Caring for Feral Cats
Here are some web sites that give excellent information on caring for feral cats and building inexpensive shelters.
http://www.alleycat.org/resources_care.html
www.feralcatcaretakers.org/Caretaking/FeedStations.html
www.feralvilla.com
www.indyferal.org
www.MDFelineSociety.org
www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/wintershelter.htm
www.pacthumanesociety.org/core/WinterShelter.htm
www.urbancatleague.org/Shelters.html
http://www.alleycat.org/resources_care.html
www.feralcatcaretakers.org/Caretaking/FeedStations.html
www.feralvilla.com
www.indyferal.org
www.MDFelineSociety.org
www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/wintershelter.htm
www.pacthumanesociety.org/core/WinterShelter.htm
www.urbancatleague.org/Shelters.html
Building an inexpensive cat shelter
The web sites above give many ideas for building inexpensive shelters. In addition, we ran across this idea we liked, submitted by a reader in the Dec 2009/Jan 2010 issue of Mother Earth News that describes how to build a "Straw Bale Condo."
Every November, buy 3 bales of straw and place under a porch or other protected place on top of a layer of plywood and cardboard.
Lay 2 of the bales in an open V with the bigger opening touching the back of the house or building. The smaller front opening is the "cat door."
Put an old rag rug over one bale, down into the V, then up the other bale.
Next, put 2 x 4s and cardboard or a scrap of plywood on top of the 2 bales, then put the 3rd bale on top. Also place old towels or a blanket inside for cats to snuggle on.
In the spring, dismantle and use the bales in the garden for seats and the following year as mulch in the garden.
It's a cycle of a snuggly warm cat condo, a place to rest in the garden, and then weed-smothering-conserving mulch for growning fresh veggies!
Every November, buy 3 bales of straw and place under a porch or other protected place on top of a layer of plywood and cardboard.
Lay 2 of the bales in an open V with the bigger opening touching the back of the house or building. The smaller front opening is the "cat door."
Put an old rag rug over one bale, down into the V, then up the other bale.
Next, put 2 x 4s and cardboard or a scrap of plywood on top of the 2 bales, then put the 3rd bale on top. Also place old towels or a blanket inside for cats to snuggle on.
In the spring, dismantle and use the bales in the garden for seats and the following year as mulch in the garden.
It's a cycle of a snuggly warm cat condo, a place to rest in the garden, and then weed-smothering-conserving mulch for growning fresh veggies!
