How To Save #Cats Lives This Winter by Karen Rose Smith

If you have outside cats or feral and strays in your area, now is the time to think about sheltering them from the elements. Depending on the type of shelter and how close it is to your house, you can buy electric heat pads to insert inside of them. If they are on the outskirts of your property where electric is not accessible, then straw is the best bedding. Blankets and towels in cold temperatures hold moisture and mildew. The straw (not hay) will stay dryer and be warmer for the cats.

Igloo shelter

Igloo shelter with hay bales

We have an igloo shelter in our tomato garden that you can find at PetSmart, Petco or on Amazon (links at end of blog). There are different sizes and styles. If the igloo is too large, it will not keep the feline as warm. We further insulate by putting hay bales around the igloo. We insert an electric heat pad made for the igloo inside it. I use K&H heat pads (link below) that are made for inside an outdoor shelter. They make sizes specifically for igloos and other sizes that can be used in shelters like the cedar ones below from ArkWorkshop. The heat pads warm to the cat's body temperature when he or she sits on it.

Feralvilla shelter

This feral shelter from Feralvilla.com (link below) has two entrances and an insulated loft bed we line with straw. We positioned it under the deck to protect it further.

ArkWorkshop cedar shelter

Cedar shelter surrounded by hay bales to ward off wind

This cedar shelter can be ordered with one or two entrances from ArkWorkshop.com (link at end of blog). Feral cats always look for an exit so they won't be trapped. We have a K&H heat pad (link below) in this one. Wait time for shelters from ArkWorkshop can be two months at this time of year, but you could still order one now for those bitter January days and nights. 

ArkWorkshop shelter with straw for bedding

 

Feral and stray cats have a difficult time finding clean water in winter. We provide a heated water bowl on our patio. 

Outside feeding station from Feralvilla.com

There are many DIY (do-it-yourself) shelter instructions on the Internet and YouTube. Follow the links below to Catster.com and Howtolivewithcats.com to view a few.

How do you lead cats to these shelters? In the summer and fall, I periodically sprinkle the threshold and entrances with catnip. It's not a good idea to put food inside a shelter because of attracting other creatures. The catnip seems to do the trick. Last winter we knew for sure that two of the shelters were being used. 

I hope these shelter ideas and links help you save a few feral and stray cats' lives this winter.

LINKS:

Igloo Shelter at PetSmart
Igloo Shelter at Petco
Igloo Shelter on Amazon
K&H Heat Pad on Amazon
Feral Shelters from ArkWorkshop.com
Feral Shelters from Feralvilla.com
DIY Shelters on Catster.com
DIY Shelters from Howtolivewithcats.com

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In my Caprice De Luca Home Staging mystery series, my sleuth Caprice takes in stray cats and dogs and finds them forever loving homes!

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NOW AVAILABLE
DRAPE EXPECTATIONS, book 4

Caprice De Luca's former client and now friend Ace Richland--an 80's rock star--asks her for a favor.  Can she quickly stage his girlfriend's house to sell?  Widow Alanna Goodwin, a transplanted Southern beauty, will be moving in with him!  Immediately Caprice realizes Alanna's southern charm can be turned on and off at will.  Caprice agrees to stage Alanna's Kismet antebellum-styled mansion for Ace's sake.  But she soon learns Alanna doesn't have a genuine love for her cat Mirabelle and also uncovers a plot her new client is hatching to sabotage Ace's comeback.  However, before she can tell Ace, Alanna is murdered and Ace is the prime suspect.  

As Caprice investigates, she learns Alanna had more secrets than pie safes.  With her Cocker Spaniel Lady by her side, she tracks down clues and adopts Alanna's cat.  In the midst of some of her own family upheaval--her uncle has moved in with her parents--she finds herself with a dilemma.  Grant Weatherford, her brother's law partner, advises Ace and reveals more of his past to her.  Seth Randolph, the doctor she dates, wants her to meet his family.  She must choose between them.

Danger stalks Caprice.  Will her refresher self-defense course save her life?  Only if she keeps her wits about her and Lady by her side.

DRAPE EXPECTATIONS on Amazon

DRAPE EXPECTATIONS on Barnes and Noble

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STAGED TO DEATH, book 1

Caprice De Luca  stages houses for high-end clients. When she discovers a body in the castle-mansion she staged to sell and starts asking questions, she finds herself in danger. On the way to solving the murder, Caprice's large Italian family helps and hinders. She also finds romance with Dr. Seth Randolph. But does her brother's partner, attorney Grant Weatherford, care about her, too? Or is he just worried she'll get herself killed and her family will blame him?

Enjoy solving the mystery with Caprice, cook along with her, see her find homes for the stray animals she protects, be a part of the De Luca family...in STAGED TO DEATH.

STAGED TO DEATH on Amazon

STAGED TO DEATH on Barnes and Noble

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DEADLY DECOR, book 2

Quiet Kismet, Pennsylvania, may look like any other small town, but as a home stager, Caprice De Luca can see behind closed doors--and it seems someone has designs on murder. . .Life is a full house for Caprice these days. She's dating, she's rescuing adorable cocker spaniels, and she's decorating the roomy interiors of Kismet's most well-heeled residents with fun fantasy themes. But she's worried about her pregnant sister. Bella's marriage is coming apart like a bad wallpaper job, and to make matters worse, she's decided to meet up with a former flame Bob Preston, a house painter Caprice frequently employs. When he's found dead in a pool of green paint swirling with blood, it's time for Caprice to stage an investigation. With all eyes trained on Bella's husband, Caprice shifts her attention from finding the perfect curtains to finding the perfect culprit. . .

DEADLY DECOR on Amazon

DEADLY DECOR Barnes & Noble

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GILT BY ASSOCIATION, book 3

Caprice De Luca's latest house staging is all about hearts, flowers, lace and chintz since Valentine's Day is around the corner.  She never expects her client to be murdered in the greenhouse the day of the open house.

With her six-month-old pup Lady by her side and her own love life in disarray, Caprice ferrets out clues from the victim's best friend, Caprice's mother, the housekeeper and a special male friend who insists his relationship with the victim was platonic.  However, as Caprice digs deeper, she finds the victim's past is filled with secrets that she kept from her husband for thirty years.

The past isn't merely history.  The present isn't always what it seems.  When hearts are involved, passion and even murder aren't far behind.

GILT BY ASSOCIATION on Amazon

GILT BY ASSOCIATION on Barnes and Noble

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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 

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Karen's Newsletter IN TOUCH

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Karen Rose Smith's romance website 

Karen Rose Smith's mystery website 



Karen's Cat-Themed Zazzle Store

Karen's Facebook Author Page

Karen on Twitter

©2015 Karen Rose Smith

Stray and Feral #Cats in #Winter by Karen Rose Smith

Snow and ice and cold. We've had a hard winter in Pennsylvania and so have the stray and feral cats.  I can only imagine how cold and snowy the weather has been in the other parts of the country.  Today's snow and ice is supposed to bring us 5-8 more inches.  We have three inside rescued cats and this season we have 4 or 5 stray and/or feral cats who use our outside feeders...and maybe the shelters. Two of them have heat pads.

This year our temperatures were so low that within a half hour after putting food in the feeder, it was frozen!  So we had to check it often.  It was mid-winter until we discovered that putting food just inside the Igloo shelter didn't freeze.

 

We put out dry food so there is always something there for our visitors to eat.  That's easy to refill.  We put out wet food first thing in the morning.  This morning, in spite of the snow, one of the kitties came to eat out of the igloo.  It was gone.  Half of the food in the plain feeder was gone.  We refill three times a day.  More than ever this time of year is when stray and feral cats need food and shelter.  On the patio near the food, we also have a heated water bowl.  It's hard for them to find water this time of year with water sources frozen. Along the patio we also have a few solar lights so that at night, they are a beacon near the shelters.

When you care for stray and feral cats, you have to detach a little or you'll worry every night when the temperature drops or anytime they don't appear for a few days.  But that's the nature of caring for them.  I'm so looking forward to warmer temps and spring when I spend time on the patio gardening and writing. Maybe then, I can gain a little trust.  Maybe then, they'll eat even when my husband and I are around.  Love given in the form of food, shelter and water is always a good thing.  I believe in karma.  I might need love, food, water and shelter...and most of all kindness in the years to come. 

©2014 Karen Rose Smith

Search For Love, Boxed Set 1 on Amazon

Winter Is Life-Threatening for #Stray and Feral Cats, #Shelters to build and buy

Winter is life-threatening for stray and feral cats. This is the time of year to think about shelters if you feed stray cats.  Food isn't enough when the wind blows and rain and snow fall.  In Pennsylvania, we're having a particularly warm beginning to October.  But temperatures could dip low at night at any time. It's not only the heat and cold that are dangerous to stray and feral cats, but also winter rain.

We rescued one of our cats, Ebbie, from a snow-covered farm almost thirteen years ago.  She was sick, about ten weeks old and wouldn't have survived.  We adopted her half sister, London, the following spring.  Over a year ago, we rescued our baby Zoie Joy from our backyard.  She was about six weeks old and dehydrated from the over 100 degree temperature.  This summer we cared for a stray who we dubbed Lancelot who had been injured and had FIV.  He passed on recently but he taught us so much about companionship with an outside cat.

Many cat lovers construct their own shelters.  If you're not handy, there are do-it-yourself sites on-line with videos on YouTube.  Just search "Building a feral cat shelter."  This activity would make a great family project.  SAFE HOUSE Animal Rescue League has terrific directions on how to build two different kinds of shelters.  They use Rubbermaid plastic storage bins.  Go here to check out the instructions. Safe House Shelter Instructions


But if you're short on time and can afford to buy one, there are shelters my husband and I would recommend because we have them.

The one we like the best is from The Ark Workshop.  (Click on name for the link.) It's well-constructed of cedar with a shingled roof and a wind guard inside the door.  The opening isn't too big or too small, but just right to keep out the elements.  The shelter comes with or without an escape door with a flap.  You can also purchase these shelters with insulation.

Our igloo shelter we found at PetSmart. (Click on name for link.) Note the extended doorway on this igloo to keep rain from blowing deep inside.  Some "igloos" are not constructed this way, so check descriptions carefully.  A huge opening into the sleeping space is not protection from the weather elements. My husband drilled two small holes in the front of this shelter to allow the front part to drain.

The final shelter is from Feralvilla.  (Click on name for link.) This one has an insulated loft inside that a cat can crawl up into.  There are two entrances on the lower level.  I can particularly see this shelter in more rural areas that have brush.  We situated ours under a deck landing for more protection.

 

If you have stray or feral cats who won't come near the house, you might want to position the shelter where you see them nap.   We'll be putting our cedar shelter in a side garden where we've seen cats go for cover in the summer.  The other shelters are near our patio.   (That will be necessary if we want to add a heat pad.)  We found the secret to encouraging cats to use these shelters is catnip.  I plant cat mint nearby in our gardens, too.  Some people use food, but I don't recommend leaving that for any length of time.  Other critters forage for food and it's better to have a feeder in a separate area.  Outside heat pads are available and we will be using those in two of the shelters this winter.  If it's possible, the heat pad should be smaller than the sleep space so the cat can move off of it.  For the igloo, it's possible to buy a half-moon shaped heating pad.  I advise you to read the reviews on the heat pads to learn how to use them the best way.  There are stories there that are helpful...and heart-warming.

Cats are particular creatures, but they can be led with catnip, patience and love.  Bless anyone of you who rescues them or cares for them this season.

London

Ebbie

Zoie Joy

IN MEMORIAM--LANCELOT

                                                  
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©2013 Karen Rose Smith