1. Use plastic bowls for food & water.
Stainless Steel bowls should be replaced with plastic bowls in winter. Many people use stainless steel water / food bowls to help lower bacteria accumulation. However, stainless steel transfers cold. If your ferals touch the frozen bowl after drinking water from it, they're tongue or mouth skin can accidentally get attached to the bowl. However, if you are using a heated stainless steel bowl you should be okay.
2. Pet friendly Salt to Melt Ice.
Regular Icing Salt that contains sodium chloride or calcium chloride can burn the paw pads and can be extremely harmful if ingested. Some other options that are safe is Safe Paw Non-Toxic Ice Melter Pet Safe. You can also use sand, but it won't help to melt the ice. Another great tip that I use is, after shoveling, lay down Styrofoam sheets near your colonies' feeding / sleeping area. Styrofoam stops the transfer of freezing cold from the concrete ground. Also, it is light weight and very easy to pick up to brush off any snow that may have fallen on it. Shovel and lay it down again.
3. Build a warm insulated feral house.
There are plenty of plans that you can find online to build a feral cat shelter. We truly believe the double bin plan with insulation in btwn is the best and provides maximum protection. Always stuff the inside bin with straw. Never stuff it with hay, blankets, or newspapers.
4. Solar Pool Covers.
You can find cheap solar pool covers on craigslist, sometimes free if there is a rip. I drape the solar pool covers on the tops and sides (not on the opening side) over my feral bin shelters. The Solar Pool Covers helps bring heat. Just remember to remove them when it starts to get warm out again.
4. Feed dry food. This will help your ferals to pack on weight which will provide them with more body insulation.
If you follow the above WTRF tips, your ferals will thank you. If you have any tips that you would like to share, please post them under this post. Remember, sharing is caring. Stay warm out there!
Regular Icing Salt that contains sodium chloride or calcium chloride can burn the paw pads and can be extremely harmful if ingested. Some other options that are safe is Safe Paw Non-Toxic Ice Melter Pet Safe. You can also use sand, but it won't help to melt the ice. Another great tip that I use is, after shoveling, lay down Styrofoam sheets near your colonies' feeding / sleeping area. Styrofoam stops the transfer of freezing cold from the concrete ground. Also, it is light weight and very easy to pick up to brush off any snow that may have fallen on it. Shovel and lay it down again.
3. Build a warm insulated feral house.
There are plenty of plans that you can find online to build a feral cat shelter. We truly believe the double bin plan with insulation in btwn is the best and provides maximum protection. Always stuff the inside bin with straw. Never stuff it with hay, blankets, or newspapers.
4. Solar Pool Covers.
You can find cheap solar pool covers on craigslist, sometimes free if there is a rip. I drape the solar pool covers on the tops and sides (not on the opening side) over my feral bin shelters. The Solar Pool Covers helps bring heat. Just remember to remove them when it starts to get warm out again.
4. Feed dry food. This will help your ferals to pack on weight which will provide them with more body insulation.
If you follow the above WTRF tips, your ferals will thank you. If you have any tips that you would like to share, please post them under this post. Remember, sharing is caring. Stay warm out there!
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