Stray Cats Outside in Winter

We've had a stray- probably feral- cat living in the shelter on the back landing since last Fall. She will sit by the window or the french doors to the deck and try to make friends with the cats that live in the house but she will run at just the sight of people. She has made her home on the back landing and seems quite happy to be there.

We have had some very cold days and nights, down to the minus 30s celsius. The best investment made was the microwave heating disc. Put it in the microwave for a few minutes, and then put it in the box we constructed, under the cat bed thats inside the box, and it keeps her and the inside of the box warm for up to 12 hours. Wrapping the whole section of the landing in a tarp (the blue in the picture) and then in plastic, keeps the wind and snow out.

We have just added a heated water dish. Luckily there is an electrical outlet on the landing, so with a long outdoor extension, she and other cats that come around, always have fresh water to drink.

This is not an ideal situation by any means. She should be inside. But it is impossible to get near her, even after all these months. And trying to capture her and failing might mean scaring her so much she would stay away all together and end up freezing to death somewhere. Its not a chance we want to take. She's safe, warm, gets regular food and water, and for now that's as good as it gets.

Luna & Tiger Wish You a Happy New Year

Luna, Tiger and I Wish You a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Making a Stray Cat Shelter

Two weeks ago we had an unexpected snowstorm. The snow melted in a day but it was a wake up call. I live in an area with a lot of abandoned, stray cats, and yes, we have been feeding them. The Humane Society is overrun with cats and won't take them in; they will be outdoors for the winter. We decided to try and make them some kind of winter shelter. We used materials we could get for free (boxes), materials that could be bought cheaply (space blankets - $1.00 at Dollarama), and Styrofoam packing and plastic wrap (which we already had).
First we made 3 box shelters - covered the boxes in the Styrofoam wrap (for insulation,
then covered that in heavy duty plastic (to keep them from getting wet),
and then with the space blanket to keep their body heat in.
We put carpet squares (bought a box of them at the local recycling centre for a buck) on the floor for comfort. My friend made the most expensive purchases which were self-heating blankets which were put on top of the carpet squares. She also bought a microwave disc which can be put under a blanket in the box and will give heat for up to 10 hours. This will be used when the temperature really drops far below zero.

Then we made the enclosure. There is a shed in the yard with an overhanging roof which made a natural place to set up the boxes. A very kind lady at the dog groomers gave us 2 bales of straw for insulation of our shelter. Thank you Lisa. We made a platform to set 2 boxes on and put the straw bales at the ends of the platform.

After that we put hooks in the side of the shed and hooked a heavy duty tarp over the whole thing.
Its not a pretty site, and until the first big snowstorm hits we won't really know how well it will hold up. But its already being used, so the cats know its there and we hope it will afford them enough protection when the worst of winter hits.

We enclosed one other area. On the back steps landing there is bench area with just enough space for one box. We put a sheet of wood over the benches, a tarp over the wood, and plastic all around the railing.
This box has been in use now for over a month by a pregnant cat. We are hoping to get her into the house and to a rescue shelter before she gives birth, but she is very vary of people and runs when she sees us. So for the time being, she just has a safer, warmer place to stay.

The Cats Have Gone to the Dogs

When they want someone to nap with or sit with, they go to Katie. Katie is a 5 year old Shih Tzu who is beginning to think she's a cat. She spends more time with the cats then with her companion Fiona.

Not that Fiona doesn't get her share of cat affection. Max is especially fond of Fiona and will often rub cheeks with her.
The one thing the cats don't do, so far anyway, is rub cheeks with her other.

A Cat's "I Should Have Stayed in Bed" Day

Woke up this morning. Had to pee badly. Ran to litter box. It was being used. Ran to other litter box, also in use. Ran to litterbox in bathroom. Door was closed. Peed on the floor. Human came out of bathroom and stepped in it. Got yelled at. Not my fault, went to sulk in corner of basement.

Called to breakfast. Didn't get upstairs fast enough, dog ate most of it. Now I only get low fat diet crunchies for the rest of the day. Am really pissed off. Which reminds me, I need to go again. See empty carton lying on the floor in the hallway. Humans are so careless, I'll show them. Peed in carton.

Going to have a nap and put this morning out of my mind. Dog sleeping in my favourite chair. Want to smack him but will probably get yelled at. Going down to sleep in Tiger's bed, I dare him to complain.

Can't nap, Tiger keeps hitting me on the head or jumping up and nipping at my bum. Chased him away but he'll be back. Moved to corner in basement.

Had a good nap. Came up to look out the window for awhile. Saw strange cat on my deck. Yowled, howled, and hissed at him to get out of my yard. Got yelled at.

Had a good supper. Ran around and knocked a few things over. Feeling better until human saw pee in carton. Got yelled at.

Going to bed and pull the covers over my head.
My name is Max and I've had a bad day.

Tips for Travelling With Your Cat

Two years ago my cat and I moved; a 3 ½ day drive. My cat (Luna) is not a good traveler. A 15 min. drive to the vet's was 15 minutes of howling cat. Just thinking about 3 ½ days of continuous cat wailing would give me the shakes. I had visions that by day #3 I would be driving the car into a tree just to put us both out of our misery.

Before the trip I read every article about traveling with cats that I could find. Looking back, these are the most important things I learned.

1. Get the Best Carrier You Can Afford

Luna’s carrier was roomy enough that she could stretch out to nap and stand up to turn around. It had a Plexiglass front so she could see out easily. Not that Luna was interested in the passing scenery, but I would face the carrier towards me so that I was in her sight at all times.

The handle on the carrier was made so that a seat belt could easily go through it and the carrier was secure on the seat.

It came with food and water dishes that could be set into place inside the carrier; she could eat or drink without having to be let out. This seemed like a good idea at the time but she never ate or drank anything while we were in the car.

2. Carry an ample supply of your cat’s regular food and water.

Fill a container with water from your home, enough to see your cat through the trip. Now is not the time to risk cat stomach upsets. Keep it cool. You may not find your cat’s regular food while traveling, so bring it with you.

3. Bring a small kitty litter pan, one that will fit on the floor of the car.

Most cats won’t use the litter box while you are on the road, (mine didn’t) but just in case they need to, best to have it ready. You will need it when you stop for the night.

4. As much as you can, prepare your cat ahead of time.

I took her, in her new carrier, for short drives around the city. When we got back home, she got treats.

I used Rescue Remedy. I started putting a few drops in her water about 3 days before the trip, and a few drops inside her ears. I also added some to the container of water that I carried with us.

If I were to do a trip like this again, I would add spraying the inside of the carrier with something like Feliway. Any product that helps soothe makes the trip easier.

This was Luna’s first long trip. While we were driving, she didn’t eat, drink or use the litter box. This is not unusual.

On the first day she wailed for the half hour it took us to get out of the city. Once we hit the road, she was quiet for the next 8 hours. When I took a break at highway rest stops, I let her out of the carrier to walk around inside the van, to stretch her legs, use the litter box if she needed to, but after a short exploration, she was happy to go back into the carrier where she felt safe and comfortable.

The first night in a motel, when I let her out of the carrier, she ran and hid under the bed. Sometime during the night while I was sleeping, she came out and ate the food left out for her and used the litter box.

By the second and third nights, she was exploring the room and lounging on the bed. My cat is leash and harness trained and we went for short walks on the motel grounds.

A word of caution: when you leave your motel room, make sure your cat is locked in her carrier. Anyone opening the door while you’re not there, and your cat could go streaking out.

The trip went quite well. Other than the first half hour there was no wailing. I was prepared for the fact that she might not eat, drink or use the litter box while in the car, so that was not a worry.

I doubt Luna would want to do this trip again, but we got to our new home without any mishaps, both of us tired but fairly relaxed.