(Dec. 15, 2016) Humans can bundle up to fight the cold winter months – but Town Cats is focusing on keeping feral felines in the area warm by selling shelters to county residents.
On Sunday, Dec. 18, volunteers will be selling and demonstrating how to build shelters at the Tractor Supply Company in Berlin.
“Last year we put out 30 shelters, and people take them and put them under their bushes or a porch,” said Pat Chance, a longtime volunteer with the organization.
Town Cats is devoted to tending to the feral cat population and runs a program that humanely traps, spay or neuters felines and releases them. Volunteers also band together to feed more than 200 feral cats daily.
But now that winter has chilled Worcester, the group’s primary focus has turned to building shelters for the wild cats.
“It’s important because on the colder nights, the cats don’t have anywhere to go,” Chance said. “It keeps them safe and warm.”
While Town Cats will be giving pre-made cat shelters away this Sunday for a $12 donation, Chance said that it’s relatively easy to make one with items around the house or at the Wal-Mart. All it takes is a storage tub, Styrofoam, an emergency blanket and straw.
The first step is to find a storage tub, somewhere in the size of 18 to 22 gallons.
“With the bigger ones, more than one cat can go in there, so we lean toward 18 gallons,” she said. “Then we cut two holes in the tub, somewhere around six inches. The second hole, we usually leave a flap there so that a cat could escape if there’s a predator.”
The next step is to line the inside of the container with Styrofoam as installation. On top of that, place an emergency Mylar blanket in the container. The metallic, heat-reflective blanket will keep the felines warm.
Chance also said that Town Cats uses straw, not hay, in their shelters. Straw makes good bedding, and unlike hay, it doesn’t stay soggy when it gets wet.
The final step is to tape the Tupperware’s lid on tight to block the wind. Then the shelter can be placed where a cat find it – and predators can’t reach them.
Chance said that this is a popular project, with the Town Cats volunteers and county residents.
“We do this all the time, and a lot of people ask about them,” she said.
Town Cats will be offering shelters at the Tractor Supply Company, located at 10452 Old Ocean City Blvd. Unit 2 in Berlin, on Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shelters cost $12 or a food or item donation.
Weather permitting, volunteers will also educate people on cat shelters, and offer portions of hay during Ocean Pine’s farmers markets on Saturdays.
Shelters and do-it-yourself kits are also available at the Ocean City Pet Spa on Route 611 in West Ocean City.
For more information and contact information, visit towncats.net.
On Sunday, Dec. 18, volunteers will be selling and demonstrating how to build shelters at the Tractor Supply Company in Berlin.
“Last year we put out 30 shelters, and people take them and put them under their bushes or a porch,” said Pat Chance, a longtime volunteer with the organization.
Town Cats is devoted to tending to the feral cat population and runs a program that humanely traps, spay or neuters felines and releases them. Volunteers also band together to feed more than 200 feral cats daily.
But now that winter has chilled Worcester, the group’s primary focus has turned to building shelters for the wild cats.
“It’s important because on the colder nights, the cats don’t have anywhere to go,” Chance said. “It keeps them safe and warm.”
While Town Cats will be giving pre-made cat shelters away this Sunday for a $12 donation, Chance said that it’s relatively easy to make one with items around the house or at the Wal-Mart. All it takes is a storage tub, Styrofoam, an emergency blanket and straw.
The first step is to find a storage tub, somewhere in the size of 18 to 22 gallons.
“With the bigger ones, more than one cat can go in there, so we lean toward 18 gallons,” she said. “Then we cut two holes in the tub, somewhere around six inches. The second hole, we usually leave a flap there so that a cat could escape if there’s a predator.”
The next step is to line the inside of the container with Styrofoam as installation. On top of that, place an emergency Mylar blanket in the container. The metallic, heat-reflective blanket will keep the felines warm.
Chance also said that Town Cats uses straw, not hay, in their shelters. Straw makes good bedding, and unlike hay, it doesn’t stay soggy when it gets wet.
The final step is to tape the Tupperware’s lid on tight to block the wind. Then the shelter can be placed where a cat find it – and predators can’t reach them.
Chance said that this is a popular project, with the Town Cats volunteers and county residents.
“We do this all the time, and a lot of people ask about them,” she said.
Town Cats will be offering shelters at the Tractor Supply Company, located at 10452 Old Ocean City Blvd. Unit 2 in Berlin, on Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shelters cost $12 or a food or item donation.
Weather permitting, volunteers will also educate people on cat shelters, and offer portions of hay during Ocean Pine’s farmers markets on Saturdays.
Shelters and do-it-yourself kits are also available at the Ocean City Pet Spa on Route 611 in West Ocean City.
For more information and contact information, visit towncats.net.