OK there is this stray cat on our property. She is friendly and I feed her and she lives in an old truck?

Question

This truck will be towed away very soon. I brought her a small dog house, placed straw on the floor and placed it near the truck. She will not use it... I started putting her food dish it in and at least she now goes in it. I cannot bring her into my home although I would like to, She was injured several months ago (part of tail cut-off) and if I bring her to a shelter.. instant death. I do not want her to freeze how can I persude her to use the dog house... perhaps make it a little safer??? Thanks

Answer 1

Try putting some catnip in there!-- Cats go crazy for the stuff!

Answer 2

I doubt very much she will use the dog house as long as it is exposed in an unprotected area. If you're truly concerned as to the well being of this cat give her an opportunity to gain access to your garage or a storage shed. She probably still will not use the dog house if you bring it in, but you can place a litter box to see if she will use it. Chances are she will. You state you'd like to bring her into your house but can't. That usually means someone in the house doesn't like cats. Anyway, you have a few options. Keep feeding her which means she won't leave. Give her some decent shelter and most importantly get her spayed or otherwise you'll have a bunch of kittens. Keep in mind that only one out of five kittens born wild survive. Your other option is to take her to a good shelter. It's unlikely they would immediately euthanize her unless she is incurably ill or to wild to make a pet of her.

Answer 3

If you can borrow a cat carrier from someone, then please do so, set it open near the truck or dog house, and put a dish of tuna fish in there, sit close to the carrier and talk softly (be consistant) until she goes inside to eat the tuna, close the door on the carrier and take her to an animal shelter that does not euthanize animals but finds homes for them, at least she'll be in out of the cold and be fed daily, with a much better chance to be adopted.

Answer 4

I think you are being very thoughtful!! :)

Also, you are providing an alternative place for her, she may or may not choose to use it as she has apparently decided the truck is her home. Is it possible to run an outdoor rated extension cord & put a heat lamp inside the dog house? That would keep her from freezing & she might even then choose to be there with warmth, food & water. You could even go as far as to line it with an old sheet or other type of soft cloth.

I applaude you for all that you are doing :)

Answer 5

Take a peice of food and make a trail from the truck to the dog house you may have to do it a couple times but it will work, find out what she likes though try lays potato chips for some reason I think she likes the salt

Answer 6

Try to bring the box closer to your house-in a less busy spot & put something warm in there, an old blanket works best, maybe even a heating pad(on low and under the blanket) for when winter really kicks in. Once the truck is gone...she may use the house more.
Too bad you can't bring her in house....
but at least she knows your there for her.

Good luck

Answer 7

You are certainly solving this problem in the right way. When the truck is gone she will probably start to use the dog house as you will have made it a familiar place by feeding her there. Cats are just so reluctant to make any changes in their life.

Answer 8

Either way, if she stays outside (whether its in an old truck or a dog house) she will still freeze. Bring her to a no kill shelter. Just type in "no kill animal shelter" or just "animal shelter" into google (along with your city and state) to research the different options. She needs medical attention and a warm place to stay.

Answer 9

I think just keep on doing what you are doing. Make it enticing by putting good smelling foods in there such as tuna , and wet food like 9 lives or something.When she's hungry she'll go in and use it.It will take a little time. With the truck gone she'll have no choice but to use the dog house.

Answer 10

if the cat will let you pick her up then try to get her to a vet that can point you in the direction of a no kill shelter. Or better yet if you want to keep the kitty and you have a basement or garage somewhere warm that has your smell that she can stay in for at least 2 days with out getting out put her in that place. feed her and give her plenty of loving. this will want her to stay closer to your house and not want to keep going back to that old truck. I recently moved to another state and we kept my outdoor cat in the basement for about 3 days when we let him out he knew the smell and stayed close to the house. however a friend of mine did not do that when she moved and her cat ran off and they never found him.

Answer 11

she is skittish near yu because she isn't used to humans and/or has been sorely mistreated by them. once the truck is towed away she will need a new shelter, and since your putting the food in there, hopefully she'lle use it. its hard to say. but the best thing is to keep showing her that you wont hurt her, feed her and so on and eventually she wil come around enough to get her in the house. poor lil kitty, good luck.