Typically when I write for Blog the Change I write about dog causes, and honestly there are so many near and dear to my heart, I’m sure I could come up with another one, but today’s post is about cats.
You read that right, it’s about cats.
I was reading an article recently (why don’t I book mark these things?) where the author indicated there are far more homeless cats than there are dogs. To me this makes sense (and please, cat people feel free to correct me if I’m wrong), for the following reasons.
- Cats typically aren’t as dependent on people as dogs are
- Cats can be more independent or sometimes more skittish than dogs
- Cats have a hunting instinct which often times takes them away from civilization
- Cats produce more off-spring than dogs do (one to two litters per year vs one per year for dogs) (Source ASPCA)
What really got me thinking about this is, I saw a cat at work. No, the cat wasn’t working. (Although I did watch a cat catch and play with a chipmunk once, it was truly fascinating). What I meant was I saw a cat outside the building where I work. I was outside talking with our maintenance guy when we saw this cat approaching the garage. I called to the cat and took a few tentative steps in its direction, but it slunk around the garage and into the woods.
I work on a busy road, but the building is in a small plaza and we are in the back. There are woods behind us, as well as a walking trail and there are some condos/apartments on the other side of the trail, so it is possible this cat belongs there, but I don’t know.
It’s been cold here (it’s January after-all) and the poor little cat stayed on my mind. Then we got snow and as I walked up to the door at work I saw little cat tracks walking past it. I thought about the poor cat and wondered how can I help it?
Then I remembered a photo I saw on Facebook on how to make a shelter for a cat out of a Styrofoam cooler, I checked with building maintenance first to make sure it wouldn’t be a problem. We discussed the location (sometimes I see kids in the parking lot cutting through or using skateboards and don’t want to make the cat a target) and agreed upon an area that houses the air conditioning units, as it’s protected by a small wall. Next I consulted Mr. Google and headed to the store.
I bought a cooler for $3.99 at my local grocery store.
Just a cooler, you know the kind you grab to throw a six pack in on your way to the beach.
I removed the top and set it aside.
Hubby gave me a utility knife but I struggled getting the blade all the way through the Styrofoam so I used a paring knife. (Shhh, don’t tell him, he’s always telling me I used the wrong knife for the job.) 😉
Use your knife to cut a door.
Once the door was cut, I put the top on and flipped it upside down so the top became the bottom. I tried using T-pins to secure the two pieces together, but in the end I used tape.
Hubby suggested I use the cut out piece to make a type of awning over the entryway, so I used two T-pins to secure it in place.
I’m not sure I like the awning and I’m pretty sure the cat will care less.
I may or may not leave the awning. My concern is it will fall down and scare the cat.
I’ve read online some people have used those reflective blankets you get for camping to line the inside of the cooler, but the suggested material for the inside is hay. Material can get wet and freeze, but hay will dry out quickly and the cat can burrow inside the hay. The Styrofoam will keep the cat’s body heat inside the house and help keep the cat warm.
I will place a brick or heavy rock on the top of the house to keep it from blowing away and I will face the door of the house close to one of the building walls to help keep the weather out and make the house warmer.
I also bought some cat food but decided at least for now I’m not going to feed the cat. I don’t want it to become dependent on the food because what would happen if I found another job? Who would feed the cat? BUT I’m hoping once the cat starts using the house eventually I will be able to catch it and take it for vetting.
I’m also going to set one of these up in a treed area by my house, because I’ve seen cat tracks across our front steps as well as noticed a cat watching us on our morning walks. I’m not sure if it’s a stray or not, but I’d rather try and help than not.
The whole cooler house too me less than 10 minutes to make and less than $5 for the needed materials. It’s a quick and easy way to help the feral cat population.
For more ideas and examples of how to set up a cat shelter, check out Neighborhood Cats. If you know of an area with a feral cat problem check out the Feral Cat Project for ways you can help.
Welcome to Thursday’s Barks and Bytes hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog. The Barks and Bytes hop is for anything at all and all bloggers are welcome. You don’t have to be a dog blog to join. For new blog hoppers, a blog hop is list of links that is shared on multiple blogs. In order to be fair to all participants Linda and I ask you to please use the linky list. If your blog does not support a linky list, please link back to either Linda or I.
I am also joining the Blog the Change blog hop.
That’s so awesome!! I bet that little cat will appreciate it!
It’s a pretty nice effort to rescue cats. I loved the shelter made for them. Hats off guys for your kindness..
What a great shelter for cold feral cats! I am thankful that our weather is rarely too harsh for feral felines. A house like that any where in my neighborhood would end up full of rats… rats that are larger than most of the stray cats I’ve seen around. The rats also eat the food people leave out for cats and birds so they have it pretty good.
That is great and we hope the cat uses it and stays warm and sheltered. Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
Hi Y’all!
Y’all always have the best posts; either informative or funny as heck!
Y’all come on by,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Cool idea. My cousin is building a shelter for the cats in her neighborhood. Hers has a plastic storage bin outside and styrofoam like yours inside. She says it’s important not to make the opening too big so predators can’t get in.
Brilliant, I love it!!
We’ve seen people use those plastic storage bins and do the same thing, but this is less expensive and I bet holds warmth better.
I have seen those instructions for a cat shelter online. That was very nice of you to make kitty a little house. We use hay in our kennels and it works well.
I saw these in facebook too, I think it’s a great idea. I’m sure that cat will appreciate your efforts.
You’re my hero. You just posted the answer to the question I asked in my post. Thank you, friend.
BRAVO to YOU 87 rounds of Apaws !
What a terrific way to help out a cold kitty. Brilliant! We have a neighborhood coyote and a few foxes ( I know weird, we’re 3 miles from downtown Denver-who’d have thought?) who occasionally wander through looking for their next meal and outside cats seem to be high on the menu. I wonder if coolers like this would help in keeping them safe (as well as warm) so predators might move on toward areas with more suitable food sources (like squirrels). Thanks for the DIY instructions!
I saw this very idea elsewhere, but since the only cats in the neighborhood that I know of live next door, I don’t have to worry about it.
As for my “being the change”, I try to send $ to the Morris Animal Foundation, Grey Muzzle Organization, and our local shelter at least twice a year. In fact, I have about 6 unopened boxes of mini Buddy Biscuits to take up there. (I bought them before I decided to take the girls off the Fresh Pet.)
What a great thing you did, Jodi! I love it, and it’s so simple for anyone to do. I haven’t really seen any stray cats around at work or home, but if I ever did I would do this too….thanks for sharing it.
Hi Jodi. It is obvious that you have a big heart and you want to help the cat you saw outside. The cat may have a home and it may just be outdoors part of the time, but it may also be a stray with no home. It will be interesting to see if the cat uses the shelter you have provided. Please post an update in the future (with photos if you can get them) to let us know if the cat uses the shelter you made (or if other critters claim the spot).
What a great and easy way to help keep kitties warm in this frigid weather.
What a wonderful easy project!
I love this!!
My mom, who is deathly allergic to cats, recently had a cat give birth in one of her outdoor flower pots (this is in Los Angeles, so cold wasn’t so much the issue). Even though she couldn’t touch the kittens, she enjoyed watching them and feeding them. Her upstairs neighbor ended up adopting a couple and finding homes for the others.
Sometimes animals in need have a way of finding the right person to look after them!
Great article. The cat house is very clever. We have a lot of feral cats by our cottage in Wisconsin so I’m going to help them out.
Thanks,
Sue
Oh, Jody, that is about the sweetest thing I’ve heard all week. You rock.
Nice that you made a shelter and it will be awesome if you can catch the cat and have it vetted. Probably smart not to start feeding him/her, because that’s often how colonies start.
that is such a wonderful idea!
retro rover
What a fabulous idea. You are so thoughtful thinking of the outside kitties. MK goes out for a short period of time but I would never think to leave her out over night or for long periods. Thanks for making a difference.
Aww, I love you for doing that. I love this story so much I just repeated it to my husband. That is so kind of you, to make that much of a difference in one little life. I like how you’re thinking ahead too, about not wanting it to become a target for kids, about feeding / not feeding it, and about possible vetting in the future. On behalf of all animals everywhere, thank you and bless your little heart. Peace
What a nice thing to do! And if you’re able to catch the cat and take it to the vet perhaps it can be neutered so as not to increase the cat population. Thanks for this uplifting post.
Really great idea! There are a couple feral cat colonies around town – I’m going to send this to the volunteers who manage them to see if they could use a few!
What a clever idea!
Seeing a problem and doing something about it is absolutely heroic and, as you have proved, can cost so little in time or funds. Thank you for caring for this cat and for sharing how others can do the same. It’s amazing how much kindness can spread like wildfire, doing more good than we can ever see or imagine.
Thank you for blogging and being the change!
Kim C (The other Kim)
BTC4animals.com
Thank you for including pictures. A very good friend of mine who spends her time trapping feral cats to be spayed or neutered (and then she returns them to their habitat) just last week put out three similar type houses on an extremely cold night. I will tell her about your website.