if you go to the expense of making a nice warm place for them, who's to say that the local skunk won't take up residence! Your intentions are good, but really, you can't make them.

Answer 6

Own water and food bowls. Fill up water every time you feed them. Each cat to its own bowl. Attention. Cat treats every so often (The little love heart ones are gud for them) Check every day in winter to make sure they dont have a "secind eyelid covering thei eye, which is a sure sin they r sick. Gud Luckk

Answer 7

there is a exising law n the books now that you must must have a shelyer for dogs such as dog hjouses or keep cats in during the winter time if the ciops show up and your rover is outside freezing you could ver wel loose the dog, or be arrested fioranimal cruelity charges!!

Answer 8

I suppose you could put one of those igloo dog houses near the backdoor and out of the wind, with blankets, etc. inside or make a place in your garage. Really, though, why not take them to the animal rescue and they'll find them a good inside home!

Answer 9

If you really want to help them, just keep putting food out for them and they will keep coming back. As far as keeping them warm, if you fatten them up you won't have anything to worry about it because you know cat's develope their winter coat and they are smart enough to find any available space to keep them warm when they need it.

Answer 10

wHY NOT TAKE THEM TO A ANIMAL SHELTER AND THEY COULD FIND THEM GOOD HOMES. You could check on buying them or building a good insulated small house but I do really believe that it would be to cold for the kittys. Sorry that I could not give you much info....