HOW TO HELP STRAYS IN WINTER

How to Help Strays in the Winter?

• Obtain a styrofoam box from a pharmacy (their drugs come to them in such boxes) and line it with thermal blankets, obtained from a thrift store.
• Cut an oval hole (big enough for a cat to get through) in the box, the bottom of the hole being about 6 inches from the bottom of the box so that snow, rain and slush don't get into the box.
• Tape the box top onto the box with duct tape, making several rounds of the box to make sure the taping is secure.
• Put the box in a protected area such as your back porch, with the open hole facing the wall of the house so that the box is sheltered from snow and harsh winds.
• Put something heavy enough (a couple of bricks) on top of the box so that it won't be blown away in a blizzard. Careful, you don't want the styrofoam box to cave in with the weight of the bricks and the snow. Another option, if you can: build another stronger wooden shelter around it and put heavy items on top of the wooden shelter.
• After every snowfall, make sure to clear away the hole's entrance and a path for the cat. Do this in a delicate manner so as not to panic the cat, speaking softly and continually to the cat as you work.

Your doing this might well save an animal's life. At the same time, the cat may well learn that you're a helper, and this might make it easier for you to get the cat to go into a carrying case around March, so you can get the cat neutered before the spring mating season.