Shelter and Warmth for Outside Cats?

[RockStarMom]

We just had the first day of rain today, and I'd like to try to give my ferals some shelter this winter. I have a canopy in the yard, and last year I put an upside-down box with a doorway under it, but they didn't use it. Has anyone set up a nice area for sleeping that your ferals have used?
*This is for cats that are completely feral so please don't tell me to let them inside! And yes they are fixed.

[stormborn]

nak...
Does it need to be warm (how cold does it get?) or just out of the rain? And about how many cats?

[Noelle C.]

Unless you're in the Sierras or way up north above Redding, these kitties will be fine. They're good at finding shelter and keeping warm. If you get snow, then you'll hopefuly be near a shed they can use to get out of the weather.

[RockStarMom]

I'm in the Bay Area. It doesn't snow or anything, but I just feel so bad for them. One of them was sleeping on a wet blanket on a chair a few nights ago. There is a whole colony in the neighborhood, but only a few hang around my yard at night.

[stormborn]

Noelle's right..they will be ok but I completely understand. This from someone whose family provides heated beds for the neighbors outdoor cats in the winter.
The colony beside my work sleeps in a concrete drainage canal, so maybe they like to have something that's open on both ends? I'll ask the lady who takes care of them...she's taken care of feral cats forever.

[Medusa]

I had an old dog house with a heated mat and an old blanket. I got the heater from the livestock supply store, so it was water and chew proof. Some cats would use it, some wouldn't.

[Asiago]

The Snuggle Safe Disks are microwavable, safe and stay warm for hours. They also last for years (at least through North east winters)! They've kept many feral cat colonies warm. Check around for pricing online, it really varies.

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.h...c-5d6fa77ed8b6

Per housing the plastic type and then just add lightweight flaps on the door to keep out the elements. Some feral cats dislike being confined no matter what though, they just want open sky above them. Throwing a little cat nip into the house, as well as feeding them in it, helps to attract them though.

[rhubarbarin]

Make a hut or two out of stacked straw bales. Make sure they have two exits so nothing can corner them. Cheap and will keep them very warm and dry. This is what my nice farmer neighbors did for their large feral cat population.

[fruitfulmomma]

Make a hut or two out of stacked straw bales. Make sure they have two exits so nothing can corner them.

That is a really good idea. Ours were using an old storage shed on our property but it burnt down over the summer.

[MaWhit]

Here in Colorado we recommend setting up a pallet, putting a dog house on it, and filling the dog house with straw. The dog house should be insulated and/or shingled or lined with plastic. Straw is better than blankets, because blankets hold moisture that prevent them from trapping heat.

[Asiago]

That's a fantastic idea about the straw bales and two openings, also the point about the blankets getting wet and to use straw as bedding instead.
I am passing along the straw as bedding idea to someone, as she has been washing and drying blankets forever to keep the ferals healthy and comfortable.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

I've used a combo of boxes, old towels & straw before. We have a dog now, so not too many of the neighborhood cats come round anymore. More often than not they will need something more to break the wind than actually keep warm. They do have fur coats, after all. Especially in an area where it doesn't snow.

If they're feral, they know the places to go where there are holes in sheds & under porches to stay our of the rain & snow. Or the houses that will let them into the basement. Just like they know you (or me) feed them! They're smart. Don't worry too much!