I'm concerned for my mother's kitten this winter.

[I Have A Dream]

My mother recently discovered a kitten under her deck. She's going to get her spayed as soon as permissible.

My mother has decided to keep her. However, because of allergies, she will have to be an outdoor cat. (I wish that this were not the case.) My mother lives in Pennsylvania, so the winters can be quite brutal. I want to help her to do whatever can be done to make the winter be as comfortable as possible for her new friend (and my cat sister). I'm willing to spend money to do it.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to set up this sweet kitty's environment for the winter (other than don't keep her outside, since it's just not possible for her to bring the kitten into the house)? My mother will do everything that she can to keep her comfortable and happy.

There is a real over-population of kittens in this area, and there is a real chance that she'd not live if my mother didn't keep her. (i.e., if she handed her over to a shelter.)

Thank you for any help that you can provide winterizing this little girl's environment.

(On edit: There is electricity available to help winterize.)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Any chance your mom could be persuaded to find an indoor home for her?

I don't mean taking her to a shelter, but finding someone who will keep her. Outdoors in the winter in PA is no way for a cat to have to live, even if a good shelter is provided. Better she should have a safe, comfortable indoor home, if possible.

[I Have A Dream]

2. I think that she's tried. I think the only option that she's found...

is for her to be a barn cat on a farm. Would that be better? (I'm not sure what that kind of life is like for a cat.)

Thank you for your response.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I guess that would depend on the farm.

A woman I work with figured out how to provide a shelter for a feral cat who came to her house for food but didn't want to come inside. She built a little house with a flap for a door, set it on her deck, and put an electrically-heated cat bed inside it. She also made sure there was unfrozen water available. This worked OK for the cat (and this was in Minnesota.) So I guess it's doable if nothing else will work.

[I Have A Dream]

6. This is almost exactly what my mother plans to do.

I know that it's not ideal though. :(

[northernlights]

3. IHAD, I was born and raised in Pennsylvania

The winters there are not nearly so brutal as here in Maine, yet my barn cat does fine. She's very old, and last winter for the first time I did bring her inside when it got below zero.

The main thing I remember about PA are the freezing rains, which are far worse than snow. It's most important that she have a place to take shelter from rain and wind.

Also, a place safe from predators is important. They tend to be out at dusk, overnight, and dawn.

Does your mother have a garage or shed she could stay in at night? Or a basement?

I had to teach my cat to come in at night by feeding her just once a day -- at dusk -- and locking her in the barn while she was eating. It was a battle until last year, when her age started to catch up with her.

[I Have A Dream]

5. Hi, northernlights! My mother has a deck with a somewhat protected area.

I was thinking that maybe I could buy a heated cat house or something like that. I will do what I have to do to make sure that she's warm and dry. My mother will make sure that she spends time with her in the winter as well. (She won't be without companionship.) She will also make sure that she gets warm food when it's cold.

I don't think that predators will be a problem since my mother lives in town and has an fenced yard. (Thank goodness!)

Do you think that she'd be better off being a barn cat? I don't know if I'd be able to persuade my mother to give her up now anyway since she's now grown attached to her. :(

Thank you for your wise counsel, northernlights.

[northernlights]

9. Something like a dogloo would probably work

It doesn't need to be heated...in fact, it's probably better that it's not heated. Just insulated, off the cold and wet ground, and with nice bedding for her to snuggle into. For animals that grow fur coats, it's harder to go from a heated area to unheated, and back again, then to simply be in an unheated area. The kitty will grow as much coat as she needs to stay comfortable.

The main thing is to ensure she can get out of rain and wind, has a comfortable bed, with food and water available inside the shelter as well.

I had taken in 2 feral cats from the local shelter to be barn cats, but they preferred to be feral and took off as soon as they were able. I see the longhair every so often. She's got an incredible coat -- needs it up here with winters at 15 below!

My current cat, Polly, is happier as an outdoor cat than indoor. Much more to do and much more adventure. Indoors she'd taken to sleeping in the attic insulation 24x7. When I brought her in last January, she slept 24x7 in the dog crate, lol.

[Sanity Claws]

7. I saw something last year on this

I don't remember where but I saw a video describing how to make winter homes for feral cats in a cost effective way. Try googling feral cat homes and see what comes up.

On edit:
I found a link that looks helpful. http://www.urbancatleague.org/Shelters.html

[I Have A Dream]

8. Thanks, Sanity Claws!

:hi:

[northernlights]

10. as far as whether she'd be happier as a barn cat

I think she made her choice of where she wants to live when she moved under your mother's porch. As we all know by now, cats choose their people ;)

[I Have A Dream]

11. ...

:hug:

[virgdem]

12. Another site to try...

I saw this advertised in the back section of Cat Fancy. It's called Katkabin and it looks like it provides good shelter from the elements.

Here is the link: http://www.mycatsheaven.com/katkabin

Please keep us posted on how she's doing and what type of shelter you end up providing for her.

[I Have A Dream]

13. Thanks for the information, virgdem!

I will certainly check it out.

:)

[badgerpup]

14. Don't know if this will work, but...

Step into the Way-back machine and set it for 33 years...:crazy:

My ex-stepfather claimed he had allergies when two new kittens joined the household. We bathed the kittens once a week to keep the dander down and this seemed to solve the problem.
Wolf and Jasmine weren't thrilled...but they were young enough to adapt easily, and we used warm water, gentle soap and lots of encouragement.

Think there are special pet shampoos (maybe even waterless types!) out now for this very purpose, and if you start them young and gently cats WILL tolerate being bathed.