Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs

1. 

   Hubby is feeding a stray cat that keeps coming around. He's already named him so I guess he's ours now. Shadow, the hubby calls him, because he's all black and follows my hubby around like his shadow. Until we can get him to the vet and have him checked out (so that we can consider bringing him inside to meet my other two kitties), we are building him a winter shelter out on our deck. Right now, as a temporary measure, we put a cardboard box with straw in it out there, and covered it with a big wool horse blanket. It's also sitting on a bed of straw to provide a little insulation. He was using the box before we put the straw in it so I'm hoping he'll continue to use it since now, it'll be warmer for him.

   For a sturdier structure, hubby is putting an 18 gal. tote inside a 30 gal. tote and filling the gaps with foam insulation. We'll put straw inside as well so Shadow can burrow into it if he wishes.

   What do you guys think? It would be hard to build a more permanent structure since we are in a condo complex and there isn't anywhere to put it. If I paint the tote to match the siding I think I can figure out a way to disguise it so the homeowner's association doesn't bust my chops about it.

   Shadow is very sweet and it leads me to believe that he was dumped as opposed to being truly feral. It disgusts me that so many people think cats are disposable. I'm hoping he tests negative when he goes to the vet and I can just bring him inside.

   Posted 2 years ago by Beth_in_NJ #

2. 

   Sounds like a good structure, from reading the feral group columns, they say that the 18 gal tote inside the 30 gal tote and filling the gaps with foam insulation is excellent. They do mention putting an entrance and exit doors so that the cat can escape is there is danger of any kind, preferably with the doors not in a straight line to each other because you wouldn't want the wind/cold to blow right thru. Bless you both for caring about Shadow :)

   *** note this is one of the excerpts from the feral group members:

   As for self warming... Snuggle Safes are microwaveable, but other than that, mylar is crazy for turning a kitty into his own furnace. Reflects their heat right back at them and their own body heat cooks up the shelter. I use it as a little dangling strip over the doorway too, to keep some extra heat from escaping the door.

   I was going to send it to you or rather the link I think they have on the website but don't have your email addy. Mine is dds527 at yahoo dot com.

   Posted 2 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #

3. 

   I read about the Snuggle Safes. I emailed the company and they told me they don't really sell to retail stores - if you find one it'll be hit-or-miss. They gave me a couple of websites that carry their stuff.

   Mylar is a great idea. I never even thought of that. My mother-in-law cares for about 8 strays. She basically closed in her front porch and put a bunch of cat bed in there. She covers them with her old solar pool covers - whenever she gets a new one, she just cuts up the old one.

   Hopefully this will only be temporary. My husband has really fallen for him.
   He's such a softie when it comes to cats.

   My email address is snowluge99 at yahoo dot com if you still want to link me to that site. Thanks for the info!

   Posted 2 years ago by Beth_in_NJ #

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