need ideas on how to keep a feral cat warm this winter

[champagne]

I was wondering if any of you would might have any ideas on how to keep a feral cat that I'm taking care of right now warm this winter.

Animal control came by and trapped her and she was pregnant. They had her fixed and they brought me the cat back and her baby, hours old.

I had told animal control I would care for the cat by feeding it if they thought they couldn't place it in a home. Well they said too wild. (she has been living under my neighbors porch for almost two years) and I have been feeding her for 6 months before they came to get her.

she trusted me enough that she would approach me and stay about 4-5 feet away if I remained really still.

I put them in a room in the garage room with a heater and yes an air conditioner lol.

She wouldn't take the baby for three days so I had to bottle feed her every two hours. finally at 1:00 in the morning I was like this is enough mamma kitty, shes all yours and when I checked on them in the morning she was nursing the baby. YEA

well that was 7 weeks ago. She is a really good mama cat. Having the baby around has really helped her see that She can really trust me.Today she came and layed down at my feet while I sat on the couch playing with the kitten.

I cant heat that room all winter b/c it will be too expensive. Its just a little room heater. so what are my options? so far I have thought of a kitty door that I could put in my window that is connected to the carport with a heated kitty bed if they make them.

if she is too scared to use the kitty door do you think a heated kitty bed would keep her warm enough in the carport? If so what would be the best way to do this?

I cant let her in the house b/c of Kaine. He would want to go to her then she would run and then he would chase her. He likes cats but she is too scared to be happy in the house with all the commotion. If anyone other than myself goes in the room where they are kept she stares the person down and will stay in alarm mode.

The kitten is soon to be 8 weeks old and will be going to her new home soon. So I would like to start getting the mom used to the kitty door and/or house /bed now. any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Sheba]

Hm... get a lrage, very large box, and tip it on it's side.It can also be tall.put about 5 towels in the dryer, and put them in.You can also dry the towels with other clothes jst for convenience.Change the towels every three hours.Put a little hater ca bed in there, and food and water right next to the box.

 

[apmnally]

I was wondering if any of you would might have any ideas on how to keep a feral cat that I'm taking care of right now warm this winter.

Animal control came by and trapped her and she was pregnant. They had her fixed and they brought me the cat back and her baby, hours old.

I had told animal control I would care for the cat by feeding it if they thought they couldn't place it in a home. Well they said too wild. (she has been living under my neighbors porch for almost two years) and I have been feeding her for 6 months before they came to get her.

she trusted me enough that she would approach me and stay about 4-5 feet away if I remained really still.

I put them in a room in the garage room with a heater and yes an air conditioner lol.

She wouldn't take the baby for three days so I had to bottle feed her every two hours. finally at 1:00 in the morning I was like this is enough mamma kitty, shes all yours and when I checked on them in the morning she was nursing the baby. YEA

well that was 7 weeks ago. She is a really good mama cat. Having the baby around has really helped her see that She can really trust me.Today she came and layed down at my feet while I sat on the couch playing with the kitten.

I cant heat that room all winter b/c it will be too expensive. Its just a little room heater. so what are my options? so far I have thought of a kitty door that I could put in my window that is connected to the carport with a heated kitty bed if they make them.

if she is too scared to use the kitty door do you think a heated kitty bed would keep her warm enough in the carport? If so what would be the best way to do this?

I cant let her in the house b/c of Kaine. He would want to go to her then she would run and then he would chase her. He likes cats but she is too scared to be happy in the house with all the commotion. If anyone other than myself goes in the room where they are kept she stares the person down and will stay in alarm mode.

The kitten is soon to be 8 weeks old and will be going to her new home soon. So I would like to start getting the mom used to the kitty door and/or house /bed now. any ideas would be appreciated.

i work for an animal welfare agency and im very happy you have decided to take a cat in however could you have the cat tested for FIV the reason i meantion FIV is that just by a simple scratch to another cat will transmit it so your pet cat would be at risk you welfare org will test the cat and even if it has FIV that is not instantly a death warrent if you decided to keep her most cats with it can live a long and happy life (inside away from other cats ) keep trying with her it wont take long (with a bit of food) to develop trust for you and your family just leave a door open and leave the food just on the inside of the door and everyday move the food in a little closer this will seem like a long process but with a feral cat its the best you can do

good luck and let us know how you go

good luck with the cat

 

[champagne]

Hi

she has been tested and shes ok. She trusts me enough now that she will walk by me to get to the wet food that I feed her twice a day. Other than that she will walk at a distance around me. She is very food motivated. I have a feeling she is not going to want to leave the back room so I'm going to put in the cat door. I think she wont go outside right now b/c her kitten is still with her but she (kitten) goes to her new home Saturday. I cant let her in the house b/c of the dog... It just wouldn't work. If I didnt have the dog I would definately already have her in the house. I found a cat forum and they describe some feral houses that they make fairly cheap using mylar blankets so if she wont use the cat door then I'll make her that and put it in the carport. I'm also feeding two other feral cats that are not as trusting as this one. They have never approached me and as soon as they see me coming they make a dash to go under the neighbors porch and come out to eat when I turn around and walk away.

The mama cat I have now would when I was sitting outside approach me and just hang out with me if I sat still. She started coming closer and closer but about 5 feet was it. Sometimes she will be next to be now and then all of the sudden its like she starts to think "oh Yeah, Im supposed to be scared of her" and will quickly move away.

I have decided to keep her in the room for at least a week after the baby is gone before I offer her the opportunity to go outside. I will have the cat door in by then and will start feeding her near that. On the warm days I'll keep the cat door open and see what happens.... See if she will come back in or not.

thanks for the info guys and I will let you know how she does.

 

[Whitedobelover]

you know really she will have to come in... you can build a cat house... near your house witha heated pad inside she can go to... that works pretty well provided she will go in it.

 

[champagne]

you can build a cat house... near your house with a heated pad inside she can go to...

Thats what I was thinking of doing if she wont use the cat door. I'll build it in the carport. She has come in there off and on. Do they make heating pads that have a temperture control knob on it..something that I could adjust like a thermostat? Just wondering b/c if I use the mylar blankets to line the inside I would want to be able to adust the temperture. People who have used mylar said with a heating pad the house might actually get too hot inside b/c all of the heating pads just have a low/med/high and stay on at a constant temperture.