It's getting colder outside, and stray homeless cats feel it the most, especially autumn kittens. For them, a real struggle for survival begins. We can't take all the stray cats home, but do you want to know how to help them regardless?
Not every cat is fortunate enough to have a warm home, a full bowl of food every day, a bed near the heater, and a human's loving arms. Stray cats don't only have to worry about low temperatures, finding food is also difficult. They hunt for food, but the birds and rodents they feed on are more hidden in winter.
It's not in anyone's powers to take all these cats home, and shelters are also not capable of dealing with the situation. It should therefore be the responsibility of us all to not let uncastrated cats out so that we do not contribute to an increase in their population, otherwise we'll never get the situation under control and many cats will suffer unnecessarily. But this is a long-term plan; how can we help cats today?
It is essential to provide them with enough nutritious food to build sufficient subcutaneous fat. So if you know about a stray cat in your area, or a whole colony of cats without an owner, you can place a bowl of food in places where they appear. Cats need a lot of energy and nutrients to survive, so it will be most efficient to choose high-quality, ideally high-energy food. Because of freezing temperatures, kibble will be better than wet food, which could freeze quickly.
Water is equally important as food for stray cats, especially on days when temperatures drop below zero. If you can, you should give them fresh water twice a day. The bowl with water or food should be placed somewhere dry and downwind, and don't place it directly on the ground. A piece of polystyrene can be used as a great insulator.
Rainy and chilly weather is very unpleasant and exhausting for cats, so if you can, provide a warm and dry place for them to rest and regain their strength. If you don't have a barn or shed that you would be willing to provide for the cats, another option is to purchase a polystyrene shed. You can either make it yourself or buy it from Pražský spolek ochránců zvířat (Prague Animal Protection Society). They also recommend laying out hay in it. Old textiles are not suitable for this purpose because they retain moisture and mold.
Another certainly helpful way to help cats is to support one of the cat shelters or civic associations. A friend of mine captures stray cats for one of these associations. Some cats are adopted, others are castrated, marked and return to the place where they were found. Just remember that only a trained certified person can capture stray animals by law, anyone else faces a high fine.
Many times, I was left standing with my mouth open when I was watching the fall maneuvres of my cat partner. I was curious and started to look for more information about where the cat ability to always fall onto all fours come from along with their...
Sri Lanka – a holiday paradise in south-eastern Asia, the promised land for travellers. It is no problem to communicate here in English, the prices are relatively low, the locals are poor, but friendly… However, to dog lovers, apart from the fairy-tale...
A pet brings joy, that’s what everybody who lives with one in a joint household knows. With its playfulness and unconditional love, it often distracts us from stressful thoughts and duties. It teaches us to live here and now, to concentrate on the...
In this series, we will get to know famous dog personalities. Dogs, after all, play an important role in our life, so let us take a look what have they already managed to achieve during the time of us living together. Bobbie walked an incredible 4000...
Did you know, that such watches exist? You can join them as well. I’ve first heard about these watches referenced this year while on holiday doing a crossing of Šumava (the Bohemian Forest). And of course, I had to find out more!
If your dog sniffs on every corner when you’re walking it, nosework would probably be the right sport for it. Do you know, what it is?
Same as with dog record holders, we will find many cat records as well. For example, do you know, what is the record in the number of cats living under one roof?
Are you interested in how big the tallest dog is, how small is the smallest one or perhaps how many balls a dog managed to stuff in its mouth? Among the typical records such as age or size, we will find also a few more peculiar ones, so let us have a...
Securing windows and balconies is one of the first things that you need to arrange at home, when a cat arrives into the family. Do you know, what your options are?
Everyone, who has a cat at home, is definitely aware of its beneficial influence. When you are down or worried, nothing beats a purring ball of fur settled on your lap or a cat which massages you with its small claws. However, did you know, that...
Japan is not the only country, that has an island full of rabbits. Did you know, that you can find one even in the Czech Republic?
It is clear to every cat owner, that a fluffy needs its own place where it will feel safe, where it can laze about, play, scratch and climb. Not every cat will like a scratching post or a tree, but if your cat belongs among those who love it, the...
