Winter Tips for Feral Cats

All of us at Gibson County Animal Services (GCAS) (two and four-legged) want to thank the community for the wonderful support you give us. We enjoyed seeing your children and fur-babies pose with Santa.

Special thanks to Susan Bobe’s Pizza for hosting the spaghetti dinner in December for us, Baird Private Wealth Management for sponsoring, and all who purchased dinners and brought in donations. We are especially grateful to the Princeton American Legion who gifted us a very generous donation which will help us care for our animals at the shelter.

The recent Wellness Clinic at Princeton Veterinary Hospital ensured that 58 pets received their needed vaccinations.

Last year we honored the late Betty White’s 101st birthday by participating in the Betty White Challenge; this year, we will continue the challenge with Gibson Dog traveling about the county to collect donations. We’ll post information about “Gibson on the Go” on our Facebook pages, so watch for him and let us know on Facebook when and where you find him (kind of like “Where’s Waldo”). He will be on the “Go” the week of January 1519.

Winter is rough on outside animals, those that have homes and those who live on their own. Feral cats may not want to live inside but still need water and shelter throughout the year—especially during winter.

You can help provide them with water by placing outside water bowls in sunlight, in a spot shielded from the wind and adding a pinch of sugar to the water to discourage freezing. If you have an outside electrical outlet available, you can place a heated bowl outside, but feral cats may be hesitant to approach that closely to your home.

Regularly refilling the bowl with warm water helps, along with using thick-walled bowls that are deep and narrow. Hollowing out an opening in a Styrofoam box to fit the shape of the bowl will help prevent freezing, as will adding a few ping-pong balls to the water.

Providing feral cats with warm shelters, in addition to food and water, during the winter can save their lives. Gather two plastic tubs—one 30-gallon and one 20gallon, a box cutter, straw (NOT hay), a permanent marker, a plastic flowerpot that a cat can crawl through for entry, a sheet of Styrofoam to fit inside the large tub (maybe the lid from an old cooler), scissors, duct tape, and a hair dryer.

First, cut off the bottom of the flowerpot with the box cutter and then hold the bottom of the flowerpot to the side of the 30 gallon tub and use the marker to draw a circle around it. You’ll use the hair dryer to soften the plastic so that you can use your box cutter to cut out the entrance.

Now put the Styrofoam into the bottom of the larger tub and place the smaller tub on top of it. Use the marker again and draw a circle on the small tub that matches the outside one (you’ll be reaching through the outer hole). Use the blow dryer again to soften the plastic and cut another hole. Put the smaller tub back in and stuff straw between the two tubs and add a layer of straw in the bottom of the small tub.

Now insert the flowerpot through the two openings to provide a tunnel for kitty to crawl into its new shelter. Then put the lids on both tubs and secure the outer lid with duct tape. Your cat shelter is now complete and ready to be placed in a safe, secluded location frequented by cats.

These are the cats and dogs currently available for adoption at GCAS. Please consider providing them with a warm home and loving family.