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November 5th 2012 8:36 am
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Low twenties last night. The Mama had worked some more on the feral shelters during the day, and felt pleased that cats were using them. All in all, they will probably be better than the large strawbale shelter for the very reason that they are smaller and can more effectively hold the body heat in. Most of the Styrofoam containers are old Omaha Steak shipping crates which the pawrents have been picking up at thrift stores. Some of them are more than an inch thick! The bad part about them is the little pieces of Styrofoam that result from cutting openings in them. The Mama keeps a dispenser roll of tape beside her and quick whips off a piece to pick all the crumbs up – the stuff is magnetically drawn to our fur, and she doesn’t want anyone licking it off and swallowing it. She also covers any new cuts with duct tape. She was not pleased when Fearless decided to sharpen her nails on them a few times, making new shreds of Styrofoam all over the place. :(

A few of the cubicles are bigger and have space for more than one cat; the one which the kittens sometimes sleep in being the biggest. And they ARE sleeping in it, though not every night. Not sure where they go on the nights they aren’t here – back to the barn across the road maybe. They are getting big! Here’s a pic of two of them checking out the new shelters (the bigger shelter which you can’t see is across from them closer to the house.) kittens exploring the newly finished multiplex

As you can see in the pics, there’s fabric over the openings to keep the wind out when it really gets blowing. Later, the folks will try to rig up a better wind break with straw bales – hard to do as they found out last year. This porch is on the north side of the house, but it is still the best location for the shelters. The worst of the wind is that blowing from the west; the house stops some, but it still comes roaring through the porch area like a freight train. Ah well; they will do the best they can.

the file cabinet double shelter

the multiplex before the fabric door was put on. The two cardboard boxes are shelters opening to the side.

the completed multiplex shelter with fabric door

Sock's house out of a rose cone

Sock's house after insulation

Purred by: Mr D - D'boat #19 (Catster Member)

November 5th 2012 at 1:39 pm

That is awesome!!!!! Wow, You are so nice to them.

Purred by: ZACK (Catster Member)

November 5th 2012 at 4:35 pm

Amazing!! They are very lucky ferals! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

We would love to share some of our heat with you. We are in the 90's this week!

Purred by: Sleeper (Catster Member)

November 5th 2012 at 4:49 pm

Hi Mr D and Zack! Holy Cats - 90's?! It didn't get warmer than mid-30's today, and the Mama said she wasn't going to take us for our walk because of it. :(

Purred by: ❀ Jezebel DG 29 ❀ (Catster Member)

November 6th 2012 at 12:00 am

Looks like they've got a nice setup!

Purred by: Zachery Tristan (Catster Member)

November 6th 2012 at 3:16 pm

Sleeper....you around? You know we love you right? I mean look at the big hearts you have! Mom keeps thanking about the female tuxxie outside herself. She wishes the kitty would come to her but it's afraid. Mom says she looks healthy though, like she's feed. Mom said she would so love to come see you guys but when it's warm. MOL! We've been unseasonably cold around here. Today the high was 49 and we got some wind from that northeastern skirting up our coast, going into NJ again! Our normal high...65.

Love the new shelters!

Purred by: Sleeper (Catster Member)

November 6th 2012 at 3:51 pm

Hey, Zachie! We love you, too! Sardines are especially attractive to us cats, you know, just in case you wanted to try to get the tuxxie closer to you. One of the kittens has decided to let the Mama pet it now, but it's certainly taken a long time. Oh, and 49 is warm! It's 37 right now, and will fall into the 20's again in the early AM.

Purred by: Sleeper (Catster Member)

November 6th 2012 at 3:54 pm

Jezzie, it's pretty much finished now, but it still needs something else to help block that west wind.

Purred by: Zachery Tristan (Catster Member)

November 6th 2012 at 4:04 pm

Sorry to say Mom just watched the weather and we are going to be warm again. It's 40 outside right now and Mom still hasn't moved all her tropicals to her aunts sunroom yet!

Mom came up with a great christmas giftie for you guys today. Can't say what it is but it will be a hoot and useful too!

Purred by: Sleeper (Catster Member)

November 6th 2012 at 4:22 pm

Oooo - gifties! Hey, that's OK if you have nice weather and we are getting ready to turn into icicles - MOL!
Better get those plants moved SOON or you might be sorry!