I keep the garbage from the week outside my small deck in the backyard and I just noticed there are two cats, one fairly mature and one kitten. They have been going through the garbage, and as it is currently winter here in toronto (temperture 20 F), and right now there is a foot and a half of snow, is there any chance they might die? Both are longhair, but both are covered in snow, completely wet. As I found them today, they ran off. What can I do, I'd hate to see these poor creatures freeze to death..
2007-01-26 12:51:38 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Awwww. Put some warm milk out for them and some nice warm blankets. Poor little things.
2007-01-26 12:55:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
How good of you to worry about them. Cats do adapt pretty well, however, a kitten would not be as able to survive a winter as an adult. You can make them an inexpensive shelter and feed them.
Just providing them with food and water once a day will help a lot.
Humanly trapping them and if you have a no kill shelter that would take them would be idea. However there aren't a lot of no kills around that have space left Most animal control department will put them down.
Shelters can be anything from a plastic covered box that is not siutting directly on the ground( put a piece of wood under it) , disposable ice chests a wooden crate, a milk crate that has been covered with carpet on the inside and plastic to water proof it on the outside. You can put an old rug or blanket in it, hay will also work to insulate it. Make sure the opening in not facing into the wind. You can also tack up a towel to make a door for it, just leave it hanging from the top to keep out the wind.
I have added some links to more instructions for you. Good luck and thanks for caring about the cats.
2007-01-26 13:11:03 · answer #2 · answered by nemesis1im 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once you start feeding them, they will not go away. My Aunt thought it was a good idea to feed the 2 strays that were living under my grandparents porch (my grandparents were out of town for a month). Which just caused all kinds of drama. It was a mom and a kitten. We had to get a trap and catch them because there was no way they were going to leave now after they had food and water every day for 3 weeks. Well, long story short, we got the mother, she was very sick though and the SPCA had to put her to sleep. It took 2 more days to catch the baby (she wasn't heavy enough to trip the trap, so that was another fiasco) but lucky for her, my cat absolutely adored her (we had to use him to 'bait' her out from under the porch) and she is now a part of our family. The little bugger. So my advice would be to try and give them a warmer sheltered place to stay until you can get someone from a shelter (or yourself) to trap them. Only feed them if you're intending to trap them. And depending on how little the kitten is, you'll probably get the mom first. Hopefully the kitten will be trying to get to the mom and be near the cage so you can get it quick. Chase (my kitten) didn't do that and she wiggled her way back into a part of the porch where we couldn't get to. Oh and most cats are lactose intolerant, to cow's milk anyway, so don't give them milk. Although Whiska's makes a cat milk that I believe is goat milk bases that my cats just love, so if you have to give them milk, do that. Or get special cat's milk from the pet store. So much for a short story...ha ha. Good luck!
2007-01-26 13:11:43 · answer #3 · answered by jpiglet86 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call your local police dept they should have a live trap, to set out there to catch the two of them, keep food under there, and if possible try and put some hay or straw under there, can pick up bedding from your local pet shop, that should help to keep them dry, if you do not have the ability to get a live trap, then the next best thing is to feed them - do what you can to keep them as dry as possible, once a week move the food dish closer to your door, one or two steps at a time, until they are at your door, then open the door and put the dish inside, feed them and let them know they can go back outside, until they start to investigate inside, this is their signal that they have decided to trust you, and you should be able to tame them from then on just let them come to you on their terms, and it should go quite fast, this is the way I tamed several wild cats. I live in Minnesota
2007-01-26 13:01:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they might die, especially the kitten.
Contact a local TNR (trap, neuter, release) group in your area--also known as a feral cat rescue. These groups have humane traps that will allow you to catch the cats; some groups will help or even lend the trap.
If you do catch them, you have to have a plan for what you are going to do with them. Rescues and shelters are usually full, and shelters often euthanize, especially cats (there are too many!). However, do call a rescue for advice; they will give you hints on how to make sure you can keep the cats safe and dry and are usually very happy to help someone who is trying to do some good.
Good luck; you are obviously compassionate and I salute you for your willingness to help defenseless creatures.
2007-01-26 13:06:27 · answer #5 · answered by Patricia C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yikes! Yes, they could freeze, that's why they're looking for shelter under your deck, it's probably a good little cave for them. The kitten especially is at risk for the weather, as it's a bit tiny to be able to generate its own body heat for sufficient warmth. This is what I would do--call your local Animal Control and ask for a humane trap (or go get one, I think they're like 30 bucks USD at the hardware store), bait it up with a can of tuna fish, trap them and the take them to the humane society. Better they have a chance at adoption then to die a cold bitter death, right?
You're a good soul, God will smile on you for taking care of his creatures.
2007-01-26 12:55:41 · answer #6 · answered by Munya Says: DUH! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My first suggestion is to try and catch them to take them to a shelter or call the shelter to have them picked up. They're probably pretty shy, so it won't be easy. You should find the phone number to animal control in your phone book under the city listings.
The other thing you could do is provide a box with some old clothes in it and put it under your deck. At least they'll have something to cuddle in.
2007-01-26 12:59:03 · answer #7 · answered by siamcatp 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Feed them kitty food since one is young and give the periodically warm milk as well. I think give them the best shelter you can... blankets - place a plastic tarp under the blankets- they will snuggle up to keep warm . or if you have a garage get them in their once they realize you are helping them. Keep them around as they will keep the area around your home free of pests. They will not be a problem and they will always keep each other occupied.
2007-01-26 13:03:17 · answer #8 · answered by lindasue m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if they come back lure them into your yard with food and go from there try to get them inside however you will be lucky to get kitten kept alive if it is sickdince it is so little but the cat should fine i mean tey have a pretty good chance of living with out you since they are long haired but if they come back i would take them in atleast until you find them a home
2007-01-26 13:07:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can't get them in the house, put a crate outside with a warm blanket in it. And put some food out there for them. If I lived anywhere near you, I would take those cats. Once you start leaving food out, they won't be as afraid. The poor babies.
2007-01-26 12:59:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋