Feral cats scare some people, but when you’re a cat lover, you want to do everything you can to ensure the cats are warm and safe, especially during the frigid winter months. If you’ve taken the time to build a shelter for the feral cats in your neighborhood, you might be wondering how to get them to use the shelter.
It’s important to note that feral cats will want to sleep outside when the weather is warm and will probably only venture into your shelter if it’s raining or freezing outside. However, it’s also possible that the feral cat will get so used to being around you that it will take up residence at the shelter near your house and never want to leave. Make sure you’re ready to give the cat a forever home if that happens. To ensure the feline uses the shelter, you can examine our tips below.
The 8 Ways to Get a Feral Cat to Use a Shelter
1. Make Sure the Shelter has More than One Door
Most feral cats are used to being on their own, and many are more than a little afraid of humans. A feral cat isn’t going to spend time inside a shelter that has only one door because it makes them feel trapped.
This is because if a predator comes in one entrance, the feral cat wants to be able to escape through the other entrance. If you want to get a cat to use your shelter, make sure there is more than one door and that any obstructions cover either door. It’s also best to have the doors on opposite sides of the shelter for the best results.
2. Sprinkle Catnip Inside the Shelter
If you’re looking to attract feral cats to your shelter, there’s nothing better for enticing them than sprinkling a little catnip on the inside. You should put it just inside the door so that they will go inside to get it and perhaps realize how warm it is and want to stay, at least until the weather clears or begins to warm up.
3. Leave the Doors Completely Open
When trying to attract cats to your shelter, you should never close the doors. Feral cats will panic if they can’t get out of the shelter. Make sure to leave the doors completely open, so the cats come and go at will.
Make sure there are no obstructions that stop the cat from being able to see the outside. Once the cat is used to the shelter, you can add flaps or a cat door to the doors of the shelter, but not in the beginning.
4. Consider Safety First
It’s best to build your shelter in a location that is protected from the elements and protected from predators or even neighbors who might not be as tolerant of feral cats as you are.
You should consider the safety of the cats and your family and household pets first. Place the shelter out of sight, in an area where only the cats can get in and out, and if you’re in an area with dogs, put your shelter in a fenced-in area that dogs can’t get into.
5. Use Straw Instead of Hay
Many pet owners trying to entice feral cats into their shelters for the winter months use hay to line the shelter floor. It’s better to use straw instead since hay tends to mold if it gets wet, which is always a possibility when you need to leave the doors wide open.
Straw resists the elements, meaning it’s a cozy, warm place for feral cats to bed and wait out the storm.
6. Consider Adding a Feeding Station
While experts agree that food shouldn’t be placed in the shelter or near the shelter since it brings other animals to the shelter when you’re just trying to protect feral cats. However, you can feed the cats while they are there. You can add a feeding station with food and water for the cats you’re trying to attract.
7. Avoid Using Blankets
While it may be tempting to toss a few blankets in the shelter for the cats to curl up under when the weather is cold, it’s best to avoid using blankets if possible. Blankets, newspapers, and towels retain moisture, then absorb the cat’s body heat, making it colder than it already was. Instead, keep the shelter warm, dry, and full of straw.
8. Be Patient
You’ll have to be patient if you want the feral cats in your neighborhood to come to your shelter when the winter season begins. Most stray cats have lived challenging lives, and some have been abused and neglected. They may take a while before deciding your shelter is a safe place to live. The best thing you can do is build the shelter, then patiently wait for the cats to come.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to keep the cats in your neighborhood warm, safe, and dry this winter, you need to be patient and wait for them to come to you. Start by using a shelter with more than one door and leaving the doors wide open so the cats can come and go.
If you decide to feed the feral cats, setting up a feeding station is best, so other wildlife won’t be attracted to the food. These tips should work well to attract the cats to the shelter. While they may not come in droves, you should get a few over the winter season.
Featured Image Credit: Peter Radcsi, Shutterstock
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