Heatwave Shelters for Feral Cats

 It is difficult to provide shelter for feral cats during a heatwave.  Feral cats are creatures of habit and if they are accustomed to hiding in runoff ditches, sewers, hollow trees, and branch thickets then they won't enter an air-conditioned shelter.  

If the feral cat is able to dig a den under a large pile of branches the cat may be able to keep cool, if they have access to a deck that has a large mass of leaves underneath it the cat can burrow into the leaves and the earth may provide protection from the scorching sun.  

Many feral cats will seek overgrown shrubs or gardens as a shelter.  The leaves and plant life will not provide them with protection from the intense sun and the cat will suffer. 

Cat lovers and colony caregivers must watch the cats closely and take extra steps to care for the feral cats.  In many cases, you will need to provide the cats with outdoor shelter and plenty of water.

Outdoor Shelter For Cats

The best way to care for cats during a heatwave is to provide shelter for the outdoor cats. Buy igloo-insulated cat houses and fill them with straw.  Or buy a wood-insulated cat house and again fill it with straw. 

 The straw will provide the cat with a soft surface to lie on and is similar to what they lie on outdoors.  Set the insulated shelter in an area that is shaded; under a tree, under shrubs.

Here are photos of my outdoor cat shelters 

I provided the feral, stray, and other outdoor cats with air-conditioned shelter.  My old garage is used as a shed/shelter for the cats.  

I have installed a cat door and added a window unit air conditioner and an industrial fan to circulate the air.

The shed/shelter is open to cats from 6 am to 8 pm and then the door must be shut due to area wildlife.   

The shed/shelter has cat houses that have straw bedding and there are 3 to 4 bowls of fresh water for the cats so they can keep hydrated. 

My neighbor opened his garage door one foot to allow two feral cats an escape from the heat on a day when the heat index reached 104.  He told me that the cats hid under his car and drank some water.  

The feral cats caused no disturbance and exited the garage when the sunset.  If you choose to allow the feral and stray cats shelter from the heat in your garage then leave the cats alone. 

 If you enter the area where cats are there they will run away because they are afraid of you or they will climb the walls to try to get away from you.   It is best to leave the door open wide enough so the cat can come and go. 

Consider installing a cat door.

Do not attempt to touch the feral or stray cats and keep children and other pets away from them. Remember that they are wild animals and they are afraid of humans, if they are put in an uncomfortable situation they will react by scratching because they are terrified of humans.  

Hydration

Keep outdoor cats hydrated by setting up water stations under shade trees, under awnings, and close to shrubs.  Check the water bowls several times during the day.  

Add fresh water to the bowls so that the water stays cool and does not become hot from the intense heat. Check outdoor bird baths and fountains to make sure they are at the correct water levels.  

Set up a soaking hose in your shade garden and allow it to drip slowly during the late afternoon.  A feral cat will lick the water from the hose to keep hydrated.  They will also lie in the garden that is being watered as it is a way to keep cool.

Colony Cat Lucy

 

The feral cat I call Lucy has been under my watchful eye since 2008.  She refused to enter the shed this year and tried to stay cool in the colony thicket.  She was in the habit of coming to my yard at 5:30 in the afternoon for a bite to eat and a drink of water. She should have stayed inside her thicket but she ventured out in the heat of the day for food and water.


Lucy’s routine is to lie in my hosta garden. 

I set up a fan to provide a continuous garden breeze.  I also set up a soaking hose and watered this particular garden from 4 to 5 daily.  It was the only method that I knew of that would provide this feral cat with some relief.  

I fed Lucy canned food mixed with 1/4 cup of water.  I did this to make sure that she had fluid.  There were many days during the heatwave that I thought that Lucy would not make it.  But she proved me wrong and survived the unbearable heat.

Notes 

Feral and stray cats will go into the sewers during heatwaves and extreme cold.  The sewer is not a safe haven for cats and colony caregivers should provide their cats with alternative shelters. 

Outdoor cats are accustomed to the heat and thus your air conditioner should not be cold, set it at 84 and the cat will be comfortable.