| INEXPENSIVE OUTDOOR SHELTERS IF THE STRAY CAT IS OUTSIDE, purchase him/her a small dog igloo or dog house and put in two inch thick styrofoam insulation (pink from Home Depot or blue from Lowes) on the bottom to fit. Place a wool blanket inside or use straw over the styrofoam layer. Place in sheltered area out of the wind, rain, and snow. INEXPENSIVE SHELTER you can make yourself: CUT OUT 6 SIDES TO MAKE A BOX AND PUT TOGETHER WITH DUCK TAPE. OR USE THE STYROFOAM ICE CHESTS AT WALMART. PUT STRAW, NOT HAY, ON THE BOTTOM AND HAVE AN OPENING LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE CAT TO GET IN & OUT. PUT IN A SHELTERED AREA OUT OF THE WIND AND RAIN AND PLACE SOMETHING HEAVY ON TOP SO IT DOESNT BLOW AWAY OR TURN OVER. YOU MAY WANT TO CAMOUFLAGE IT ONCE THE CAT IS USING IT. OR USE A PREFORMED STYROFOAM SHELTER THAT YOU BUY FOR ABOUT A $1 in grocery store or Walmarts etc. Duck tape the bottom onto the top so it doesnt come apart. Cut in a door large enough for a cat to go thru. Place something heavy on top so doesnt blow away or us a tarp or heavy blanket - wool preferred- over top to keep in place. Place in sheltered area out of the wind, rain, and snow. DO NOT PUT FOOD INSIDE THE SHELTER OR TOO NEAR THE SHELTER AS THE RACCOONS MAY INJURE OR KILL THE CAT. THEN SEND US A DIGITAL PICTURE JPEG FORMAT AND WE WILL SEND OUT A RESCUE ALERT EMAIL TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAT IN OR PUT ON A WAITING LIST. We need this help from you as all out volunteers are takeing care of so many kitties needing help out there. Our SPECIAL THANKs go to those who will help us help these truly "FORGOTTEN FELINES." Insulators: Pink Styrofoam esp the 2 inch thick "boards" from Home Depot or the blue ones from Lowes have great insulating properties for inside the bottom of small doghouses etc and underneath the shelter itself. Straw for bedding rather than hay as straw sheds water and doesnt go moldy plus has better insulating capability. Found at garden nurseries. Wool blankets make good bedding as they hold in the heat even when wet. Cat Mats that radiate heat back to the pet are available at pet stores or pet catalogs such at PetEdge, KVVet, or Fosters&Smith or local pet supply stores. Mylar blankets are also effective when laid on the floor of the shelter. They don't absorb and take away body heat like ordinary blankets when a cat lies on top because the Mylar reflects the heat back. They are available from The Country Store at http://www.healthyharvest.com. Click on Emergency and Camping Category, scroll down and you will see Emergency Mylar Blanket - they are currently $1.34 each. Click On Our KITTY INFO page for more help with stray and/or feral cats including Low Cost Spay-Nueter help. |