Cats like heat. This is very sad. If they do not let him in at night, maybe you can do what I did for a stray one winter: I put out a nice-sized kennel carrier, lay nice towels in it with a heating pad under the towels. I put it right next to my doorway, and set a lean-to over it.

I could not take him in; I had a tiny apartment and 2 cats. But I fed him and made sure he was safe and warm. Then I found a wonderful owner for him. Mary kept me up to date with Max over the years.

Max lived his warm, cozy carrier. The lean-to protected it from the weather. He was a lovely boy.

If he prefers the bench, you could place a box, cut it to about 8" deep, on the bench and put some blankets in it. If he starts sleeping in the box then you can replace it with a cat bed if you want something nicer looking in your entry.

If you have an outlet nearby, I'd also try the heating pad. I doubt he'd like a bed that's completely enclosed since he needs to be able to make a quick get away in case a dog or other predator sneaks up on him.

You might try one of those microwaveable "frisbees" that holds heat for hours. Just google "SnuggleSafe".

Several years ago (when we got our 3rd Jack Russell), our male cat (who already spent a lot of time outside year-round) decided to move out of the house altogether at the start of our New England winter. I borrowed a small Dogloo (plastic doghouse), fitted it out with some cushions and pieces of fleece for burrowing, and set it out on our deck facing away from the wind. (That way, I could keep an eye on him and provide food and water easily.)

Each night before I would go to bed I'd heat the SnuggleSafe in the microwave, and then slip it into his bedding. It definitely held provided heat through the night.

He seemed to thoroughly enjoy his new bachelor pad, and by spring, had gotten used to the idea of 3 terriers and moved back into the house permanently.

Hope this helps. For a more permanent solution, I'd ask the neighbors if they could allow the cat into the house (or at least the basement) at night, or see if they would allow you to find him a better home.

Susan

I agree with Susan about the Snuggle Safe....We have 2 of them for our 3 "semi" feral cats...We have an igloo with straw and blankets but they prefer to be in a little home made hut with layers of blankets and of course the snuggle safe...There are mornings when we bring them in and they are still warm and that's been after all night in cold weather....Highly recommend them...

I disagree with the cats love heat thing. It is COLD here and my cat fights with me nightly to go out despite my telling him no repeatedly. I end up giving in because he is VERY persistant!!! And the cold doesnt seem to bother him.
So dont automaticly blame the owners.For all you know,the cat enjoys being out and is driving them crazy to be let out!
Beleieve me,if that cat is cold or wants to come in,he will let his owners know!!! My cat will Yowl so loud the whole neighborhood can hear and scratch at the door when he is ready.
Although,I think it is very nice of you to be concerned.And I think it is nice you let him cop a squat on your bench.

Thank you all for your responses and opinions. I tend to agree with iloveexercise in that Gizmo is not a neglected cat, but wants to roam at night until he goes home to a good meal. I am concerned about him in the cold, however, and will start with the box on the bench with towels. If he's still there when the temp is way low, I'll do the Snuggle Safe. Will keep you posted -- thanks, again.
Annie

My husband cut out a box for him and I lined it with a couple of towels and sure enough Gizmo was in it when I checked at 3:00 am.
Thanks, everyone.

So dont automaticly blame the owners.For all you know,the cat enjoys being out and is driving them crazy to be let out!

I thought the same thing! Cats that are used to "roaming" enjoy being out at night.

Cats want to be warm. In a house, they will always lay by heat.

If you kept your cat in at night, you would see.

I am not continuing this conversation. Good luck to all.

livvy'smom and elly:
I was not blaming the owners and Gizmo is not my cat. Thanks to those on this thread, I think we will be able to provide a comfortable place for Gizzy to be at night when it's cold. That's all I wanted. He has a fine family.

"Cats want to be warm. In a house, they will always lay by heat.
If you kept your cat in at night, you would see. "

Of course cats WANT to be warm and like warm places,but the cold doesnt bother them when they are outside.Unless it is abnormally cold or raining or snowing or something.

"I am not continuing this conversation. Good luck to all."

So dont then,one person disagrees with you and you catch an attitude?

I would if it were me Re home the animal or keep him or her yourself, its welfare and safety should be your top pority. Winters where we live, in MN are brutal.

Does the cat have a tag ID? DO confront the owners and find out the story, first, the cat could have got out, that happens.. if they don't care, then re home and Report them to Animal control/ASPCA there are laws against this!

"Gizmo sleeps on that bench -- he's there sometimes as early as 9:00 pm and I've seen him there at 3:00 am."

Annie - is it possible that we are neighbors? There is a cat that roams my neighborhood at all hours - his name is Gizmo (Gizzy) too and I have asked the owners repeatedly to keep him in at night. They argue that he is happier outside, so one of my other neighbors feeds him daily and he seems to bunk down wherever he can at night. What irks me to no end is he seems to think my flower beds are his personal littler box and he is constantly leaving dead things in my yard.

If your Gizzy is white and dark tiger splotches with a tiny white stripe down the middle of his back, I may live around the corner from you........

Alexa

Our Gizmo has a home (Alexa, he's huge and solid black, with yellow eyes). His family, I'm sure, think they are giving him a good home. I'm starting to question that, however, after reading these posts He's still coming regularly night to his box on our bench.
I'm going to be having a talk with his "people" this week. Will keep you all informed.

We used a 55 gal. plastic barrel with the lid on. My husband sawed a door on each side of the barrel as it lays on its side. It is up on cement blocks with a big comforter inside and lawn chair cushions secured to the top and sides for the winter with an overhang to keep snow out. Underneath I shoved plastic bags full of mailing peanuts to insulate the bottom.

They are using it again this year -- last winter they used it until a possum decided it liked the home so I don't know where my cats slept on the nights they weren't indoors.

I'd say any owner who lets their cat out off leash/unsupervised/uncontained is neglecting their cat...

I would talk to the owners and if the behavior continued I would take the cat to animal welfare.

We had neighbors like that also. That is how we now have our precious kitty! The neighbors across the street realized they wer allergic to their cat and decided to make her an outdoor cat. Well- she wanted nothing to do with that- she kept coming over and coming inside with us. She would take nice long naps on our warm comfortable beds and chairs. I asked our neighbor if we could adopt her. They were thrilled and gave her to us! :-)

I hear you- HIllarys group home cat got placed into a shelter/abandoned because of Allergies-cat was allowed to run wild outdoors and from previous stats and grim stories I bet cat was de clawed too... Some animals though they may look pretty on farms, in regular people houses in the wild and stuff just don't belong in curtain settings- its the same IMO with cats in group homes. You probably wouldn't want a fox,coyote, goat, lamb or turkey as a pet.

rolls eyes-DUH!