Do you have any ideas as to how to keep stray cats warm?

Question

There have always been many cats in my backyard, and whenever winter comes, my heart breaks for them. There is this one cat in particular, who is so friendly, and my neighbor takes the cat in sometimes. He said he was going to build the cat a little house for the winter, but I just came home from work and there is nothing there, but the cat. I pet her and she was cold. I brought out a towel, but that will not do anything really. Do you have any ideas as to how to keep stray cats warm?

Answer 1

We have a 'house' in the back out of the wind that was easy to make.

You know those plastic tupperware tubs with the snap on lids? The ones in blue or green plastics, that are knee high? I picked one up at a hardware store for $4, cut a hole in the small side, stuck a cardboard box inside that, cut a hole to match the hole in the plastic, stuck folded newspapers around the bottom under the cardboard box and between the sides (heat retention), then got a piece of foam rubber for the bottom of the cardboard box, wrapped that in a towel and snapped the lid on the whole thing.

Angle it out of the wind so snow doens't go inside, and the cat will use that whenever it wants as a sort of safe cave. The hole we had to cut with a tin snips, since the plastic was pretty thick, and I cut it so it was 10" across, making it easy for the cat to get inside. The ones here use it when they want, and with the foam rubber reflecting heat back and the folded papers helping to insulate, it is a good shelter in bad weather.

Answer 2

To keep stray cats warm, you can do a number of things. There are those outdoor fireplaces, and you can light a fire even in just one of those inexpensive little charcoal grills, or if you're willing to spend money, one of those ceramic, pear-shaped things, where a small charcoal fire lasts all night, and the ceramic radiates heat.

To keep stray cats warm, you can go to the pet supply store, and buy one of those doghouse igloos (maybe your neighbor would be willing to go halvsies with you on this). Line the bottom floor of it with foam rug padding, and on top of that put some old towels. Change the rags once or twice a week. And on particularly cold nights, get some of those handwarmers that are about a buck, by the checkout in the sports supply place and other stores as well. When you bring out a little pan of food, open the handwarmer pouch, and toss a handwarmer in the igloo. You would be amazed at how much heat they generate in a closed place that has a little insulation. And they are harmless.

You don't have to invest in an igloo if you don't want to. You can just get a really large plastic tub (one of those lidded storage tubs). Then get a sheet of styrofoam insulation like you see at construction sites. A gigantic sheet costs 6-7 bucks in NYC. Get some glue, and glue a deep box out of the sheet of insulation. Put it on its side, fit the tub into it, cut a hole in the lid for the cat(s) to go in and come out of, put some rug padding on the bottom, rags on top of that, and on cold nights, a handwarmer.

When you feed these cats (or this cat), try and put a little broad spectrum OTC wormer into their food. You could call a vet to find out what would do. It wouldn't be as good as he would use, but it would help. Most of these guys probably have worms, and in cold weather, those turkies rob the cat of its nutrients, and can cause health problems.

If this one little cat is especially friendly, you know, it is asking you if it can be your cat. This little animal may have been abandoned or dumped, and really wants to live with people. That is what this behavior means. You could google "cat rescue groups" or "no-kill shelters" and the name of your town or region, contact them and let them know you have a candidate for adoption. Or you could call around to the vets in your area, since some vets take in animals like this, get them vaccinated and adopt them out. Or you could take him in yourself. The initial cost of getting him dewormed and checked, neutered (if that is necesssary) and vaccinated might be between $100 and $200, but it might be the most wonderful holiday gift you have ever given yourself.

Answer 3

For one thing, are you sure that it does not have a home? If it's fully tamed, and you are positive of it, you could try and find a home for it. We have a lot of stray cats around here, but cats are very smart and can find their own warmth. Some just sit winter out on a warm car tire or on someones porch. If you can't find it a home, then I don't believe there is anyway to help her, she will find her own way to survive.

Answer 4

Umm you could take them in or try to build a shelter and rap a water bottle up in a towel. My cats love laying on a warm water bottle.

Answer 5

Get A couple of Hay bales or a pile of raked up leaves and put an old blanket you don' want any more in the hay or leaves and they will stay warm. How did cats stay warm before we made them pets?

Answer 6

Someone I know had a shelter, like a small size dog house, made of wood, that they lined with straw, and they put a light bulb in the top (up high enough that the cat wasn't bumping into it). It needs to be a lower wattage bulb (you don't want to cook kitty). Their outdoor cat loved it in there.

Answer 7

If all else fails, you can temporarily use a large cardboard box. Turn it on its side, and using tape, leave only a large enough area for the cat to crawl in it. Put hay, towels, or a blanket in it for warmth.

Answer 8

bring her to an animal shelter, or if you just want to let her be then leave a garage/shed door open a bit so she can come and go. If she is a feral cat she is a survivor and will find a way to stay warm so don't worry too much.

Answer 9

Buy a small dog house, or bring the cat inside if it will let you and you can take care of it, if not don't worry to much, cats are tougher than they look

Answer 10

I lay blankets outside for my neighbors cats and they always cuddle up in them... And everytime u go out cuddle it that always helps them.