It’s that time of year when we start reaching for our coats and need to consider the cold weather needs of our companion animals and community cats. We may think that just by having fur, dogs and cats will stay warm outside without our help. But most animals that live inside probably need some extra insulation and protection from the elements. How can community cats do so well in the winter months, then? Part of it is their ability to acclimatize to the cold weather by increasing the thickness and insulating capacity of their coats. Some breeds of dogs (think Huskies!) have a naturally dense undercoat and coarser outer layer that helps to repel water and snow. It’s not uncommon for these Artic breeds to enjoy spending hours outside in the cold. Community cats can develop this thicker undercoat if they are outside as the seasons are changing. Even the shorthaired cats that have been outside in the cold look “fluffier” than their couch potato counterparts. It is important to realize that cats that did not get a chance to be exposed to the changing temperatures will not be suited for outdoor living. In rescue, we are sometimes searching for barn homes for unsocialized cats but need to wait until the spring if these cats were not outside to begin with (i.e. hoarding cases).
So, in addition to keeping our pets toasty inside and providing coats and paw protection for those times when we venture outdoors, what can we do to aid the cats living in the community? Let’s think about the big three needs – food, water, and shelter. Winter can make it really difficult for community cats to get fresh water when the temperature goes below freezing. One of the easiest things we can do is provide a source of water in a heated bowl. In addition to online resources, farm supply stores, hardware stores, and pet stores often carry these for under $20. Another consideration is that community cats, like other animals in the cold, will need more food (more calories) to maintain their body temperature. While there is no doubt that most cats love canned food, they will have to eat more wet food than kibble to get the same number of calories. This is due to the simple fact that part of the volume of wet food is water. They will also have to eat more of the lower quality dry cat foods due to lower calorie content (more non-digestible ingredients). Purina cat or kitten chow is a good choice when considering the caloric density for the price.
People can become quite creative when it comes to shelter. I’m still impressed by the ingenuity of my aunt in setting up a unique space for some of the cats from Tiger Ranch. Once we were awarded custody of the cats following the animal cruelty conviction, we moved those that needed lifelong care or more time to be rehabilitated before adoption to a house we bought (the beginning of Frankie’s Friends!). There were seven unsocialized cats that wanted to be as far away from humans as possible and back outdoors. They spent the cold months in the “cat house” because they did not have thick, winter coats, but once spring came, they got their own “outdoor room.” My aunt built “walls” with straw bales around the space under the second story deck. The cats were acclimated to the new area for over a month, so they recognized the “room” as their home and feeding station. Once winter came, my aunt periodically kicked on the clothes dryer. Why? The vent went right into the “room” and provided heating! Those cats lived full and happy lives and the “room” still stands today.
While not all shelters are as extravagant, many people have crafted them out of coolers, storage bins insulated with Styrofoam, or Styrofoam shipping boxes filled with straw. Straw is universally regarded as a great bedding choice since it does not attract moisture like hay (the stuff animals eat!) and blankets. This warm, dry space also needs to be protected from wind. As Neighborhood Cats states, “One idea is to position two shelters about one and a half feet apart with the front doors facing each other. Cover the gap between them with a board spanning their roofs to prevent wind, snow, or rain from getting in.” The shelter should also be under or against another structure, if possible, to provide additional protection from it blowing away or being out in the open where cats are less likely to feel comfortable. Ideally, the shelter is near the food and water, with minimal exposure to the wind and maximal exposure to the sun. Keeping the shelters raised off the ground (on pallets or bricks) will help keep them from flooding during those times when snow melts. It’s also important to make sure the shelter is stable by putting some weight on top of lighter shelters (bricks, plywood, etc.). Just as with our pet dogs and cats, salt and other chemical deicers can cause chemical burns on paws and, even worse, salt toxicity if enough is consumed during grooming. Shoveling a path to shelters and skipping the salt would be greatly appreciated by the kitties you are helping.
Lots of organizations in the Pittsburgh region will provide community cat shelters or materials for them so that anyone in the neighborhood can lend them a helping hand. Some have even taken it a step further, designing the ultimate outdoor cat shelter based on hundreds of hours of research in the field and in the workshop testing out designs. CATSA, a local (cat) woman-owned small business, is currently putting all proceeds generated from the sale of their products into the Cat Shelter Project. We are fortunate to have all these caring individuals out there, so be sure to reach out to your local animal shelter, cat rescue, or community cat advocate. The community cats may not come to you for pets, but they will still feel the love.
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