I know better - I really do!

[Amelia Peabody]

I just couldn't help myself. There has been a stray - abandoned - feral ( pick one ) cat hanging around the apartment complex since the summer. Or perhaps it has evil owners who allow it outside, I don't know.

But it was 11 degrees the other night and the dear thing was walking so slowly through the snow to come stand on my cold cold cement patio. I know I shouldn't have, but I put a plate of canned food out. Then I put a blanket out. It ate some of the food and sniffed the blanket, walked on it a bit. Eventually all the food was gone but the blanket never moved. My kitties move blankets around to suit themselves. I assumed the cat would scrape it into a corner for warmth.

So now - I was going to ask what to do about the blanket? Wash alone on hot water? Will it be safe then to bring back inside? It's cold again though so I rearranged the blanket over a footrest from the patio chair. There is now a nice little "cave" with a blanket floor and a flap to keep out the wind.

When Spring comes, will I be able to salvage the blanket?

 

[Klismania]

I just couldn't help myself. There has been a stray - abandoned - feral ( pick one ) cat hanging around the apartment complex since the summer. Or perhaps it has evil owners who allow it outside, I don't know.

But it was 11 degrees the other night and the dear thing was walking so slowly through the snow to come stand on my cold cold cement patio. I know I shouldn't have, but I put a plate of canned food out. Then I put a blanket out. It ate some of the food and sniffed the blanket, walked on it a bit. Eventually all the food was gone but the blanket never moved. My kitties move blankets around to suit themselves. I assumed the cat would scrape it into a corner for warmth.

So now - I was going to ask what to do about the blanket? Wash alone on hot water? Will it be safe then to bring back inside? It's cold again though so I rearranged the blanket over a footrest from the patio chair. There is now a nice little "cave" with a blanket floor and a flap to keep out the wind.

When Spring comes, will I be able to salvage the blanket?

Bless you for watching out for the small creatures amongst us. Hopefully this cat is in a nice warm home tonight.

I think any germs or fleas that might have gotten onto it would be dead by now. Especially if the temperature outside is below freezing for long periods of time. If you really want to salvage the blanket, take it to a laundromat and wash on the hottest water possible with bleach or a color-safe bleach.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

When Spring comes, will I be able to salvage the blanket?

You mean as far as whether it has been contaminated with any cat diseases, I think as long as you wash in hot water with detergent, it will likely be fine.

Wash your hand or wear gloves when you bring it in, though.

Whether it survives the weather, I can't say.

 

[DMRick]

I suggest instead of the blanket, you take a large container like used for storage, cut a hole in the side, and flip it over. Put in some straw and put that out on your patio. Blankets do not keep cats warm outside. They get damp and chilly, and once chilly, freeze.

Here is a fancy one, but it doesn't have to be this fancy. Be sure the holes aren't too big, you don't want the cat inside and a dog or fox be able to get in to it:
http://www.spayandstay.org/wintershelter.htm

This one is simple and would work well. No worry about dirty or cold wet blankets.
http://www.craftcats.org/learn/?content=build-cat-shelter

You may also want to get in touch with a local rescue group to see if they can trap this cat to get it fixed, and put it back.