Four Ways to Help Community Cats Stay Safe this Summer
- inesaviles2000
- Jul 6, 2023
- 3 min read
Summer can feel oppressively hot and muggy these days, primarily if you work outside or exercise. For most of us humans, we don’t have to work so hard to access water. However, for community cats (or homeless felines), access to fresh water may often be a long trek away or a puddle of water created by the condensation of an air conditioner pipe next to a building.
Community cats are unowned homeless cats living on the streets. They are also known as feral cats and are not necessarily socialized toward humans, or they are very, very shy. These felines sometimes live alone or in groups known as colonies, and they are cared for by a colony caretaker, a person who not only ensures that the size of the colony is managed via a TNR program (or Trap, Neuter, Return) but also provides a freshwater source and food.
Below are five ways to help community cats in the hot summer months.
1. Provide plenty of water: If you plan on caring for a colony of cats or even just one or two community cats, ensure you provide a deep bowl (or two) that can hold plenty of water. This way, the water will not evaporate so fast from the summer heat. If you use a shallow dish, chances are the water will evaporate quicker. Also, ensure the bowls are placed in the shade or underneath (or between) shrubs or bushes. If the cats live in a public area, make sure that the bowls are in a place where they are out of sight; it’s better to be discrete so as not to attract attention to the cats.
2. Keep bugs off the food: Summertime is bug season for sure, but ants abound year-round, and if you choose to feed canned cat food, there are some things you should know. First, it’s always a good practice to feed discretely. Some private and public places, such as office buildings, malls, or university campuses, do not like community cats to be fed on their property. Hence, placing food bowls behind bushes or other more secluded areas is a safe bet for you and the cats. Don’t overfeed; this will attract ants and wildlife like raccoons. Make sure the food portions, whether dry cat food or canned cat food, are moderate. Purchase bug-proof dishes or create a “moat” around the food bowl by placing it in a water dish. You can also pour a baking soda ring around the moat to keep the ants out. Another idea is to elevate the food bowl off the ground. Feeding dry cat food is probably the best bet in the summer as this will not attract many ants.
3. Provide shade: Community cats are smart about finding ways to cool themselves off, such as by hiding in wooded areas, in shrubs/bushes, or in heavy foliage, but they do overheat. A cat’s body temperature is between 100 F to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, so anything above that requires veterinary attention. If the cats you care for don’t have a shaded area, you can consider creating a shady place for them to cool down. However, plan carefully to ensure the shaded area is discrete enough not to attract attention to the cats.
4. Seek help: Signs of overheating in cats include panting or trouble breathing, drooling, lethargy, stumbling or loss of balance, vocalizing, and glazed-over eyes. Consider contacting your local shelter or veterinarian if you see a distressed cat.
You can help community cats thrive in the summer by providing the resources necessary to keep them alive and healthy. As a colony caretaker or concerned human, you can be a lifesaver to community cats in your city or town. All it takes is a little love, kindness, and empathy for these precious felines.
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