Winter is just around the corner time to start building Feral an Stray Cat Shelters

Here some tips from my friends at Alley Cat Allies on straw to be used as bedding in a feral or stray cat Shelters.

Straw and hay may look similar, but they’re very different when it comes to insulating your feral cat shelters.

Hay is used for animal feed—it draws and holds moisture, which you don’t want in your cat shelter.

Straw, the dry leftover stalks from harvested crops, repels moisture, making it ideal for keeping cats and other animals warm and comfy all winter long.

If you’re able to do a side by side comparison, the easiest way to tell whether you’re buying straw or hay is the price difference: while cost varies by region, hay should be two to three times more expensive than straw.

Straw is also usually tough, thick, lightweight, and yellow or golden in color, while hay is heavy and green. But hay comes in a number of varieties, so if you aren’t sure – ask the clerk!

So, where can you find straw? Check out these locations in your area to see if they carry straw for animal bedding:

• Pet supply stores
• Farm, livestock, or agricultural supply stores or catalogs
• Garden centers
• Try asking your veterinarian for local suppliers.
• If you live in a farming community, ask your neighbours!

What do I do with it? Loosely pack the straw on the inside bottom of the shelter—filling the shelter to the quarter or halfway point—to insulate it. Hands down, straw makes the best bedding.

Caregivers’ tip: Straw usually comes in bales, but you only need a fraction of a bale to line your cat shelter. Consider sharing a bale with other caregivers or holding a shelter building event in your community. The good news is that, when cared for properly, straw can last decades. Store straw off the ground (for instance, on a wood pallet) and keep it dry by storing indoors.

 Please support Alley Cat Allies They are the voice for all of the forgotten Cats an Kittens in this country.

This gallery is bought to you by Alley Cat Allies. 

 Gallerys of feral an stray cat shelters

 Read our other winter care tips.

 For more information on caring for feral an stray cats go to alleycat.org

With a little help from all of us we can make the life's of the forgotten street cats and kittens a little better an safer an with time they will find there furever homes because a little love an kindness can go a long way. =^..^=

If you have tips an idea on caring for stray an feral cats please leave a comment.

Goodbye to a loving feral mama kitty

Midnight was a 2 or 3 year old black feral mama kitty who showed up this summer looking for a safe place to have her kittens she came into the shop looking for something to eat she was so skinny an thin just a bag of bones with a fat belly full of kittens it took me two weeks softly talking to her laying on the floor to gain her trust so she would not run away all of the kitty's here at Paw Town Cats welcome her my joy joy kitty an misty kitty would sit with her an groom her they made her feel at home an a 6:30 am just like clock work Misty an Midnight kitty would meow to wake me up to feed them Midnight had her kitten by the Sistine (big under ground water tank) the only place which has trees an shade an was cool in 100 + heat of the summer then she would bring her kittens into the shop so I could see them an take them back where is was cool as time when on she would bring her kittens into the shop an then her an Misty kitty would eat together an Misty kitty would baby sit the kittens so Midnight could take a nap under an old motor home inside the shop which was cool she also made that her new home for her kittens on the 11th of September Misty kitty was the only one meowing to wake me up no Midnight an her kittens wore gone that was not like her something was wrong then on the 13th I found Midnight she was ran over by a car or farm tractor an by the tire marks the HUMAN driving made it a point to run her over. Now my sweet feral mama kitty Midnight is gone she is in the arms of Mother Nature free of this HATEFUL NON-CARING HUMAN WORLD an I am the dad to four kittens which are sweet an loving. I miss Midnight kitty she trusted me to keep her safe an I failed. Goodbye baby you are safe on the other side of the rainbow bridge please forgive me an I WILL keep your kittens safe bye bye my sweet feral girl Midnight kitty. =^..^=   

The Kitty that open my eyes to the world of forgotten cats for her I started Paw Town Cats

I found Oscar kitty or she found me on 12/12/2004 it was cold and raining she was a sick little 8 week old kitten puss all over her eyes poop all over her fur. I was going to the store for food and on the way there I saw Oscar it was raining an real cold. I said to myself if I see her on the way back I would take her home with me. On the way back I stop to see if that sick little 8 week old kitten was still there the rain was coming down real hard I saw her curled up in a ball on the side of the bike trail out in the rain I came over to her an she started to meow an purr she was so wet and cold I pick her up and she gave me a kitty kiss on my hand that's all it took I made room in my wet suit bag for her open the top of the bag an she jumped right on in I closed the top of the bag to keep her warm and dry an I think to this day this little wet sick 8 week old kitten know that she now has found a human that will give her a forever loving home. That was eight years ago an now I have the sweeties loving cat in the world. Oscar also open my eyes to how loving stray cats an kittens can be an to the number of homeless abandon an unwanted stray cats an kittens an older cats are in this world. An thanks to my sweet Oscar i started Paw Town Cats a rescue for strays abandon, homeless, older cats, an unwanted cats and kittens i also care for feral cats..

My one eyed bud Greedy Kitty

 I would not be here today if it was not for Paw Town Cats Rescue an a kind Human that found me. =^..^=

Hello my name is Greedy kitty I was sick an all beat up left to die in a farm field My dad found me an saved my life an he loves me I only have one eye an he dose not care I have a home which i share with other forgotten kitty's my dad has saved our home is called Paw Town Cats it is a safe an happy place for all forgotten kitty's young and old Oh I love my belly rubs an all the food I can eat thanks dad for saving Me meow meow. =^..^=

Hello my name is Paws me an my bother monkey are sick along with our mom we have URI (upper respiratory infection) kitty cold we need to go to the vet can you please help us get better thank you an meow meow. =^..^= 

Biscuit kitty sleeping

This is Biscuit kitty taking a nap an he lives up to his name he is making biscuit when he is sleeping. =^..^=

Kitten in a can

 What are you doing GC that smells so good can i take a look what's in the can. =^..^=

 Biscuit kitty playing in a old tuna can look dad i can fit in this can see dad. =^..^=

This is GC kitty after asking to clean a can of wet cat food an his friend biscuit which is playing in a tuna can kittens in a can this is the first time these kitten played after i found them three weeks ago. =^..^= 

Feeding station

This is Joy Joy kitty being a feeding station for some of the for some orphan kitten here at Paw Town Cats hey move over it is my turn move over.

New Mama kitty

It is kitten season with mama kitty's this is little one a young mama kitty with here kittens she showed up looking for a please to care for her kittens she was so thin when she came looking for something to eat she is a sweet kitty i think she was someone's companion an was dumped off out here because she has wear marks of a collar at one time now she has a home here at Paw Town Cats I keep her an all the females kitty's in the office until I raise money to take them to the vet for spraying. Say Hi to little one an here kittens. =^..^=  

Paw Town Cats

Now I have about 50 cats at my rescue and all of them wore strays case-out forgotten cats an kittens are here to stay for the rest of their lives safe form abuse. some of then are neutered and spayed, vaccinated and checked by a vet when i have the money an ALL are taken care by me on a regular basis i keep the females in a large room once an office form the males on till i get them spayed "No more kittens" and although some of them are very old, or chronically ill deformed or just  broken it seems that they all enjoy their life here an show there love all the time. In spite of the fact that my shelter is small an crowded I can never turn my back on a cat or kitten in desperate situation, therefore they some how keep arriving every now and then. As the number of cats grows bigger my expenses rise and it becomes harder and harder but i give them all the best care, the sight of happy kitties which are playing and running and resting completely relaxed, probably for the first time in their lives, makes all the hard efforts worthwhile. My shelter depends on my hard work as a welder