We adopted two "dumpees" within the last 2 years, never regretted it for a minute. One was starving and cold. I would say it will not survive a bad winter, will probably starve to death slowly. The second one we let in (last December, right before the temps went down into the teens @ night) was so scrawny, it took us a while to tell she was female. I contacted some local rescue groups, had her spayed for $40. She began eating and hasnt stopped since LOL. Has turned in to a real butterball.
Both kitties are a scream have the most outrageous personalities, and really don't smell a bit. Best part is, I have a raised ranch and every Fall, have had a real problem with mice coming in. Since we got Riley, we havent seen a mouse since, but he proudly lines up his kills in the basement for us to gush over.
Please do not leave the poor thing out over winter. One Fall during deer season, my husband had to shoot a cat, it was so starved, skinny and acting weird, he wasn't sure if it was rabid and wasn't taking any chances. Good luck! - Ellen

Why don't you just play it by ear? If she is hanging around all the time, chances are that she lives at your place, whether you like it or not. You could at least make sure she has a source of water (do you have livestock--most cats can figure out how to drink from the stock tank, if not you could put a little tub of water out for her each morning). If you see that she's getting really thin, maybe you could buy some cat food for her--just put a cup or so out a day so she can eat it all and not leave any behind for coons, possums, etc. Then as it warms up in spring, taper off the feeding and see if she sticks around and/or starts gaining weight again. If she's staying fat all winter, she obviously can fend for herself, or the neighbors are feeding her.

Just my opinion. If it were me, I'd trap her, get her fixed, and feed her so she'd stay around. But I'm a cat person, so your level of involvement is probably different than mine. But I'm guessing you won't let her starve....

Do you have a barn? could you adopt her as a barn cat? I agree with Jen that trapping her and spaying will not be a regret. If she decides to hang around she may deliver a bunch of kitties that would only complicate your life.

I understand your hesitation since your not a cat person. I guess in the end you have to do what you feel is right for you and your family.

-Sheila

Does anyone have a good way to keep a stray cat warm in the winter? We just moved in and there is a cat hanging around, she comes close to the house to get fed, but won't get close enough to catch. There was a bag of cat food left in the shed when we moved in, so I assume she's been here a while(I asked the previous owner if he wanted his cat, he laughed and said she was our cat now). It is already getting to -15C at night, and the shed is not heated in any way, and we have no other outside animals. Someone suggested a battery heater under the straw, which we did for a couple of nights, but my spouse is afraid it may start a fire. Any suggestions?

Our barn cats live outdoors with no extra heat except what the animals produce in the barn, which doesn't keep it from freezing. It is not as cold here as Alberta, but I wouldn't worry about a cat that has a straw bed in a shed to keep sheltered from the wind. Don't put heat under the straw. You may find that your spouse is right.

We don't have a barn, but we have hoop houses that we are storing stuff in until we get our house/basement finished. There are places for her to get out of the elements.

We had snow last night and this morning I saw little cat prints walking on the patio and up to my compost container, then back off the patio. She could easily knock it over because it is small and is by the door where I collect kitchen scraps to take to the compost pile. She didn't though and they were sad little prints. I will get some dry cat food and just make sure she gets food till it warms up in the spring.

I guess I will have to convince my husband that we have a cat whether or not we want one. Thanks for all your help.

I've always have a bowl of dry cat food down for the barn cats 24/7. It's a myth that they won't hunt if you feed them. Our barn is not heated and I have made areas for them to stay warm. I took a large styrafoam cooler and cut an opening in one side. Then I took a cardboard box that was as wide as the cooler was long but had room for a "hallway".Once the cooler was placed inside, I cut an opening in one side of the cardboard box. I filled the cooler with cedar chips. It's easy to replace them since the cooler top just lifts off. The cats enter the cardboard box, walk a short hallway and then turn right into the opening in the cooler. I've had this set-up for them for years. Two can fit comfortably in it. This summer someone dumped another cat so we now have 3. They are all neutered and up to date on vaccines. The newcomer has separate sleeping quarters away from the original one. If you feed this stray and if it has someplace to stay in out of the cold, it should stay around. But I agree with the others who say to trap it and have it neutered. If it is a female and does have kittens, because she is feral, you would not be able to get your hands on the kittens which would make them feral and afraid of people. Kittens need human contact from birth and daily handling to keep them tame.

Jan

I think it's great that you are concerned for this cat and have decided to feed it.But if you really don't want a cat you may want to look for a rescue organization for barn cats.There are some out there.Or even ask around to see if someone might want a barn cat.I only meantion this because even though this cat my be wild when you start to feed it ,it might start to follow you when you go outside .I have a few feral cats that I feed along with my barn cats but even though the feral cats won't let me too close they still follow me around when I'm outside doing chores.But I like cats so this doesn't bother me.But it does bother my husband sometimes.
Ann.

Roberta--Sounds like the cat is already scrounging for food--or maybe it has been visiting the scraps this whole time, and the paw prints finally gave her away. She probably thinks of the compost bucket as you putting out food for her!

Tawa--Cats are pretty good at keeping warm. I'd just put a box in the shed or barn with some straw (3-4 inches deep so the cat can nest in it) or cedar chips in it. Our barn cats snuggle down in the stalls, making nests in the straw, and do just fine. They don't like each other, and don't snuggle together for warmth. I've invited them into the warm room before, but they would rather be out in the cold part of the barn.

We have a society here, the Feral Cat Coalition, who handles wild cats who turn out to be quite the problem. They have grants by generous donors to catch and give a Hospital Day to treat any issues of health, (or even neuter) at no cost to the caller who reports the cats. The catch is that the cats will be released directly back to where they were picked up for hospital day. If you tell them (the FCC) that the cat will be destroyed, they sometimes try to find someone to take them, or relocate them. Most often, they just try to see that the cats stay healthy and don't reproduce wantonly.

They can be a handy organization to have the number of locally as they will allow you to put a deposit down on a Hav-A-Heart trap if you have a cat issue. When you return the trap in good condition, your deposit is returned. They will also pick up the cost for treatment and vet visitin some cases. I have only dealt with them once. All of this was my understanding and information that I picked up through that one-time visit.

I have three cats of my own, and could not foster in another.

Try seeing if you have a FCC in your community, and let them know you don't mind the cat being there, but you can't afford the vet bills, and would prefer if it comes to that for the cat to go to the shelter or pound. Most of these places have a count down for adoptions and such. If a cat (or dog) is not adoptable within a time limit, they will be destroyed unless it is a No Kill shelter or pound. Your call.

Broodyjen, the cat has never gotten into the scrap bucket -- nothing ever has or can, but she smells the food and that is what makes me sad.

My husband today came home with a bag of dry cat food. I really couldn't believe he would agree to buying some because he has been adamant about not feeding the cat! I have a feeling he saw those sweet eyes staring at him also and just never mentioned it. I followed the little prints in the snow and saw where she is holed up. It is a very protected place in one of the hoop houses. We have a creek where the deer drink and there are parts of it that are very deep. I don't think it ever completely freezes, but I will watch for that.

As far as everything else goes, we will just play it by ear. Thanks again all.

Hee Hee Hee, welcome to the dark side of cat lovers!!! LOL - Ellen

According to the U.S. Humane Society a female cat and her kittens can theoretically produce 420,000 cats in seven years.

Borrowing a Hav-A-Heart trap seems like a GREAT idea. At least you will be confining the problem to one animal and hopefully, not more. Be careful where you put the food as it can attract raccoons and skunks (which also carry rabies).

Yesterday, I put the food out at exactly 9:00 am and she found and ate it. This a.m. she was waiting in the bushes when I set the bowl down. This is great because I don't want to feed all the woodland animals. I just remove the bowl when she is done. I put out 3/4 cup of dry food. She is a small cat (probably just a teenager) so I am hoping that is enough.

I just can't let myself get attached! NO!!!!! (could already be too late.)

It is too late. You might as well pick a name.

When my sister was young, she started feeding a stray cat. She called it "Greetsy Meetsy."

Good idea to remove the uneaten food. Cats hunt better when they are fed, so you are not discouraging her from doing her job. I feed my barn cats at 7am. Usually, around 8 or so, they each have a bird or mouse or something they are chewing on.

Just don't put the food too close to the door--the cat may decide that the warm indoors would be a good place to visit.....

It's name is "Feral". My husband calls him "he", I call her "she". She has made it through several below zero nights, so I have a feeling she will be fine. Just what I need --- something else to worry about. Sigh.

Roberta, so glad to hear you are being sucked in like the rest of us :) you have done a good thing for this furry friend and I'm sure he/she appreciates it.

-Sheila

Poor cat. It makes me so sad to hear about cats outside in the cold. Could you try and catch her and keep her inside??

She is doing just fine outdoors, "maine gardener". She is yours if you want to come get her, but I really doubt she would enjoy being a house cat. We are getting lots of snow now, but she is still at the compost pile every morning at 9:00 am waiting for her welfare payment. This morning, my husband threw a trapped dead mouse from the basement on the pile and she grabbed it right up.

About an hour later she ate her dry food, but only half of it!!! So ---- she really prefers real meat, but I expect she prefers it to be live. Once the weather is good again, she is on her own.