TOP PICKS for Cat Houses

When it comes to shopping for cat houses for the winter season I tend to shop offseason because the selection is better and prices are lower. 

I will shop in town before I shop online and will look for quality made houses that are not drafty. Many pet houses look great and you think they are made well but you really need to check them out because not all cat houses are made well.

My husband and shopped locally for an outdoor cat house. We went to Walmart, Pet Smart and did not find quality outdoor houses. What we found was flimsy wood houses with drafty floors or plastic houses that really were intended for a dog. Since the selection in town was poor I shopped online at Chewy Pet Supplies. It did not take long as I found a few cat houses that were suitable for outdoor feral and stray cats.

Here are my top picks for outdoor cat houses. 

I recommend these houses because they provide the cat with their own space and the houses were insulated to keep the cat cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Plus they were waterproof. The houses offered year-round comfort and safety for the outdoor cats.

I really like the New Age Pet ecoFlex outdoor cat house at Chewy .com.  This is a well-made cat house and the interior is roomy enough for two stray or feral cats. Unlike other cat houses, this one comes with a front door and a side door so if there are any predators the kitty can get away from the side door.  The interior of this cat house is roomy enough for two cats.

Putting the cat house together was easy.  The front door flap is a good grad plastic but I did leave off the front one because the feral cats by me are turned off by door covering. 

Since this cat house does not come with a heating pad I opted to cover the walls and floor with K&H self-heated cat pads.  The pads made the cat house more cozy and warm.  In addition to the cat pads, I did add some wheat straw.

straw keeps outdoor cats warm

This cat house is low to the ground so I set it up on some cement blocks. By lifting it the water runoff from a hard rain will not get into the house and neither will snow.

The ecoFlex outdoor cat house but do think that the roof needs an overhang to help divert the sun from making the cat house hot in the summer and also help in keeping snow and rain out of the house.

We also bought a Trixie outdoor cat house that was made of wood. This is a small house for a cat under 8 pounds.   A larger cat would not be comfortable in this house.

But in spite of the small interior space, this Trixie cat house got good customer reviews. So we bought this house for the feral and stray cats that we take care of.

This Trixie cat house is drafty. A chalking gun was used to seal the gaps. Then we applied a water seal to the outside of the house. Since this cat house is not insulated we used a mylar blanket to insulate the cat house. 

The blanket was cut to size and glued the ends for a snug fit on the ceiling
and side walls of the Trixie cat house. Next we added a thick layer of
wheat straw and set this house in our shed.

The house comes with a plastic door covering but I removed due 
to the cats in my area being fearful of door coverings. Overall the cat that
has made this house her home seems to really like this cat house.

If you were to use this house outdoors I would recommend that you set 
this cat house on a covered porch or deck. It is also a good idea 
to keep it close to the side of your house because it provides wind 
break.  I read a customer review on Chewy.com that said the Trixie cat house 
did not hold up in the rain. It would be a good idea to use this cat house 
on your covered porch, garage or basement.

Helping Baby Kitten to Pee or Poop

When it comes to caring for baby kittens that are rescued you must feed, keep them warm and teach them to pee or poop. Newborn or baby kittens do not go to the bathroom on their own, so if you are the foster kitten mom then caring for them means helping them to go to the bathroom

A mother cat will stimulate the kittens by grooming them, so the best way to replace the roughness of a cats tongue is to use a soft washcloth that is dampened with warm water.  Use a new cloth, and designate this washcloth for kitten use only

After you bottle feed the baby kitten, set the kitten on a towel or small blanket. The kitten should be on their back. Then use a soft cotton cloth that is dampened with warm water and gently massage in a circular motion the kitten’s anus and urinary areas. If the kitten is wiggly you may have to hold him in one hand and use the other hand to stimulate the kitten.

A circular motion with the damp cloth will stimulate the area and enable your kitten to go pee or poop. Wipe the kitten clean with the damp cloth and then put the kitten into their warm box so that they do not get a chill.

When your kitten is older (2-3 weeks) and going to the bathroom on their own you will be able to teach them how to use a litter box. I recommend that you buy a litter box with a covering and natural litter like Feline Pine. There are many natural litters available, choose one that you like.

Learn more about helping your kitten pee or poop by viewing this video

Found Cat / Seeking Pet Owner

Two weeks ago we observed an adult fox chasing a gray and white tabby Cat The cat was running for its life down the middle of the street at dusk. People who were close to the chase did run toward the fox waving their arms, this of course scared the fox and he gave up the chase. The same cat that was chased by the fox ran for its life and ended up at my house 5 blocks away from where the chase began.

It is safe to say that this cat was found because the cat ran into the open door of my basement and commenced with a sorrowful meowing. My husband and I investigated and found a friendly kitty, that is well groomed and nails trimmed. We decided to keep the cat in our basement overnight to prevent it from getting chased by another fox. We were certain that in the morning the cat's people would be searching for this very well groomed and cared for cat.

Nobody was looking for the cat. So my husband and I went door to door with a photo of the cat asking if anyone had lost their cat. To our surprise, not one person in a 5 block radius knew the cat, but all agreed it was a very nice looking cat and that there was a problem with foxes in the neighborhood.

When we could not locate the owner we took the cat to our veterinarian so they could check for a microchip. None was found. Then we learned that the cat was sterilized, nails clipped, no fleas and if the pet owner does all that, then the cat is current with vaccines. We also learned that the cat was in excellent health.

The next thing that we did was see if the kitty would go home on its own. Nope, it laid in my catnip garden most of the morning then laid by our pond or chased lizards in my wildflower garden. The following day I posted a found cat classified ad in our newspaper. No calls were received. Posted on a public cat rescue on Facebook and on the Humane Society Facebook page.

After having the cat for a week, we looked for flyers for a lost cat, when none were seen we posted a found cat flyer. We spoke to so many people that we made new friends. Everyone says it is a nice looking cat and did you find the owner?

We know that most people do not realize that their cat is missing until the cat has been gone for 10 to 14 days so we are still hopeful that we will find the cat owner in our neighborhood or somebody will know the person who lost their cat.

Rescued Abandoned Orange Tabby Cat

In April my husband and I learned that a family in our neighborhood had moved and left their 8-month-old orange tabby cat at the house.  At first, we thought maybe the cat was outdoors and that they would come back for the cat so we located the house and watched for the cat.  The cat returned in the early evening and sat by the front door.  The cat sat and waited for somebody to let it in, we observed the cat sleeping on the porch by the front door. We fed him and gave him water.  His people never returned.  They had moved and abandoned their cat.

Cats rarely come to strangers, so coaxing the cat to us with food was not going to happen.  We tried to catch this young tabby cat for the next two weeks.  We set up a humane live animal trap and caught other cats but not the cat that we wanted.  We left food and water for the cat and saw that the food was eaten.

We eventually rescued this cat but it was only because he had gotten into a horrific fight and sustained many injuries including deep puncture wounds.  My husband was able to pick him up easily and we rushed him to the veterinarian where they stitched him up, gave him a shot of antibiotics, neutered him and administered full vaccines.

Then when we picked him up we learned that he tested positive for FIV.  Learn more about FIV here.

I have no idea why the veterinarian did not call us and tell us that this cat had an incurable disease that occurs when an infected cat bites another cat and inflicts a deep puncture wound. The virus needs to be transmitted by blood contact to infect another cat. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a cat disease and is not transferable to humans or other animals.

 For the past several weeks we have been caring for an injured cat.  A cat with bite wounds all over his body, a ruptured eardrum and bad scratches close to his eyes.  His bite wounds will heal, however, we are not sure if he will regain his hearing.

We will continue to care for this cat and have a follow-up appointment with the veterinarian in June.  Hoping that we will be able to find him a forever home.  It is not easy when a cat has FIV with a disability not many people will adopt a cat that has a special need.

Do you adopt cats with a disability, disease or special needs?

Learn more about FIV here

Hawks Attack Neighborhood Cats

There are many reasons why you should keep your cats indoors but the one that most people overlook is keeping your cat indoors due to hawks flying low.

"Red-tailed hawks and great horned owls are two of North America's most common and widespread raptors. Red-tailed hawks mainly eat small mammals like rodents and rabbits, plus birds and snakes, and aren't considered a threat to most pets. That said, some larger red-tailed hawks may be able to carry prey weighing 5 pounds (2 kg), according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which could include not just puppies and kittens, but also some adult cats and dogs from small breeds. “ Quote from https://www.treehugger.com/how-much-weight-can-hawk-carry-4868712  

All about birds states that Most dogs (and cats) are large enough to be safe from hawks and owls. Even very small dogs may be too heavy for a hawk or owl to carry, although it’s still possible that large raptors might attack them. For instance, black-tailed jackrabbits can reach the weight of a small dog (6 pounds) and are a fairly common prey item for Red-tailed Hawks in the western United States.  Birds of the World. 

If you reside close to a wooded area, or state park then chances there are hawks that are foraging.  Spring is the worst time of the year due to the feeding of their young.  

Today I received a text that was an alert of the hawks flying low to the ground. An adult red-tailed hawk will swoop down and grab your cat with its talons, or the hawk will land in your yard and kill your cat by strangulation or they will fly high enough to drop your cat, then retrieve the prey.  We have observed this firsthand a 4-pound feral cat was grabbed by the hawk air-lifted before being dropped. The cat survived. (we knew the weight of the cat from TNR records) 

Know that in the wild the prey is uncertain and even though small cats and dogs are not a hawk's diet that isn't a reason to dismiss that the cat could be an occasional food source for the hawk.  Both hawks and cats come in different sizes/weights so it comes down to size and opportunity.

 

We always know when the hawks are flying low to the ground because the squirrels and feral cats are hiding, but the domesticated cat may approach the hawk that is on the ground to investigate. The hawk has the advantage please keep your cats indoors when hawks are flying low in your neighborhood.

Caring For Injured Outdoor Cat

We rescued one of our TNR cats because he was injured, limping due to a large wound on his leg. A humane animal trap had to be used to catch this cat and while the kitty was in the trap I contacted my neighbor and she said she would call her veterinarian. The cat was rushed to the veterinarian for medical care.

Photo of Sylvester the cat.

Sylvester the cat was at the veterinarian hospital for a week and is now recovering in my heated garage for the next ten days. You would not know that there was a cat in this garage because it is hiding behind boxes. Occasionally there is a meow but other than that no cat can be seen.

I stayed in the garage for an hour to set up the insulated cat house with new self-heated bed, then added an elevated chair with a cat bed that was directly under the heat lamp. I also filled a litter pan with feline pine and set up a feeding station with dry cat kibble and a fresh bowl of water. When all my tasks were completed I turned to face where the cat was hiding and found that he came out and was sitting behind me. He showed no aggression and this is a good sign.

No medication needs to be administered only rest until wounds heal. We thought two weeks but have changed our minds due to the coyote in our neighborhood and decided it would be best to socialize the cat to be more friendly with humans so we could put him up for adoption.

My neighbor who helps me with the neighborhood cats told me that if I could socialize him then she would take him. Hoping that there is a happy ending for this rescued cat.

Cat Ear Mites Symptoms and Treatments

When a cat has ear mites the ear will look dirty/black

An ear mite is a spider-like parasite that you cannot see.  These mites are attracted to the wax in your cat's ear, When it comes to a cat the mite will bite the cat's ear, or around its neck. The mite will cause bites that look like a blister that are small and red.  

These bites are annoying to the cat and the cat will shake its head and scratch its ear. Your cat's inner ear may look bloody or swollen. Ears that are infected with mites must be cleaned to remove the mite and a veterinarian may prescribe an ear drop treatment. 

View this video to learn how to clean the ear. Treatment for ear mites.

Recently we took in a rescue cat that had mites in its ears and on the body. We knew this because another symptom of mite on the cat's body is to look for dandruff-like flakes in your cat's fur and there were large patches of hair loss. These symptoms are due to the Demodex mite and this mite bites the cat's skin. If you have a multiple cat home where cats are indoor / outdoors chances are you have this mite.

Know that if one cat has ear or skin mites then all of your cats and even your dog has mites. Mites can also get into human hair and this parasite will cause a real problem so I would recommend that you contact your veterinarian if you suspect mites.

See the photograph of the rescue cat with mites, you can see that she is missing fur. She had mites around her neck, in her ears, and on her backside. I suspect she got them from being out in the woods or spending time with other cats that were infected with mites.

From our experience in taking care of the rescue cat that had mites, we learned that the best way to prevent your cat from getting mites is to apply the topical Revolution monthly. Revolution will prevent ticks, fleas, mites, and sarcastic mange. Revolution will also prevent internal and external parasites including heartworm. You can also give your cat a sulfur dip.  My friend told me that she has used sulfur for the treatment of cat mites, that it does work but you must put a cone-shaped recovery collar on your cat to prevent them from licking their fur and ingesting it.

This rescue has a cone-shaped recovery collar on

 

About Heat Lamps For Cat Shelters

Heat lamps with a reflector are a good way to keep cats warmer in a garage, basement or a shed. My friend raises small farm animals and told me that I should buy heat lamps with a reflector for my garage because it is a good way to keep the feral and stray cats warmer in winter.

The lamp reflector and clamp can be position easily but must be used with a heat lamp and a porcelain socket. Position the lamp to where you want it. I have two in my garage where the feral and stray cats go for shelter during winter.

The lights are 5 feet above the cats in one section of the garage I have self-warming beds under the lights for the cats. The heat lamp is a good way to provide warmth in garages, workshops or sheds.

My garage is 475 square feet and I have 4 heat lamps with reflector plus one space heater. This garage is 98 years old and is drafty, is not insulated but I did hang thermal insulated blackout drapes in a variety of colors, bought inexpensive ones at Walmart and king-sized fleece blankets over the interior walls. Then added carpet remnant on the floor.

The space heater is set at 59 degrees and the lights are left on throughout the night. The other night the temperature was 11 degrees with a windchill of 4 degrees. The thermostat indicated that my garage was 39 degrees. For a feral cat that is accustomed to living outdoors, this space is warm. Although along with the heat lamp and another form of supplement heat, you should also provide the cats with self-warming beds and insulated cat houses or doghouses filled with straw.

Feral Cat Sleeping in Winter Shelter Post Card

by Susang6

Do not use blankets for cat bedding in the garage, shed or cold basement because the blankets will retain the cold.  

Garages Can be Deadly For a Neighborhood Cats

Many people have indoor/outdoor cats. And these cats usually go outdoors on a warm day and return at the end of the day to go indoors. But what happens when the weather is rainy or cold, will your cat go in an open garage or shed? Most cats when they enter a garage they will investigate and some may lie down to go to sleep especially if it is raining or cold outdoors.

Garden shed can also be deadly for a cat.  If the door is left open

The homeowner will have no idea the cat is in their garage because when a human approaches the cat may hide. The garage is closed because they are unaware a cat is in their a garage.

Now, what if the homeowner goes to work and returns 12 hours later and do not open the garage. They park their car in the driveway go to the back bedroom to take a nap or watch TV and do not hear the cats meow.

Know that a cat can go without food but they cannot go without water. Water is a necessity. What happens to the cat if the homeowner closes their garage door and leaves for vacation?

An open door is inviting a cat to come indoors

Garages that are left open then closed at some point with a remote are dangerous for a neighborhood cat. My neighbor leaves his garage open for many hours then closes with a remote. He told my husband that where their garage is situated that they would never hear a cat meow. He also said that they went on vacation and came home to a horrendous stench. They opened their garage door and found the remains of a cat.

This is why I say an open garage can be deadly for a neighborhood cat.

Garages can be deadly for a neighborhood cat and I am hoping that everyone spreads the word, people know to sound their horn in winter for cats that may climb into their engine block for warmth. Maybe we can get the word out about garages that are left open and that everyone should check for a neighborhood cat or leave a bowl of water.

We always leave a bowl of water and some food, especially if the garage door is left open. It is the only way to know for certain that no cat or other animal is inside. If food and water are missing then you will know to leave the door open and watch for the animal to come out.

If you leave your garden shed open, be sure to check for animals by leaving food and water and closing the door, then recheck the next day.

Why Do Cats Sleep on Your Pillow

Ever wonder why your cats sleep on your pillow or around your head? Know that it is not because they want to be close to you and they are not lying on your pillow because it is so comfortable. The real reason for the attraction is because sleeping on your pillow is a way for a cat to keep warm.

Yes it is true and you can put this to the test, note when your cat sleeps on your pillow, I bet it is when your bedroom is cold. (leave me a comment below with your findings)

All of my socialized feral cats sleep on my pillow next to my head and a one will lie on my head making it hard on my hair and I put on a hat. The hat on my head was a deterrent so my cat will sleep on my husband pillow or in a self-warming pet bed on the floor.

Even kittens are heat seekers, this is Hairy and he loved to sleep under the blankets

Never underestimate a cat because if they are cold they will go to the place on your body that emits heat. Okay, it is safe to say that not all cats will sleep on your pillow. Some cats will sleep under the bed blankets next to your feet. Why, because feet put off heat.

Know that any part of your body that is exposed to the cold more than any other part has the potential to lose heat and your cold cats will lie closest to the body part. If you would prefer your cats to be off your bed and away from your pillow then buy them a self warming bed. I did and the cats love them so much that they rarely sleep on our pillow, but do occasionally sleep at the end of the bed.

Gracie sleeping on her Purr Pad.  An inexpensive self-warming bed

Ways to Stop Kittens from Biting

When my darling kitten turned two months old she began to play rough with me. Okay, it is totally normal for kittens to play at this age, but unfortunately, along with their play, they do not realize that they need to bite something other than their person. My husband thought she was hungry but learned quickly that it was not the case, because the darling kitten was biting his toes while he was making her a bowl of food and after she at a few bites she gleefully resumed her biting.  Through trial and error, I learned the best way to put a stop to the biting. 

The best way is to distract your cat when they begin to play rough or bite you is to introduce them to a cat activity.  .One way that works is to spray their scratching post with natural catnip then pick your cat up and take to the post. Set their paws on the post, once your cat picks up the scent of the catnip they will forget about biting you.

Another way to get your cat to stop biting you is to address the biting as soon as your cat begins behaving badly. Introduce them to cat toys. It is best to have the toys in a pet room or other room that is away from you.

I have often suspected that my kitten may be anxious or bored and this is why she bites me and plays rough with me. So I bought her a cat tree and sprayed the entire thing with catnip. She loves it and when she starts to bite and play rough I will pick her up and take her to her tree. 

* I recommend setting the cat tree next to a window so kitty can climb to the top. It is helpful to hang an outdoor bird feeder close to the window so your cat can watch the birds. Watching the birds eat at the feeder is more enjoyable than biting their human.

Cat Trees at Chewy Product Review

Over the years I have bought many cat trees, some were great and others fell apart quickly, some fell down when cats climbed to the top. So I was hesitant to buy this cat product online until I shopped for cat trees at chewy.com

My FIV cat Sam loves his cat tree

Shopping for a cat tree takes time because not all of these products are quality made. Know that the selling cost is not a guarantee that the product will hold up under daily cats playing. So when I saw that Chewy carried cat trees I knew they must be quality because this website is highly respected for offering the best products to their customers.

Here is a photo of my FIV cat scratching on the post on his cat tree. We bought this tree at a local pet product store, it was very expensive but it did not hold up and the wood is showing on a relatively new tree. 

Scratching posts on the tree are good for cats.

Know that you can't go wrong at Chewy, there are verified customers that review the products and give the product a rating. You can trust what 1K customers say about the cat trees. I always buy products that have many reviews and 5 stars. ed this product with a 5-star rating. They confirmed that the cat trees sold at chewy were very good and all were satisfied. 

Cat tree I bought from Chewy 

So I shopped until I found the right size tree for my cats. I liked that the tree had five scratching posts, a toy for them to play with and a hiding space for napping. I bought a quality cat tree, that was on sale with free shipping because I added it as a one-time purchase to my auto ship. Chewy does ship all pet products with two-day delivery free of charge as long as you spend $49. It is easy to do because they have discounted prices on all their pet products.

Do you shop at chewy.com?  

Here is another chewy.com cat tree review

 

Maintaining Cats Health with Evolve Cat Food

Many people are feeding their cats Evolve food because the maintenance formula has real slow roasted chicken and is made from wholesome ingredients; brown rice, dried kelp, fish meal, dried egg, dried cheese cranberries, and blueberries. A healthy food for your cats that does not contain corn, wheat or soy yet cost less than other cat food in this category.

Feral cat Bob eats Evolve cat food

When you feed your cats the evolve maintenance formula you will notice that your cats are healthier. This cat food provides your cat with protein and natural antioxidants as well as carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics which promotes a healthy digestive tract and immune system.

Feral cat in Winter at feeding station

I would recommend this cat food for FIV cats as the products are quality and sourced from the USA. All natural products with no preservatives added sugars or by-products. A healthy food for cats with immune disorder condition. My FIV cat eats this food mixed with the can food and he is doing great, We rescued him when he was two years old and is now age ten. Has a shiny coat and teeth are good, no sickness.

Senior rescue cat has shiny coat thanks to Evolve cat food

If you are interested in this cat food then I would recommend that you shop for evolve cat food at Chewy.com. Sign up for their auto-ship program and get a discount. You can cancel your order anytime. Know that this is a product that you can trust as it is made in the USA.

Feed adult and senior cats Evolve cat food. This food is not recommended for kittens. Follow the average food portion for an adult cat and do not overfeed. A six-pound cat should be fed 3/4 to 1/2 cup of food daily. A ten-pound cat should be fed 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food daily. A fourteen-pound cat should be fed 3/4 to 1 cup of food daily.

Introduce new evolve cat food to your cat by mixing it with their food. Mixing the new food with the old food will help the cats to adjust to the new food flavor, texture, and kibble. Mixing will also prevent upsetting the cat’s digestive tract.

Reduce your cat's other food daily by adding more evolve. Within a week your cat will be eating evolve cat food only.

Evolve may be an acquired taste especially if your cat has been eating the same food for years. If your cat does not like evolve food they will not eat. You can entice your cat to eat the cat food by adding a little evolve canned food and then mix the kibble into the soft food.

Evolve Cat Food Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Rice Flour, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavors, Fish Meal, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Egg Product, Taurine, Calcium Sulfate, Salt, Dl-Methionine, Dried Skim Milk, Dried Kelp, Dried Cheese Product, Cranberries, Blueberries, Lactobacillus Casei , Lactobacillus Acidophilus Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement) Minerals (Zinc Polysaccharide Complex, Iron Polysaccharide Complex, Manganese Polysaccharide Complex and Copper Polysaccharide Complex,Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite).

You will love evolve pet foods