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Cat Forum / General Topics / October 2005Caring for a stray (2): Winter preparation
Continuing about the stray/homeless cat I feed. I live in Midwest and we will have temperatures down to 20's and wind chills into single digits. I don't know what she did last winter. Actually I don't know if she would even need my help this winter. But I want to have some help for her on my porch should it be needed. I would be most grateful to hear ideas from those of you who have created warm corners to ferals. I have been reading around and lurked in the ng's as well and this is what I have so far: Two styrofoam coolers, one inside other, a hole cut out for entry/exit, a layer of blankets with the microwavable heating "frisbee" (forget the name) under them. Do I need extra insulation between the walls? I can even cover the entrance with hanging strips of plastic the way they have in some grocery store freezers. I have no building skills but this I can manage. It would also be affordable enough and if she doesn't use it, well, I'll have no regrets. I have outlets available but am afraid of using electrical devices, of causing a horrible harm with good intentions. However, if you have experience with something that is absolutely catproof (in your experience, not manufacturer's claim), I can consider it. All comments and suggestions appreciated. >All comments and suggestions appreciated. What they mostly need is a place to get out of the wind. Animals will curl up and generate their own heat. They're wearing fur coats, after all. You can set up such a place and put an old blanket in it for softness if you like, but there's no need for electric heating anything, really. Unless it gets really bitter cold (like in the minus double-digits), they'll be fine. Jane >What they mostly need is a place to get out of the wind. Animals will >curl up and generate their own heat. They're wearing fur coats, after [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Jane I just took a couple old quilts / comforters that I got from the thrift store and put them under a nieghbors porch (With his OK) which is closed in on bottom but there are a couple holes big enough for cats to get under. I worked the comforters through the holes then used a long pole to push them to the back against the base of house away from the holes. I also started putting dry food there to get them used to it before it gets too cold. It is not the greatest but it gets them out of the Michigan (USA) winter weather. I do not live in that area but make a trip just about daily to care for the cats in the area and the area is not the greatest. The nieghbor had his car broken into twice, they stole some plastic chairs off another porch, ETC so putting any kind of house out is kind of out of the question. It would probably be gone the first night. http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ http://members.aol.com/larrystark/strays.htm One other thing to prepare for winter mix kitten chow with adult food. The kitten food has many more nutrients and protein in it. We have one who is still a kitten, but lol he wants what the adults are eating, ehh by now it's okay and he isn't an outdoor cat.  Signature"Other than telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and now, die, I think the Republicans have done a fine job of getting government out of our personal lives." > >>What they mostly need is a place to get out of the wind. Animals will [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > http://members.aol.com/larrystark/strays.htm : What they mostly need is a place to get out of the wind. Animals will : curl up and generate their own heat. They're wearing fur coats, after : all. You can set up such a place and put an old blanket in it : for softness if you like, but there's no need for electric heating : anything, really. Unless it gets really bitter cold (like in the : minus double-digits), they'll be fine. If only protection from wind is needed and not extra insulation, then I need not double up the styrofoam containers and one will be as good? (I am thinking about cheap coolers sold in stores. I'll cut a hole for entry/exit and point it towards the house wall.) : Two styrofoam coolers, one inside other, a hole cut out for entry/exit, : a layer of blankets with the microwavable heating "frisbee" (forget the : name) under them. Do I need extra insulation between the walls? I can : even cover the entrance with hanging strips of plastic the way they : have in some grocery store freezers. Does anybody know if styrofoam is sufficiently wind- and water-proof against harsh high velocity drafts or do I need to line it with plastic? I would line it with plastic. Gail >: Two styrofoam coolers, one inside other, a hole cut out for entry/exit, > : a layer of blankets with the microwavable heating "frisbee" (forget the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > against harsh high velocity drafts or do I need to line it with > plastic? Weird reply here what is winter I live in Florida If you place 2 together inside each other you could put a sheet of plastic between the 2 and that way it would stay in place. http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ http://members.aol.com/larrystark/strays.htm >I would line it with plastic. >Gail >>: Two styrofoam coolers, one inside other, a hole cut out for entry/exit, >> : a layer of blankets with the microwavable heating "frisbee" (forget the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> against harsh high velocity drafts or do I need to line it with >> plastic? : If you place 2 together inside each other you could put a sheet of plastic : between the 2 and that way it would stay in place. If I put two, I can add some heavy stuff between them to make the whole thing somewhat heavy. > : If you place 2 together inside each other you could put a sheet of plastic > : between the 2 and that way it would stay in place. > > If I put two, I can add some heavy stuff between them to make the whole > thing somewhat heavy. You can fill the space between them with sand (relatively inexpensive) and then duct-tape the openings so it doesn't come out. That will be a natural insulation. -L. > You can fill the space between them with sand (relatively inexpensive) > and then duct-tape the openings so it doesn't come out. That will be a > natural insulation. Then place them gently in the river? glug glug glug...End of problem! > -L. Well a.shole you just got added to the kill file <plonk> On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 18:10:10 GMT, wrote: >Well a.shole you just got added to the kill file <plonk> Poor Lyn, no one likes her anymore. BTW Killfiles are for cowards. - GIT-R-DONE! alt.usenet.legends.lamey you just got added Lamey On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 18:34:49 GMT, wrote: >you just got added Lamey So you're scared of Lamey? Pity, he could be your best friend. another a.shole gets added WILDBILL what a bunch of dumb idiots > another a.shole gets added WILDBILL what a bunch of dumb idiots My your an aggressive one! Your like Rambo with that killfile. Don't won't to have to read the morons > Don't won't to have to read the morons Don't won't? Damn spell checker definitely uninstall office from my computer > Damn spell checker definitely uninstall office from my computer Translation: I'm an idiot. Can't spell "want" without a spelchecker? > another a.shole gets added WILDBILL what a bunch of dumb idiots You sound upset cupcake. > Well a.shole you just got added to the kill file <plonk> who are you talkin' to? On 30 Sep 2005 12:04:27 -0700, wrote: >> Well a.shole you just got added to the kill file <plonk> > >who are you talkin' to? Prolly his cat, He's a twit ya know. - GIT-R-DONE! alt.usenet.legends.lamey Just one note on this. Styrafoam is extremely light. The wind might play havoc with it. If the cat is inside it would probably be okay. But a high wind coming up without the cat inside might blow it around/away. Just my two cents! ShirleyB, Rexie's Mom <To Reply by email: remove 'nick'> Pictures of His Majesty, Rex are at: http://community.webshots.com/album/255873683SwWQZJ Ajanta related the following on 9/29/2005 11:21 AM: > : Two styrofoam coolers, one inside other, a hole cut out for entry/exit, > : a layer of blankets with the microwavable heating "frisbee" (forget the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > against harsh high velocity drafts or do I need to line it with > plastic? >Continuing about the stray/homeless cat I feed. > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > >All comments and suggestions appreciated. Don't forget to weight the shelter down with a few bricks or stones on top, so that it won't blow over while unoccupied. Kitty might be less likely to use the shelter if the wind keeps moving it around. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria |
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