6 Ways to Help Stray Cats This Winter

Winter is upon us and many kitties don’t have homes to curl up in. According to National Geographic, there are 70 million feral cats in the United States. Not everyone can open up their home to a stray, but you can still help your local stray cats with these small winter favors!

Building a cat shelter is one way you can help strays stay warm and dry this season. The good thing about cat shelters is they have to be small to be effective. The Humane Society gives some tips on what kind of materials to use to make a nice kitty shelter. They recommend using pillowcases stuffed with newspaper or packing peanuts. Just be sure to check on your DIY shelter once in awhile to ensure the materials remain dry.

If you plan on feeding or providing water for stray cats, be sure to keep the provisions from freezing. Alleycat.org suggests using deep, dark colored, thick plastic bowls. Water needs to be changed about every two hours to prevent freezing. They suggest placing the water bowl near warmer locations and filling the bowls with warm or hot water. Additionally, water should not be placed in the cat shelters because it spills easily.

Alleycat.org continues with other things you can do to ensure outdoor cat safety:

• Always check your car before starting it since cats like to hide under the tires to keep warm.
• When snow comes, be sure to avoid using harmful salt or chemicals to clear your driveway.
• Clean up any anti-freeze spills since anti-freeze is toxic to cats.
• If you make a cat shelter, make sure to shovel the snow away from the entrance to make certain cats don’t get snowed in.

These are just a few small things you can do to help stray or outdoor cats during the winter. If you can do any of these tasks, you may help your local strays or outdoor kitties survive the winter!

Have you ever fed or provided housing for a stray cat? Let us know about your experience by leaving a comment!