Shelter me!

People have been asking how to keep their barn cats (and other outdoor cats) warm in winter…Below, we have gathered together information we received from our barn owners and from knowledgeable animal professionals who graciously share advice on Masscats.org (sources are cited):

 1a.Differences between hay and straw (advice from Susan on Masscats.org)

Lots of people accidentally use the terms “hay” and “straw” interchangably, but they are really two different things with different uses.I use both hay and straw on my farm. The hay is used for food, and the straw for protection from the elements. Ok, also I use the straw at Halloween for scarecrow making! But mostly, I bank bales around the barns and various area to cut down on the cold, and I spread it on the ground to keep my flock from freezing their feet. I also use it in the barn to “bed” the goats and ducks. Straw is totally nutrition less, and thus I can not use it for food.

Hay will not provide the insulation feral cats need to help them keep warm. Straw, being hollow, traps the heat from the cat’s body and helps them keep warm. Similar situation when you dress in layers - you create pockets of trapped air that are filled with your body heat. Providing a place for them to get out of the wind/rain/snow, that has some insulation, and preferable where they can snuggle together is ideal.

A heated disc warmer under the straw will help them build heat on those really cold nights. The discs do stay warm for a good long time.. . IF you can afford one! They are pretty pricey.

That said, if hay is the only option you have, it is better than nothing. Also, you MAY be able to get some bonus straw at places that sell it, such as AGWAY or the Co-Op in Topsfield. Lots of time they get a broken bale, or just loose straw, and if you are willing to bag it, oftentimes they will let you keep it. Just a matter of asking, and explaining what you need it for.

1b.Straw is better than hay for insulation (advice from Dot on Masscats.org)

A wonderful thing about straw is that it does not burn; it is naturally fire retardant making it quite safe to use for insulation against a barn, etc.  Hay, on the other hand, especially when wet and confined, can spontaneously combust as many barn-owners have found out, to their misfortune.  There is a wonderful straw house that can even be built which is the ultimate energy-efficient, “green” house.  The kitties will be quite happy with straw, even with out a microwave disc.  Adding a reflective-heat car emergency blanket (about $10) or kitty pad (about $15) is even cheaper than the disc and never needs heating as it is the cat’s body heat reflecting back upon it that warms it. 

1c.  where to buy the straw (advice from John on Masscats.org)

Any farm supply or horse supply like agway or natures best farm stand. I build the shelters for ferals and a bale should cost about 7 dollars and it will last a long time. use straw not hay.

 2. Where to buy a snugglesafe Disc (advice from Judy on Masscats.org)

You can get the Sugglesafe Disc through http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/product.asp?pf_id=998  This is a better price than Petsmart which has them without the cover for 39.00.   

3. Build your own insulated pet house (courtesy of Rita, a Missouri resident who shared her research with us)

http://www.winnipeghumanesociety.ca/PDF … r_cats.pdf

http://www.pacthumanesociety.org/core/WinterShelter.htm

4.Inexpensive cat houses built to order by Massachusetts-based carpenter

Regardless of whether you have a colony of feral cats or are seeking outdoor housing for one, Jim Miranda is a great resource if you are seeking someone to build outdoor cat houses. We are reprinting this post from Masscats.org

The price is made up of the purchased cost of materials plus 20% for gasoline, wastage and labor. I added the 20% after realizing that, after a piece was finished, I had remnants which could not be used on other pieces and had to be discarded. This applies to plywood, studs, shingles and insulation. A $60 piece that takes four hours to build would command a labor cost on the open market of between $80 to $150 so I felt that a nominal cost of $6 for labor was not excessive. Organizations which are registered as 501(c) non-profit, get a 10% discount. I can send you a priced bill of materials which gives, for each structure, the price of the materials for each component.

Please view my website at: http://www.catpentry.com
This site includes dimensioned drawings, photographs and pricing

5.FREE MYLAR POUCHES AT PETSMART (advice from Dee on Masscats.org)

 These are the Insulated Pouches that the fish are shipped in.  They are about 30 x 20 and if you ask the manager of the store to ask the fish dept. to save them for you

They get quite a few montlhly.  I pick up about 20-30 a month from our Petsmart store in Salem who would normally toss them in the dumpster.

Anyway, we use them all the time for a variety of applications.  Lining outdoor shelters, lining the bottom of cages for nursing moms and kittens, lining cat carriers for transporting cats in the winter, lining the back of my station wagon when I’m transporting ferals in winter to TNR clinics.  People have even used them for putting in their windshield for blocking sun in the summer.

6. Purchase Outdoor pet houses.

On occasion, the barn cat owners ask us for recommendations when they do not have time to build one themselves. This particular company makes nice, solid houses for cats and we think they are well priced, although not inexpensive.

http://www.outdoorpethouses.com/basic.html

The good news is that we have seen them - one of the barn cat owners purchased one. In fact, you can see it in our video, How to acclimate barn cats (http://www.sheltermeinc.org/wordpress/?page_id=301) If we were going to buy one, we would purchase this basic one along with the insulation. It holds more than one cat.

One other thing - people are often concerned about skunks and raccoons getting into the cat houses. We have heard a number of times that if you place the house on a platform - built on polls - the cats can jump into it, but the raccoons and skunks cannot. Why? raccoons and skunks are good climbers, not good jumpers. So, if you want to buy a platform, get one built on poles (if at all possible).

7.  Where to purchase heated bowels - this comes from SJ on masscats.org - click the links below.

 a. heated bowls on Amazon.com

 

b. heated bowls on best nest

 

c. heated bowls on ebay