Cats are incredibly hardy and resilient animals and many of them manage to survive and thrive on their own. During the winter months, our community becomes a tougher place for felines who live outdoors. These “community cats” are stray cats that may or may not be feral – some might be friendly and approachable, while others have had little to no human contact. Unlike a typical house cat, these resourceful animals survive without an owner or a permanent home, relying on their instincts and the kindness of strangers to get through. They’ve adapted to living in backyards, alleys and parks, but when temperatures drop, they face increased risks of frostbite, hypothermia and hunger.
Surviving winter requires a combination of wit and luck for community cats. They often seek shelter under porches, in garages or other hidden, wind-blocked spaces. However, these areas might not provide the insulation needed to protect against freezing weather. Without adequate food, cats burn more energy trying to stay warm, leaving them weaker and more vulnerable. Thankfully, we can step in to help these resilient animals weather the storm. Simple actions like providing a warm, dry space for them to rest. A cat shelter does not need to be elaborate. Simply putting out a cooler that has an entrance way cut into it, provides the perfect place for kitties to get a break from the cold temperatures.
These modified coolers are a cheap and easy way to offer relief from harsh winter weather. These shelters are easy to place in a discreet outdoor area and should be lined with straw, an excellent insulator that stays warm and dry. Unlike blankets or towels, straw doesn’t retain moisture, which is essential for keeping cats warm. It’s easy to modify a cooler yourself, and many DIY tutorials can be found online by searching “cooler cat shelter DIY.” Each year, La Plata County Humane Society volunteers create dozens of modified coolers that we then make available for free to the public to provide shelter for community cats. If you would like to receive a modified cooler from LPCHS, please email working.cat@lpchumanesociety.org, and we will do our best to accommodate your need. By taking a few minutes to set up one of these shelters in your yard or near a spot where you’ve seen community cats, is a small gesture of kindness that will mean a lot to a feline in need.
Additionally, LPCHS encourages all La Plata County residents to take advantage of our trap-neuter-release program, which allows community members to trap community cats and bring them to LPCHS to be spayed or neutered free of charge. This helps reduce the number of community cats, which decreases the spread of disease among felines and helps protect our native bird populations.
Colleen Dunning is development manager for La Plata County Humane Society.
