Winter Ready Trixie Cat House

  

We bought the Trixie cat house from Chewy.com a few years ago.  We set up by adding a cooling mat and straw on the floor.   A feral cat went into the house and seemed to like it.   When the season started to change, we knew that we had to make this small pine wood house winter-ready.

The house sits off the ground which is good but the floorboards promote air circulation which is bad for our winters.  So we covered the floor walls and interior of the hinged asphalt shingled roof with reflective insulation.  Then we filled it with a hefty layer of wheat straw.

The insulation was fine for the cool days and nights of autumn but when the rain came the overhang did not keep the interior dry and the water seemed to come in the straw and the insulated walls were wet  So, we took the house apart by removing the wet straw and insulation.

The darkness on the back wall is wet from the rain

We brought the house indoors so it could dry out and once it was dry my husband worked to insulate the house for winter and to stop the leaking.  To get the Trixie house ready for winter we added the reflective insulation on all interior walls. To stop the wind and the rain from coming in from the side walls we wrapped the house with bubble wrap.  Wheat straw was added so that the kitty could burrow in the straw and keep warm during the winter months.

Since the house does not have an overhang, and feral cats are afraid of the door flaps we set the house up under our deck to protect it from rain and snow. 

Our winters are bitterly cold and think that this winter-ready Trixie house will now provide a perfect shelter for a stray or feral cat. 

Age Matters When Adopting a Cat

  

In the past, I rescued a litter of six kittens that were abandoned at the side of the road  We were able to find homes for two of the six kittens but ended up adopting the remaining four. 

Four of the six kittens that we rescued
 

All of the kittens were the same age and it was fun to watch them grow, play, and take care of each other but when they were older it was heartbreaking.

 

Sibling cats sleeping together 

We learned the hard way that it's best to adopt cats that are different ages rather than all the same age.  

This past December we had to say goodbye to three of our cats who all passed away within a month.  I think the loss of a sibling was just too much for our littermates and that the sadness escalated their failing health.

The cats were elderly (age 18) and we knew that they were all end of life but they were part of our family and the passing of a cat, a beloved cat still hurts. 

Both my husband and I decided that age does matter when adopting a cat and that it's best to have multiple cats that are not the same age.  

We are thinking of adopting a kitten and an adult cat age 4 or 5 along with a senior cat since they always need homes for older cats at the shelter.   The difference in age matters to us as we do not want cats that are the same age for fear that they will all become elderly at the same time and all will go to the rainbow bridge one after another just like what occurred with us the month before Christmas. 

Mistletoe is Toxic To Cats

While shopping today my husband grabbed some mistletoe and held it above my head.  And we kissed because it's tradition during the holidays.  While it's fun to kiss under the mistletoe did you know that it's toxic to cats?

Mistletoe contains substances that are toxic to both dogs and cats,

Mistletoe growing on branches of trees

mistletoe ornament used during the Christmas season

Normally during the holiday season, people will hang mistletoe in the doorway so that all who stand under it will receive a kiss.  This is great for homes with no pets because mistletoe is not a harmless plant, all plant parts are toxic, and depending on how much is ingested it may cause any of the following; excessive drooling vomiting diarrhea gastrointestinal upset, and pain abnormal heart rate seizures or death (the entire plant is toxic, branch, leaves and berries)  

I would recommend that you enjoy the mistletoe when you are away from your home because the only way to keep your cats safe is to keep it out and away from your house. 

Poinsettia Plants Are They Toxic to Cats

 

The poinsettia is known as the Christmas plant due to its colorful green and red foliage.  While this plant is stunning to look at during the holiday season it's also very attractive to cats and it's important to know if this plant is toxic or not. 

Poinsettia plant leaves

Today my brother gave me a beautiful red poinsettia and since I have cats I wondered if the plant might be toxic to my pets.  My indoor cats are plant-starved and normally everything I bring indoors is deemed a new kitty treat.  So I needed to make sure that this holiday poinsettia would not poison my pets. 

my poinsettia plant on the porch / away from the cats

I searched online and found that many websites have listed that poinsettia plants are toxic to cats and that I should keep the poinsettia away from them. All of the websites seemed to say the same thing and honestly, I needed to confirm the information so I searched for a veterinarian school.

My search led me to an educational website for veterinarian medicine and this website gave me accurate information regarding poinsettia toxicity to cats. 

 ". Poinsettias have received bad publicity in the past whereas, in fact, poinsettias are not very toxic to pets. They do contain a milky sap that can irritate the mouth but if signs develop they are usually mild.  The College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University provides the following information for Poinsettia, as well as Mistletoe and Holly. "Holiday Health Hazards" https://hospital.vetmed.wsu.edu/2021/11/23/holiday-health-hazards-for-pets/ 

In conclusion and in my opinion, the poinsettia plant will not end your cat's life, as this plant has very low toxicity to cats.  You know your cat's behavior, if they are plant-starved like mine, attracted to all greenery as something new to chew on then keep the poinsettia away from your cats.  

The leaves of the poinsettia will cause an irritation to the mouth. Watch out for drooling.  Now if they eat the poinsettia leaves, stems all parts of the plant  they may drool, vomit, or have diarrhea.  

Bobcat Fever What it is and How to Protect Cats

  

Recently I read in our local newspaper an article about a cat that had been infected with Bobcat fever.  I learned that the disease was found in bobcats and it was transferred to cats from a lone star tick.  

An infected cat will have a very high fever and will feel hot when you touch them, they will not eat or drink water and they will sleep more than usually, they will also have jaundice (white in eyes will look yellow).  As the bobcat fever disease progresses the cat will have difficulty breathing and will suffer from dehydration.

Know that you cat may be bitten by a tick, and you will remove it but you will not know if the tick is infected until five to 20 days because that is how long it takes to have symptoms of the disease.

Be aware that your cat may have Bobcat fever without seeing a tick, because the tick may bite and fall off.  So, its best to watch for any symptoms mentions and take your cat to the veterinarian if you cat has any signs of this disease.

Even if your cat is an indoors and never goes outdoors you should keep up with flea and tick medication because if you have a dog they can bring in ticks.  I have found a few ticks on me after gardening and those ticks could have bitten my indoor cats.  

I treat my cats with revolution topical monthly but plan to talk to my veterinarian about a treatment that will kill the tick before they bite my cat.

Other information 

* Identify the lone star tick as the black tick with the bright white spot on their back.

* Bobcat fever does not affect dogs or humans. 

* If you have recently adopted a cat then make an appointment with the veternarian to get vaccines, wellness check and monthly flea and tick treatment. 

Keep Cats Cool in Summer with Fans

This past summer the heat was extreme with no rain in over a month.   Many of the feral and stray cats did come into our yard to drink water from the many bowls and a few went into our air-conditioned shed.  Other cats tried to keep cool by lying on our patio chairs.  But when the the shade was a heat index of 90 degrees we did take steps to provide these cats with powerful air circulation from an industrial fan. 

Here is a photo of the fan that we set up for the cat.

We bought an industrial large fan from Lowes home improvement store and set the fan up so that it was five feet away from where the cat was lying.  The large fan did provide the cat with a steady stream of air and hopefully, it blew the hot air away from the cat. 

We have taken care of this feral cat since 2008 and think she is set in her ways and does not want to go into the shed where the air conditioner is.  Maybe afraid of the other cats or afraid of the window unit as they are noisy.

The cat stayed in the chair and only left the area with the breeze from the fan to get a drink of water.   She came back to where the fan was and seemed to enjoy the steady breeze.

Setting the fan five feet away from the cat was good as we tried to be closer and the stronger breeze did scare her.   

How to Take Care of Barn Cats

  

My local shelter is now accepting stray and feral cats for barn cat adoptions. These cats provided that they are sterilized, with rabies vaccine, and are in good health are intended for farms that are in need of snake and rodent control.

 

Many people assume that a cat if it's “hungry” will hunt and kill its supper.  Therefore you would not feed the cat.  Know if you assume this then you are wrong, the cat will eventually move on to another farm or house in the area that will provide it with food.

 

The best way to keep a barn cat is to feed the cat food kibble.  Set a bowl of food in the barn along with fresh water and allow the cat to eat the kibble throughout the day. The barn cat will become dependent upon the food and will hang out in the barn or close to it.  

Here is a photo of cats in my shed.  I have provided them with food and an insulated shelter. They keep the shed rodent free along with the outdoor gardens. 

 

The food and water along with straw for sleeping will attract the cat to the barn where they will eat food and kill mice and other rodents in appreciation of the care that you provide them.   

Barn cats are feral cats that were born outdoors and are fearful of humans.  They normally kill and eat their prey even though they have eaten a bowl of cat food.  Fresh meat is a way to supplement their diet and hunting comes naturally to them and they enjoy it.

 

When we moved into our home in the woods our yard was loaded up with field mice and snakes.  My friend who has a farm told me to put out a bowl of cat food and fresh water in the morning and the feral and stray cats in the area will eventually come. She told me to feed them and they would rid my yard of pests.

 

I kept the cats in my yard by taking care of my feral cats with an outdoor shelter, and daily food and provided them with fresh water.  I also trapped them and paid for their sterilization, rabies, and other necessary cat vaccines.

 

So if you are planning to adopt a barn cat, please take steps to provide the cat with food water, and an outdoor shelter that will keep them dry, warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. When you take care of the cat, then they will rid your yard of rodents.

 

 *Note feral/barn or other cats that live outdoors are good hunters. A domesticated house cat is not a good hunter.  Many times they will play with the rodent and sometimes the housecat is afraid of the rodent.

Smart Queen Cat Can't be Trapped

For the past three days, we have been trying to trap a queen feral cat but this cat is very smart and knows how to get the bait without setting off the trap trigger.

I have been trapping feral and stray cats for over a decade and have never come across a cat like this. But sure enough, this kitty knows how to get the bait and leave. 

The trap works fine with normal cats, but a smart cat no.

At first, I thought it was my trap and that it was not working properly. So I checked it by setting it outdoors and was able to trap a tomcat.  It's not the trap it works fine.

One of the cat's friends suggested putting a kitchen towel in the trap to cover the trigger.  This towel would trick the cat and they would step on the trigger.  I thought it was a great idea so I set up the trap at 5 AM inside my garden shed, asd that is where the queen cat is. 

We watch through the window of the shed to see if the cat was trapped. We couldn't believe our eyes but this queen cat sat in front of the trap door as if she was studying the towel. Then she pulled the towel out of the trap before going in to eat the bait.  She escaped being trapped once again.

I spoke to my veterinarian about what was going on and she said the cat has probably been trapped before and that the cat is very smart.

We are going to try again tomorrow to trap this queen cat that is in heat. We are hoping that we are successful.  Have you ever experienced a cat like this?

ecoFlex Albany Outdoor Cat House Review

 I bought mossy oak ecoFlex Albany outdoor cat insulated house for feral and stay cats and have used it for the last three years. This cat house is quality and made to last through the harshest winters and I would recommend this cat house to anyone who has outdoor cats.

 

Know that I liked that the walls of this house are insulated and that it comes with an escape door. The cat house was easy to put together, but I do recommend that you keep the screwdriver because you will need it to take off the roof to clean the house.  I also recommend that add any extra insulation to the house before you attach the roof.

 

 

This past winter it was bitter cold in my area and I did add reflective insulation to all walls, floor, and ceiling. I then filled it with wheat straw and two feral cats lived in the ecoFlex outdoor cat house.

 

This house has a roomy interior that allowed two cats to snuggle in the straw and stay warm throughout the winter months.

 

The only thing I did not like was the plastic door flaps were difficult to open, and they scared the feral cats. I did remove the front entrance and left the door flap on the side entrance.  Also, this particular house design should have an overhang to prevent snow and rain from getting in.  We screwed a plastic container lid to the roof of the cat house and it worked very well.

 

***The photographs shown in this blog are my original photographs of the mossy oak ecoFlex Albany outdoor cat house.

End of Life Care for Senior Cat

 The end of life for your senior kitty is never easy because your cat will have behavior changes that you are not accustomed to because like humans senior cats experience cognitive dysfunction which is like dementia in humans.

 Some senior kitties will have dementia similar to humans and some senior kitties become more affectionate and want to be next to their people at all times.  A once calm and quiet cat may become vocal and some senior kitties will walk around the house at night as if they are lost. 

Know that my senior cat is experiencing all of the above and also health issues such as ear infections and mobility decline.  But she has a hearty appetite and still purrs when we pet her. 

 

Our eldest cat is 18 years old, and her behavior has changed and is that of a dementia kitty.  She tends to wander around the house at night and will meow loudly.   She will also meow loudly because she is thirsty and wants me to turn on the bathroom or kitchen faucet.  Sometimes she cannot find her food bowl and this will cause her to become cranky.   I will put it in front of her and she will eat happily.  Other times she has no problem finding her food bowl.  Every day is a new experience in the life of a senior cat.

Know that her body has slowed down and she now prefers to sleep in our bed.  Her preferable sleeping area is up by the pillow between my husband and I. She sleeps at all times and is only awake to eat, drink, and use her litter box.

Normally our cat enjoyed being groomed but recently we noticed that she pulls away from the brush.  My thinking is that her skin is more sensitive to the brush and that it's not enjoyable for her.  So, we stopped brushing her and now use nature's miracle cat wipes to clean her fur and we pet her often.  Our senior cat still enjoys being petted.

 

Occasionally our senior cat will play with her catnip-filled mouse.  She used to love her mouse but overall she is disinterested in it and I suspect it's due to her fading sense of smell. Our kitty loves to still look at the birds that are outdoors and she loves cuddling with us and our dog. She still enjoys her favorite catnip-flavored treats and still purrs when we pet her so she has not lost all interest and still enjoys specific things.

 

My husband and I have discussed our cat's condition and if we should euthanize it when the time is right.  My husband hopes that she passes peacefully in her sleep and he wants her to pass naturally at home.  He tells me that death is a part of living and it is nature.  I am the one who spends the most time with our senior cat and would prefer euthanasia when the time is right.

Today we had a scare when our senior kitty could not stand to pee or poo.  It looked like she hurt her right hind leg. She could not stand, she would try but would fall down and then roll over.  We took this as a sign that her passing was soon.

Our veterinarian squeezed us in by staying late and I asked if she would examine our senior cat before euthanasia as we needed to know if there was a specific ailment or if it was her time to pass.

My veterinarian examined her and told her that it was not time for our senior cat to pass away, that she was very alert, and that her ears needed to be cleaned,  When her ears were cleaned we found out that she had an inner ear infection and that this was probably why she had difficulty walking and standing.

Treatment was administered; antibiotics, and steroids, and she was given fluids due to slight dehydration.  We were told to crate her or confine her to a bathroom, to put down puppy pads, a cat bed food, and water. 

Within 8 hours our senior cat showed signs of better mobility, she was able to use the litter box and also drank and ate from her bowls.

at age 18 our senior kitty loves to eat

 Know that when it comes to the end of life care for a senior cat that there is no right answer.   You choose the option that is best for you and your cat. My husband and I had a difference in opinion and we discussed our opinions with our veterinarian she said that when the time was right that she would come to the house to administer the euthanasia and thus the cat would pass peacefully in my arms. 

Winter Ready Cat House

 The fall season has been warm during the day and night but when the weather forecast called for winter-like temperatures I knew it was time to get the outdoor cat houses ready for winter.

Winter cat house with insulation and straw 

Today I gathered all of the cat houses and took them apart.  I then wiped them down with Dawn's antibacterial dish soap on a cloth that was wet with hot water.  The cat houses were left to dry. Then I sprayed them lightly with cat-friendly pest control to keep spiders, ticks, and fleas away from the houses. 

During the summer months, I collected styrofoam sheets from packages that I had received and from neighbors who saved this cheap insulation.  I used styrofoam as an extra layer to insulate the cat houses. 

We bought a bale of straw from the Tractor Store and used the dry straw to fill the houses.  I pushed the straw up onto the sides of the house and left a hefty layer on the floor. 

 Each in the shed house has a self-warming waterproof pet mat. Outdoor houses are all insulated with styrofoam or radiant insulation, and then covered with mylar.  The houses are either filled with straw, or they have an extreme weather heat pad by K&H.

All of the cat houses have p; plastic door flaps but have found that the feral and stray cats are afraid of the plastic doors.  So one plastic door covers the emergency exit but none on the front.

If there is snow or rain in the forecast I will set up a plastic container cover as an awning so that the straw will not get wet. 

Here are photos of my winter-ready cat houses.

bale of straw for cat houses

small wooden can house with insulation and straw

Cat house with waterproof self-healing mat 

winter ready cat houses

The house is elevated and overhand added to keep snow/rain from getting into the house.  The house is set up next to a fence that allows the cat a good escape if a predator is in the area 

Trapped Feral Tomcat for TNR

 In the summer a stray cat went into our garage and a few weeks later she had a kitten. We took care of the mother cat and her kitten and planned to trap both after the kitten was weaned. We would then do TNR for veterinarian care, sterilization, and release.

Our timetable was to get all of this accomplished by the first week of September.  But those plans went south when the 2022 inflation hit and the cost of living was too expensive and we could not afford to pay for the veterinarian care that was needed.

Normally I use the monies I earn from selling my product designs online at my Zazzle store but sales were not enough for the veterinarian care that was needed.  I  turned to my husband for support for my cat's cause.  

I communicated with our veterinarian about what was going on as they had expected me to bring in the cats for medical care.  To my surprise, they worked with me on the costs for FeLV and FIV tests, vaccines including rabies, and sterilization and I am happy to say that the feral tomcat was trapped for TNR.

The neuter went well but aftercare was 3 days in the garage before we could release to the cat colony that is overseen by caretakers. 

My photo of a feral tomcat on the day we brought him back for aftercare. 

The feral cat recovered and was transported to another colony and released.  He is doing well and the caretakers named him Church because he looks like Stephen King's Pet Cemetary cat.

Neighbor Alerted Animal Control about TNR

 Recently a neighbor alerted animal control that we were participating in TNR (trap neuter release of stray cats in our community)  In the last five years we have trapped approximately 62 cats for TNR. The cats were trapped in our yard and I have also trapped when people contacted me for help with removing stray nuisance cats in our community.  

These trapped cats were always transported to the veterinarian's office to be checked for cat disease, vaccinated, wormed, and sterilized. Then we released them to a colony that is located within 29 acres of woods.  The cats were away from neighborhoods and were cared for by people who love cats.

We thought we were being civic-minded, we were controlling the cat populations in our neighborhood and we were taking care of the colony cats twice daily.  But apparently, not everyone loves cats or supports the TNR of cats. Some people think stray cats should be left alone to struggle to survive, suffer in extreme weather, fight with other cats, mate, and produce hundreds of kittens.  The neighbor thinks that nature should take its course and that humans should not disturb cats with TNR and due to the neighbor's backward beliefs, he reported us to animal control.

The neighbor requested that I be arrested because trapping/TNR was against the law in my city. 

My photo of a cat that was trapped for veterinarian care

We were honest with animal control and told them that we only trapped stray cats on our property and when we had permission from people in our community. Only injured or sick cats were trapped in public or other private property (the woods).

TNR cat at woods colony

Below is a photograph of our yard. The photo shows that TNR should not bother anyone as the home backs up to 29 acres of dense woods and the home sits on 1/4 acre of land  

Animal control told me that I could only trap cats on my property. That I must have permission from the property owner to trap anywhere else. That I could no longer trap in the woods unless I had permission to do so. 

Photo of two kittens and queen feral cat in the woods

Orange tabby kitten trapped for medical care

What upsets me is the owner of the woods lives in another state and I have no way to contact them. It breaks my heart to think that in an emergency I cannot help the cat by trapping them for medical care if they are in the woods by my home. I cannot do this because the neighbor emailed me and told me that they are watching me and that it's their civic duty to watch and report me if I break the laws of the city.

Cats in woods colony and in thicket den

Yes, I am upset at the neighbor that alerted animal control about TNR and I don't think they understand how TNR helps cats and communities. We have thought about moving and have thought about buying the land by our home as that would enable us to help the cats that need to be trapped for medical care.

When Neighbors Don't Love Cats

 We have been providing insulated and waterproof shelters for the TNR cats that reside in the woods that is adjacent to our home. We have been caretakers since 1999 and honestly had no idea that neighbors were watching from afar and that they didn't love cats.

Recently we were made aware of the neighbor's concerns as animal control told me that all the cat houses had to be removed from the public woods and that I could only provide the shelters in my yard. (however, if the cats become a nuisance then I would have to remove the cat houses)  Animal control made me aware of a neighbor that was bothered by the cat houses and had reported me for providing a cat house in my yard (behind a privacy fence) and in the woods.

The cat houses could not be seen by the woods trail.  You would have to hike off the trail to find them.  I suppose they may have followed me one day when I went out to feed the colony of TNR cats.  The neighbor was not bothered by the cat feedings but certainly wanted the cat houses removed. 

Our weather can be brutal with extreme heat in the summer and bitter cold with snow in the winter. The cat houses may have saved the colony cats' life because they were insulated to keep cats cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

When neighbors don't love cats and put a stop to people that help cats, then they hurt cats by denying them shelter.   I know that going forward that I need to be more careful about what is said to neighbors and to change my time for feeding the colony cats as I don't know what the neighbors that do not like cats will do next. 

Here is a photo of what my outdoor cat shelters look like.  They are not cheap nor are they eyesores. Yes, I am angered at this neighbor for being so hateful toward the cats. 

The cat houses in the photos below are in my yard.  I bought 4 houses like this 2 for my yard and 2 for the woods cats.  These quality-made houses should not offend anyone. 

Gray Rescue Kitten is Adopted

 Lately, it's been difficult to find adopters for the cats and kittens that we rescue but have to say we got lucky. A neighbor told us that they would like to provide the gray rescued kitten with a forever home.

We took the kitten to the veterinarian's to have it checked for a microchip, then when we learned that there was none we had the kitten checked for disease, then vaccinated and sterilized.  

The kitten was discharged and I was told to keep it calm for a week or ten days.  When the cat had regained its strength and had put on some weight my husband took the kitten to our neighbor's house.

We are thankful that the kitten went to someone who had experience with rescue cats and is grateful that he will provide a safe forever home for the gray kitten.  

Here is a photo of the kitten being transported to its adopter / forever home.