How to Take Care of Feral Cats in the Winter

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How to Take Care of Feral Cats in the Winter

How to Take Care of Feral Cats in the Winter. Feral cats are wild creatures that were not socialized with humans before they reached six months of age. Feral cats are not friendly to humans and will not approach them. Taking care of feral cats in winter is easy as they do not require human contact, but by taking some simple steps and providing some basic needs, you can help your local feral cats survive the winter.

Things Needed

Kitten food
Bowls
Water
Dog crate
Cardboard boxes
Blankets
Straw

Step 1

Provide your feral cats with plenty of kitten food. Kitten food is higher in protein and calories, and will help feral cats put on weight, which will make them better equipped to survive harsh winter conditions. Cats tend to eat around dawn and dusk, so place the food outside at those times each day. Use plenty of bowls, as too few bowls will cause fights between feral cats. Place the bowls in safe hiding places, such as in corners or underneath bushes. Feral cats are nervous creatures, so do not watch them and do not place the bowls out in the open, or they will not eat.

Step 2

Place fresh water outside daily for the feral cats. Check the water as often as possible, and replace it with fresh water if it has frozen.

Step 3

Provide the feral cats with shelter. Place large dog crates outside lined with blankets or straw. Cardboard boxes can be used, as long as they are placed on their sides, as an open top will leave the feral cats at the mercy of the elements. Place crates in quiet, safe places, and try to stay away from this area as much as possible. You can find instructions to make or buy specially designed feral cat winter shelters online (see resources).

Warnings

If possible, trap your feral cats and take them to the vet for spaying and neutering, then release them back into the wild. Pet overpopulation is a huge problem, and fertile feral cats only contribute to the problem.

Warnings

Feeding one feral cat can cause many more to show up, meaning you can go from feeding one cat to feeding 20 in a relatively short time.
Feral cats can carry diseases such as feline leukemia or cat AIDS, among others, which can spread to any pet cats you may have, so keep house pets away from feral animals.