Barn cats in winter?

[MNBobcat]

It seems I now have a young male cat. Someone must have dropped it off. Every evening it sits under our pine trees and watches us.

I bought a bag of cat food and every evening I go out and fill its dish and pet it a bit. I thought it would be good to have around to kill the chipmunks (we're overrun with them). Its not been de-clawed.

The question I have is how to help it survive the winter? I have an unheated building where I can leave a door cracked and I thought I might put an insulated box in there with a blanket inside. I've never had a cat. Is it going to be warm enough in something like that? Here in MN it can get to be -20 below zero.

Even now the evenings are getting cool.

 

[tcartwri]

A box lined with pink styrofoam is perfect. They can survive outside all winter, but their ears will get eaten away from frostbite.

 

[dave1949]

If it can get into a sheltered bed out of the wind and weather, with bedding that doesn't draw damp, it should be just fine. I had a shed cat once that I put a triangular bed in a corner about 5' off the ground with a little ramp along one wall. He was healthy. Met me on the back porch every morning and would ride on my shoulder to the chicken house.

 

[k0ua]

The 5 foot off the ground is really good, and the enclosure needs to be insulated so his body heat will keep him warn.. Dry and warm and out of the wind is the key. And the cat will need food and water every day. Of course winter around here is nothing like what you have, so kittys don't have as hard of a time down here. He needs a place off the floor so his feet can get warm.

James K0UA

 

[Gator6x4]

They sell heated sleeping pads for cats. Amazon.com: K&H 3093 Extreme Weather Kitty Pad with Fleece Cover: Pet Supplies I had a large male cat that I used one with. I fixed him a insulated area, installed the heating pad, which is controlled by a thermostat he could sleep day or night. He lasted for five years then a Coyote got him. I then got the coyote. I often wonder if the Coyote thought the meal was worth the price he paid.

 

[Ductape]

My apologies...... I mis-read the title, and thought it was a question looking for opinion. Thought it said "Burn Cats In Winter?" I was going to reply.... sure, whatever you have handy to throw in the wood stove. But.... now I have no advice to add.

 

[k0ua]

They sell heated sleeping pads for cats. Amazon.com: K&H 3093 Extreme Weather Kitty Pad with Fleece Cover: Pet Supplies I had a large male cat that I used one with. He lasted for five years then a Coyote got him. I then got the coyote. I often wonder if the Coyote thought the meal was worth the price he paid.

That is the trouble we have had with out outside kitty's.. they are really handy to keep the rodents down but then the dang coyotes and foxes eat our cats.

James K0UA

 

[tcartwri]

It seems I now have a young male cat. Someone must have dropped it off. Every evening it sits under our pine trees and watches us.

BTW, if you don't get him neutered, he will be 6 pounds of hellacious fury that will naw your arm off if you try to go near him.

 

[k0ua]

Our last full outside cat was not mean, he was intact. The only thing if they are not "tutored" they tend to roam.. but he was plenty friendly.

 

[phiferpharm]

My apologies...... I mis-read the title, and thought it was a question looking for opinion. Thought it said "Burn Cats In Winter?" I was going to reply.... sure, whatever you have handy to throw in the wood stove. But.... now I have no advice to add.

Well, I'm glad I wasn't the only one with the poor eyesight...Anyway, I have a non-fixed non-declawed Siamese Cat ( named him Kittie), who adopted me. That's kinda a goof, as I am not a cat person. He thinks he's a dog I guess and can be very affectionate most of the time, but will nail grammie every time she tries to rub his back. Scratch his head - okay, rub his nose - okay, try to rub his back and he nails ya. After 5 years you'd think she would get the picture...

 

[deerseeker001]

we have 8-9 outside cats that had adopted us,every year we have 3-4 new borns as long as they have a inclosed house and have straw they will be fine.we feed ours dry food in the morning and a couple cans at night,they are happy.

 

[gfd_2]

+1 on the heating pad. We have 3 barn cats that share the same box with the pad. Neutering is a great idea to prevent another generation or two of unwanted kitties.

 

[Soundguy]

add a pet door to that barn building.. and give the cat a cat bed or box on it side with a bed in it with some hay or lankets to nestle in.. food and water.. lil love.. ear scratch and head petting and it will be happy.

ps.. i wish some good karma your way for taking in a feeding a poor , possibly starving stray. I have a small hobby farm and 98% of our dogs and cats were throwayays by someone else.. found hurt or starving or both.. they make some real good animals with cheap walmart food and a little attention.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Neutering a male cat helps him resist infections when he fights other male cats. Might also think about getting him vaccinated for your own protection.

There is a special place in purgatory for people who abandon cats and dogs in the country.

 

[texasjohn]

Cats are very resourceful and real survivors. They don't need a lot and give much in return. Provide:
Shelter from wind and cold
food
water
attention
vet help for parasites, shots

and the cat will gladly be your friend and reduce the rodents, both inside and outside your place.

 

[BobRip]

How does he get water when it is 20 below. In VA water is very hard at that temperature. Seriously, do you put it out a couple of times a day?

 

[k0ua]

How does he get water when it is 20 below. In VA water is very hard at that temperature. Seriously, do you put it out a couple of times a day?

Bob the water here is pretty hard too at anything much below 32 degrees.. you can put water out a couple of times a day, or in those areas you can get those simple water heater pet bowls. for a few bucks. and just put fresh water in , it will stay liquid all day. In our part of the world, we have a creek, and the kitty will go there for water unless he is snowed in or something. Of course we just don't get as cold for near as long.

 

[/pine]

...I thought it would be good to have around to kill the chipmunks (we're overrun with them). Its not been de-clawed.

Geeze...you got your logic all wrong...

shoot the cat (a non-native species to the USA) and allow natural, native species predators to take care of an overabundance of native animals...ground squirrels are paramount to young hawks, eagles and falcons...they will find them...!

 

[BobRip]

Bob the water here is pretty hard too at anything much below 32 degrees.. you can put water out a couple of times a day, or in those areas you can get those simple water heater pet bowls. for a few bucks. and just put fresh water in , it will stay liquid all day. In our part of the world, we have a creek, and the kitty will go there for water unless he is snowed in or something. Of course we just don't get as cold for near as long.

Ok- We have a cat door in a house window. But then it would not be a barn cat.

 

[DT86]

BTW, if you don't get him neutered, he will be 6 pounds of hellacious fury that will naw your arm off if you try to go near him.

I've seen a few good dogs get fat and lazy after being neutered. Are cats not that way?