There's a cat crying outside.

[Critters2]

It's 22 degrees right now, with a windchill of 8. But by midnight it's supposed to be 6 below, with windchills near -30. And a high of 3 above tomorrow. It breaks my heart that there are domestic animals out in this.

I have opened a bag of cat food and slipped it under my porch, but I just can't bring another cat into the house. The three (all three) would never put up with it. And what if it sprayed or damaged things? I do not want to explain that to my trustees.

Why don't people either spay/neuter or keep their cats inside? Or do both, like me?

He's crying again. Poor kitty. :cry:

[DS1]

1. can you give it a box with something like a towel inside

just something to help it stay a bit warmer?

[TK421]

2. This may sound cold, but...don't even feed it

because it will just hang around waiting for more. You said you couldn't take in another cat, but if your feelings get in the way of things, then you will have another cat. They are quite resilient, and will find food and shelter on their own.

[Critters2]

3. In my head, I know this. It's how I got my Leo.

And I'd take this one in, too, if I didn't already have three cats and the beagle. And I know you're right. I haven't fed the outdoor cats here before, but the idea of looking for food in this cold, well, my heart won over my head. The food's out for now, but I won't do it again.

Thanks. But still...:cry:

[MrMickeysMom]

10. Take him in for the night...

Make an outdoor box for the occasional stray by raising it from the ground and putting hay on the bottom for insulation. blankets inside and water tucked somewhere within.

Please.,, for the kittenzzzz

[Critters2]

11. He won't let me near him. He's feral. He hangs around the house,

but if I try to get near him, he runs.

I'm concerned about water. Everything outside tonight will freeze. Don't know what to do about that.

[Skittles]

4. that is cold

I would feed it, then set up a trap for him - get him fixed and released or find him a home....that's what I do

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. See how far gone a cat must be, to request our care?

They know that we'll cut off their naughty bits. That cat must be COLD.

[Skittles]

8. :O

just trying to prevent future misery :o

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Poor kitty...

:cry:
If he was here, I'd let him stay in my basement until I could get him checked by a vet...

[Flaxbee]

6. if he can't get out of the wind, he will die

simple as that. put a box with a towel or some newspaper out, and feed the poor thing. You don't have to have another indoor cat, but if you can help the guy outside stay alive, do it. How can you just sit there and listen to him?

On Monday, look at http://www.alleycat.org/feral_friends.html to see if there is an organization in your area (you can search by state) to help you help this cat. Or find a no-kill shelter and take him or her there. But if you can hear this cat, help him or her. It really is not hard to put out a box (will provide a windbreak) and a towel or old cover or old sweatshirt or tshirt or .... SOMETHING.

Look, I have seven, and can't take any more in. I understand. But I also help the ones outside as best I can. Ferals usually don't hang around asking for help; domesticated cats do. He could have gotten out accidentally - we all read stories here about cats zipping outside at the worst of times.

[Critters2]

9. I put a box under the porch, where I know he hangs out.

I put two thick towels in it, and had already put food under there for him.

I made the mistake, last summer, of catching a feral kitten, thinking the no-kill shelter here would take it. They refused to accept it, said they were full. I called shelter after shelter. Ended up driving it to Joliet, like an hour away. The shelter here sucks, and I say this as someone who helped to found and was on the board of a shelter in Iowa. This one does no humane education, no spay/neuter program, no spay/neuter education. They just put a roof over animals' heads and give 'em food. That may seem harsh, but a shelter should also be working to prevent more homeless animals, not just house the ones that now exist. I feel very strongly about this.

This is an issue near and dear to my heart, and I'd take in every feral cat in the world if I could. But I can't. And there's no TNR program here. Maybe I should start one. I've talked with the shelter director, and she is not interested. And there are LOTS of feral cats here.

Sorry for the rant, but I get frustrated that I'm concerned for a cat who is either someone else's or the offspring of someone's pet. And the person who should be concerned isn't.

And so, I rant.

[Flaxbee]

14. I reread my post, and sounded rather harsh

I didn't mean to; I know you care/have cared for as many critters as you possibly can. But the thought of a cat crying in -30 wind chill just freaked me out. I feel the same way you do about caring for animals, the responsibility humans have to care for all creatures, spaying/neutering, finding good homes and not just providing shelter (though that's better than nothing), etc.

We live in an area that eliminated its animal control officer (I saw a dog get hit; back broken, last year and we had to call the police to come shoot the poor creature and put her out of her misery. It was awful) and discontinued funding for the humane society, so I know what you mean when you say you live somewhere that doesn't seem to give a sh*t. Check out the alley cat website, though - there may be private groups doing their best, and/or they would probably be VERY helpful and supportive if you inquired about starting your own TNR program. Alley Cat Allies really is a very good group, and they try to have a national reach.

Thanks for doing your best for the cat. I also don't bring strays into my house, because I have an elderly male cat and I'm not confident that his immune system could fend off any odd cooties; I don't want to introduce behavior issues, ringworm, etc. I do understand, and am sorry I was so snarky.

[Lil Missy]

12. That's how my first cat adopted me.

She stalked me and my residence for at least a month, I fed her and put the food outside cause she looked like skin and bones, and then I relented to let her in the house when it was supposed to get -20 or -30 one night.

That was 14 - 15 years ago. She is still here.

[Critters2]

13. I got my first dog this way, and my current cat Leo.

My other two cats were Humane Society fosters who never got adopted, and my current dog is a rescue. I'd take in another one if I thought I could. But I can't.

[applegrove]

15. Last month that happened to me. Except the kitten was sitting on somebody

elses front stoop. Obviously just let outside..the poor kitty was pleading with me to let it in his/her own home. I had to ignore it and go to work. Have not seen it since. I hope its owner keeps it inside this winter. It was heartwrenching.