where do stray cats go in the winter

Where Stray Cats Live in the Winter. In cold weather, stray and feral cats search for small covered areas to retreat from the cold and use their body heat to warm up their surroundings. This could be under the crawlspace of a home, beneath a porch or deck, a storm drain or similar cavity.

Help feral cats in your community

Feral cats are resilient, adventurous, and accustomed to living outside. They have no desire to live in a house or be among people. They can withstand below-freezing temperatures because they are able to live in colonies in an area they are familiar with. While it can be challenging for some animal lovers to accept, feral cats are, in contrast to their domesticated counterparts, happier living outdoors

In addition to searching for deserted cars and abandoned buildings, feral cats will even dig holes in the ground to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Here are some methods you can use to assist if you have feral or community cats in your area:

Set out extra food during winter. Increased food portions help them conserve energy. The majority of pet stores sell heated pet food bowls, which are ideal for serving wet food because it requires less energy to digest. Providing non-frozen dry food also works in extremely cold temperatures.

where do stray cats go in the winter

Set out fresh water twice a day. Heated pet bowls are perfect for this as well.
Make an outdoor feral cat shelter. Bigger shelters arent always better because heat disperses quickly.
Stray and feral cats gravitate toward warm places in winter. Make sure a cat isn’t concealed beneath your car or inside the engine for warmth by tapping the hood before you start it. Also, check between your tires and wheel wells.

Caring for community cats can provide a mutually beneficial relationship. Research indicates that tending to animals enhances people’s emotional and physical well-being by fostering empathy and providing a feeling of direction for those who care for them.

Give outdoor cats shelter from the cold

Yes, their thickened winter coats help feral and stray cats weather winters chill, but they still need warm, dry, well-insulated and appropriate-sized shelters. Its cheapest to build your own, and there are many plans and instructions that can help you get started.

Where to find materials

By asking builders’ supply stores or contractors if they have scrap lumber, you can find materials for a fraction of the cost or for free. Seek out secondhand dog houses from friends, neighbors, and coworkers; these can be adapted to serve as useful shelters. Even a storage bin from the neighborhood hardware store will work. It can be simple and affordable to build an outdoor cat shelter that can save lives.

FAQ

Can stray cats survive outside in the winter?

Yes, their thickened winter coats help feral and stray cats weather winter’s chill, but they still need warm, dry, well-insulated and appropriate-sized shelters. It’s cheapest to build your own, and there are many plans and instructions that can help you get started.

Where do stray cats hide in the cold?

Feral cats seek out abandoned buildings, deserted cars, and even dig holes in the ground to keep warm in winter months (and cool during the summer heat). If you have feral or community cats in your neighborhood, here are a few ways you can lend a helping hand: Set out extra food during winter.

How cold is too cold for cats?

However, for most healthy adult cats, temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit over a prolonged period will be uncomfortable. In all cases, cats in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period can get frostbite and hypothermia.

What to do if you see a stray cat in the cold?

If you would like to help the feral cats in your area, give them a warm, dry shelter to protect them from the wind, rain, and snow. You don’t need to invest a lot of money. A large waterproof tub with a hole cut in two sides and filled with straw (not hay) will do the trick.