Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Yesterday, I got the winter shelters ready for the cats. Sort of.

I use airline dog crates XXL, held together with zip ties, and covered with one of those warm but thin quilt type blankets. The crates and quilts/blankets were also donated. I bought the zip ties. Winter will soon be here.

Inside each shelter is an electric heating pad designed for outdoor animals – it emits a very low level of warmth until a cat steps onto it and the pressure heats it up. Cats absorb warmth best that way. Tthe pad warms the cat, not the space around the cat. I regularly test the pads with my hands. I prefer the K&H brand products for safety and reliability.

The blanket covers the crate, blocking out the wind and rain. Eventually, it freezes, shaping itself to the contours of the shelter, providing an even tighter barrier. I fold it so there’s a little opening they can access without exposing the entire crate to winter weather.

The cats love these. They share them -Mx Pajamas and Oksana in one, Callie and Tony in another. Well, most of the time. Sometimes feline disagreements change up the arrangements. They sit on top of the blankets in the daytime, enjoying the sun. Every month or so, I take them inside to wash and dry.

I also have straw stuffed traditional shelters in the yard – two dog igloos and the type with the black garbage bags wrapped around them. I’m planning to share those with folx who are part of the Dr. John P. Ruffing Pet Food Pantry. I was going to place in a far corner of our neighborhood, but contractors park there so I’m unsure if that’s now wise.

We have guests, evidenced by straw debris and footprints. They are welcome to get warm. I keep those shelters in the far part of the yard so they have privacy and ease of mind.

The crate shelters are on the kitchen deck so we can easily keep an eye on them throughout the winter. In very awful weather, I can feed them in the shelters or nearby.

To keep them coming back, I occasionally put some cat nip or high value treats around the entrance or inside.

We have a third crate shelter in the yard for when there are huffy disagreements and for the other occasional visitors.

This year, I need some help. I need to replace the heating pads, at least two of them (three shelters total) that are many years old. One doesn’t seem to be working at all. Must be careful with these things.

I also need one more blanket, similar to those in the photos. Tears or stains are fine. No preference on color. I asked around on the Buy Not a Thing/Sharing Economy facebook groups, but haven’t yet found the item that’s appropriate. Big comforters won’t work. It has to have that tight weave to somewhat repel rain and snow. It isn’t a burrowing blanket – there are no blankets in these shelters, no straw, just the pads.

This morning I came outside and Tony strutted out of one shelter, stretching and yawning. Then he looked at me with disdain because I did not have breakfast in hand. On a very cold day, he would return to his cat cave. On a nice day, he sits and stares at me for seeming hours, willing me to produce food. Or at least treats. Mx Pajamas and Oksana tumbled out of the other shelter, taking note of the delayed breakfast, and decided to have a wrestle.

The heated houses are okay. I remove the heating pad for a better position and the houses are fantastic for getting out of the rain or snow.

If you have airline crates to donate, please contact us first folx@pghlgbtq.org