Winter Shelter for Feral Cats – Thicket Dens

The feral cats that reside in the forest close to my home take shelter in the limestone crevices along the ridge wall and in thicket dens.  The branch thickets provide shelter from wind, snow and ice. 

 All of the branch cat dens have entrances to the main chamber of the thicket and an exit at the back.  These entrances provide the feral cats with safety. 

Last summer I crawled into the opening of the largest branch thicket that is located on my neighbors property.  The feral cat that I call Lucy has her den in this thicket, she shares the den with three other feral cats.  I did not attempt to enter the thicket while cats were present as they would think of me as a predator and show aggression.  

To enter the den I had to lie on my stomach and scoot into the first chamber. I found that the opening was like a foyer; a covered entrance with many openings that led to the feral cats living areas.   I used my flashlight to look at one the passages and could see a large pile of leaves.  The bed of leaves would keep the feral cats warm in winter and the opening was blocked from the thickets main entrance, thus there would be no cold wind.   

I was still curious and I attempted to put my head in the passage opening to get a better look at the leaf bedding area, I wanted to know if the cats laid on top of the leaves or if they dug a den into the earth.  

No sooner then I put my head into the small opening I discovered that I was not alone.  My presence in the thicket entrance was not appreciated as a feral cat from an upper passage snarled at me and it was enough for me to back out of the thicket.  My findings were conclusive and I was  was confident that the feral cats winter thicket den would provide them with a wind block and warmth from the leaves.

Notes:

If the weather is severe; zero degrees, ice or snow, I will go to the thicket den and provide the cats with a plastic tarp.  My husband and I will tie it down to prevent a build up of ice or snow on top of the thicket.  This plastic tarp will prevent the snow when it melts from flooding the interior of the den and it will provide the thicket with additional insulation by blocking the wind.

I will also provide the forest cats with a thick layer of straw at the entrance of the thicket den.  This straw will allow the cats to lie outside without feeling the cold of the snow or ice.

When snow is too deep we will clear a path so the cats can come out of the thicket and go to the feeding station.  

Trapping Orphaned Stray and Feral Kittens

The only time that one should trap  kittens before they are weaned is in an emergency; mother is injured, or she rejects or abandons her kittens.  Then it is imperative that these orphaned kittens are rescued by trapping as it will save their life.

Trapping Kittens

A wounded queen feral cat brought her kittens to my shelter.  The queen cat needed to be trapped for medical care.  So I also needed to trap her kittens that had not been weaned.

 The 3 kittens that I took from their mother were six weeks old and they were all traumatized from the separation from their mother.  They meowed loudly for their mother and refused to eat. The mother cat was also under stress at the animal clinic. She was pacing in the crate, charging the crate, and hissing.  The feral queen cat was under great stress from the separation of her kittens.  

The animal hospital called to say that they could not treat her as the mother cat was trying to escape the crate. The stress was affecting her health as the veterinarians could not treat the queen cat.  We decided to reunite the mother cat with her kittens.

I set up a medium sized live animal trap by lining it with folded newspaper and then setting some canned fish kitten food in the back of the trap.  I then covered the trap with a cotton twin blanket and sat in the back of the shed.  It took less than an hour to trap all three kittens as they all entered the trap at once.  They were not stressed inside the trap as they were too busy playing with the paper.  I covered the trap with the blanket and kittens laid down to sleep.

I brought the kittens to the clinic and they were reunited with mother cat. The mother cat was at ease, she cleaned all of her kittens and all were at peace.  The kittens were weaned while at the animal clinic and mother cat received the treatment that she needed.

When to Trap Feral or Stray Kittens

Sometimes a feral cat will abandon her kittens and you must trap to save the kittens life.
Every spring my husband and I watch for queen cats that may be pregnant.  We document them by taking a photograph and we make note of their daily activities.

We will hike into the woods to make note of thicket den or hallow tree where the queen will give birth to the kittens.  When a queen cat is noted we immediately set up a feeding station.  By doing this we are bonding with the cat.

If there is a problem and the kittens need to be trapped then we will rescue the orphaned kittens.   Otherwise we will wait until they are weaned at approximately 7 to 12 weeks old before trapping them for spay, neuter, worming and shots and socialization.

Video on raising orphaned kittens

Taming Feral Cats - Adult and Kittens

Taming an adult and feral kittens can be achieved provided the trainer has time, patience and a thorough understanding of feral cat behavior.  The trainer should have both skill and experience in handling feral cats as they are not like domesticated cats. 

  

I take time to gradually tame the feral cat.  I respect the cat and allow them to bond with me when they are ready.   Normally it is 30 to 60 days for a weaned kitten, and 1 to 2 years for a adult feral cat to be fully tamed.  I am someone who has the time to allow the feral cat to trust me . Of course this method is not for everyone, but for those who have time to wait it is well worth the effort.  

I tame  feral cats by confining them to a small room, with a window, an open crate with soft cuddle bed.  The crate is covered with a blanket and is the feral cats safe room.  There is food and water and a litter box.  I do not allow the cats free feeding, instead they eat twice a day.  I take the bowl away when they are finished. I train them to acknowledge me and to need me for their food.


Feral cats are terrified of humans and will spit, hiss and show their claws.  They do this in defense.  I take no offense to the cat when they show there outward aggressive nature.  I go about my business of reading a book or looking at a magazine.  I let the cat be for a week to get accustomed to being indoors, and being in the company of a human. The cats will hide, come out to eat and hiss then go back to hide.  Within 7 to 10 days the feral cat is curious and will come out of hiding cautiously.  The cats think of me as a predator, but in time they learn that I am not going to hurt him.

When you decide to adopt a feral kitten contact your veterinarian and let them know your plans.  Find out if they accept feral or untamed cats. Some veterinarians do not care for feral cats, if this is the case you would then contact your local cat network to inquire about a veterinarian in your area that will exam, treat and spay or neuter a feral cat.

I believe in using cat crates only to provide the cats with a safe place.  The door of the crate is always opened and the cat is free to come and go.  However the training room’s door is always closed during the taming of feral cat.  I set the crate up with a soft bed.  The bed is warm and provides the cat with a place to hide.  There is food and water in the crate; and the litter box is in the crate for a few days.  When it is time to clean the box I will remove it from the crate, clean and leave it 3 feet from the crate.  I move the box to draw the cat out of the crate. The feral cat will need to walk close to me  and exposure to human is good.

The feral cat safe room is off limits to other family members and pets.  The cat trainer is the only person to enter the room until the bonding process is completed.

Dress appropriately when you enter the feral cat’s room.  I wear long sleeve shirt, loose fitted pants, shoes and socks.  I have never worn gloves…but I recommend them to others.

Keep a safe distance from the cat.  Many people do not make eye contact with the cat.  I do not make eye contact of the first couple of days but by the end of the week I will make eye contact with the cat and I do speak to the cat with a soft voice. I move very slowly in the cat room as I do not want to startle the cat or frighten.  The feral cat will hide and that is fine. The cat can smell me and they can hear me.

Don’t expect the feral cat to reach certain goals.  If the cat wants to hide  for longer than a week, let the cat be.  Just sit in the room every day for a few hours, do your work or read a book.  Socializing a feral cat takes time, patience and love.

Respect the feral cat.  Do not approach the cat; do not attempt to pet the cat.  Allow the cat time to bond with you.  

When taming a feral cat I will use products to put the cat at ease; I will spray the cats training room and their bed with Feliway ORMD-D Behavior Modifier.  This modifier emits a synthetic cop of your cat’s natural facial pheromone.  Feliway comfort zone is effective in preventing the cat from marking their territory and it helps to prevent the cat from feeling anxious.   


It is okay for the feral cat to hide, the cat is terrified of you so let the cat be.  Allow the cat to rest.  I always spend time with the cat on their first day.  I will sit in the room and read a book.  I do not interact with the feral cats by approaching the cat.  I just sit on a chair with the back against a wall and read a book.


Here are some photographs of feral cats that I have trapped, tamed and adopted into forever homes.

How to Set up Outdoor Shelter for Cats

If you have an outdoor cat, care for them by providing them with an insulated  shelter.    Buy or make cat shelters that will provide  outdoor cats with a front door and an exit door.  These doors will allow the cat to escape the shelter unharmed if a predator should enter one of the doors. 

 Set up the shelters in an area that is protected from street and human traffic.  Choose a secluded area in your yard that is off the beaten path.  My outdoor cat shelter is located with house to the back, wall to the one side and evergreen bamboo on the other side.  The branches of the bamboo shrub conceal the cat shelter. It is protected from wind and predators.  It is wise to set the shelter up off the ground to prevent the interior from getting wet, and it will protect the cat shelter from becoming buried under ice and snow. 

Line the interior of the shelter with a foot of straw.  The straw will provide the cats with the warmth that they need.  Refrain from using blankets or rugs as they hold the moisture and will feel cold to the cat.  Okay to use thermal fleece blanket as extra insulation provided you mix with straw.

Bedding inside shelter

Feral cat resting inside insulated shelter

 Last year I filled the cat shelter with a foot of straw and then used my hands to make a bed in the center of the straw.  I pushed the straw up on the sides of the heavy plastic dome tube shelter.  By doing this the feral cat could lie in the center and have the thermal straw around him.  I also added a thermal cat bed that was self heating in the center of the straw.  By doing this I provided the feral cats with a shelter that was windproof, waterproof and warm. 

 Tips:

1. Set the cats feeding station away from the shelter. Do this to keep predator away from the shelter.
2.  Domesticated cats should be brought in at night to protect them from predators.
3.  A one door cat shelter is fine for a daytime shelter.  However all cats that live outdoors continually need a shelter that provides them with a front door and an exit door.  These doors are meant to protect the cat.  Example:  If the cat is sleeping in the outdoor shelter a dog, fox, raccoon or coyote may enter the front of the shelter trapping the cat that is inside.  
4. Check the shelter bedding daily, as cat may mark the straw. Remove the marked straw and replace with fresh.  
5. An insulated cat shelter is an investment that will provide the feral cats with year round shelter from extreme heat and cold.
6. Purchase bales of straw at Lowe's or Home Depot garden center or at farm store.  One bale of straw will keep 4 cats warm for 3 months in winter. 

Introducing Feral Cat to Pet Toys

Cat toys are a good way for the human to bond with a feral kitten.  Feral kittens do not know how to play with toys and you must introduce the toy without scaring the cat.

 When you bring a feral  kitten to your home they are terrified of being indoors. The surrounding and the humans are very scary to a feral kitten.  Take baby steps to get the feral kitten accustomed to their surroundings before you introduce them to pet toys.

 When I socialize I do not rush feral cats or kittens as I want them to be comfortable and do not want to break their wonderful spirit, so the taming of the cat is on their terms.  If they want to live in a house with humans and other pets then I am there to help them adjust.

Charlie the feral kitten that I have been working with reached many goals in the 14 day socialization program.  He now greets me when I enter the room with his food and will walk past me and rub his tail on my leg.  

He spends more time out of his box, watching me and has jumped on the end of my desk to sniff my pencil holder.  I am certain that he is taking down his walls and is allowing himself to get comfortable.  Because of these achievements I decided that today would be a good day to bring out the cat toys.

The first toy introduction was Da Bird a bird with feather on a stick toy.  I sprayed the birds feathers with catnip and ran the bird across the floor slowly. 

Charlie was afraid at first and then he pounced on the bird.  I also brought out a mouse filled with catnip and a ball with a bell inside.  The mouse and the balls were prized possessions that Charlie picked up and brought to his cat box.  He then snuggled with the toys, purred so loudly you could hear him outside the door and then he went to sleep.  For Charlie the feral kitten it was the ending of a perfect day.

Socializing a Traumatized Feral Kitten

Socializing a feral kitten that was traumatized at a young age is not easy because feral cats are terrified of humans.  If the trauma was due to human actions then the feral kitten will be hard to handle and socializing them may be impossible.  Even with these tough obstacles I took on the challenge to tame a traumatized feral kitten.

About The Feral Kitten "Charlie"

Charlie the feral kitten came into my life when his mother brought him to my old shed. The queen cat had been injured and I trapped for medical care.  Charlie was trapped for medical care and bottle feedings.  Charlie was traumatized when we took him away from his mother, the trauma escalated when we took him to the veterinarian for the flesh wound on his paw.

Charlie was admitted to the animal clinic for the wound to his paw.  He needed urgent care and was treated at the clinic for 21 days.   The feral kitten survived his flesh wound and infection however he was a traumatized and was all wound up from the medication, anxiety and pain that he had endured. .

Trapped Charlie is anxious and afraid

The attending veterinarian suggested that I turn him loose and watch him at the cat colony, but I thought it was not wise since he would always have problems with his foot. 

A cat that limps would not do well living outdoors.  I was determined to socialize this kitten.  Of course it would be difficult and I would have to stop my life to work with him for several hours every day, but I thought it was well worth the effort.  Since Charlie was handicapped.

 My husband said he would help and my one neighbor said she would feed the colony cats and so I started the socialization program with Charlie the traumatized kitten.  

Week One

  

This week I am concentrating on bonding with Charlie and to achieve this goal I am spending 8 hours a day with him.  Charlie is in the new cat room and I have a chair in there, a light and a book.  

As expected there is not much interaction going on.  Charlie is staring at me from the cat cube and when I get three feet from the house he hisses and spits at me, so I backed off because it is clear that Charlie is terrified of me. 

Week one was uneventful as the time was used for Charlie to get accustomed to my scent and to grow dependent upon me for food and water.

Week two

Charlie stared at me for a good week and then on the 14th day of his socialization we had a break through. I was read a book in the morning, ate my lunch in the cat room and gave Charlie some food too. After lunch I sat in the chair next to the  cat window seat and closed my eyes.  

I fell asleep and I suppose Charlie took a leap of faith because when I awoke Charlie was sitting on my chest staring at me.   When the feral kitten realized I was awake he turned quickly, leaped from the chair and ran to hide in his cat cube. 

This is a huge accomplishment because it indicates that Charlie wants to learn more about me.  He is letting down his guard and is taking steps to becoming a socialized feral kitten.  

 Presently Charlie has no stress.  He can learn about me and bond with me at his own speed.  I am taking baby steps with this traumatized feral kitten.

Tips: 

• To help calm Charlie so that he did not feel anxious or excess stress I sprayed his bed with feliway behavior modifier.

Save Lives by Rescuing Feral Kittens

Save a feral kitten's life by being aware of kitten populations in your neighborhood and take steps to rescue them from a life of hardship.

 If you live in an area where it is continually warm then female unaltered cats will reproduce repetitively and when the kittens are weaned at approximately 8 weeks these feral kittens will seek food and shelter in residential neighborhoods, parks or woodland areas.  Feral kittens will be viewed playing in yards and gardens, eating out of dog’s food bowl, drinking the water in the pond, walking on your car and setting up a shelter under you deck.  Some kittens will venture out into the streets. Other kittens will be chased by a stray dog and some kittens will be hunted by wildlife. 

Only a few feral kittens survive living outdoors as the life expectancy of a feral cat is no more than two to three years. Some feral kittens will be saved from a life of hardship because you trapped and then socialized them before finding the feral kittens a forever home.  Take the steps that are needed to save feral kitten lives.    

How you can save a feral kittens life:

From a distance watch the kittens in your neighborhood.  Feral kittens look like domesticated cats, they are cute, playful and their coat is well groomed.  However feral kittens that are born outdoors are terrified of humans and are not friendly.  

Determine if the kitten is feral or friendly also look for the mother cat, she may be out looking for food or she may be watching her kittens at a distance.  Study the kittens by watching and waiting.  If mother cat is not available then try to lure the kitten to you with food and water.  

Put on heavy duty leather work gloves.  If the kitten approaches you and is friendly then this kitten may have been born indoors and put outside after it was weaned.  Pick up the kitten with your gloved hands by grabbing it by the scruff.  Put the kitten in a carrier.  If the kittens show caution and hisses or shows you their claws then this kitten is feral and they are sending you a warning; “I am afraid of you, please keep away from me or I will bite or scratch you”

The safest and most effective way to save a feral kittens life is to set up a live animal medium size  trap.  If you do not have a medium sized  trap then contact your local cat network, veterinarian, or cat rescue to see if you can borrow one.  Or you can buy a feral cat trap. Be a hero and save a feral or stray kittens life. 

 

Tips:
Never grab a feral kitten with your bare hands.  They will scratch you or bite you. Wear a secure fitting heavy duty work gloves. 

Do not trap a feral kitten if you do not know what you are doing. Learn more about feral cats by joining Alley Cat Allies.  As a member you will be able to contact feral cat caregivers or trappers in your community and these caregivers will be able to assist you with trapping.

Become a colony caregiver and trap feral cats for sterilization, and vaccines. Enlist volunteers to help you with the colony needs; daily feedings, fresh water and providing shelter if need be.  

Save feral cat and kitten’s lives by spaying or neutering.

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.