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4 Easy Ways to Create an Outdoor Cat Shelter

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The fall is the perfect time of the year to build a shelter for the stray and feral cats you care about. Some cat-friendly folks choose to build outdoor homes that resemble real houses for their furry feline friends, like this one. But you don’t have to put in that much effort or money — you can create an outdoor cat shelter to keep them safe from the harsh winter weather using materials that you probably already have. Take a look through your garage, attic or storage space to find useful materials.

stray cat shelter

Convert a Large Plastic Cooler

A heavy duty plastic cooler can be transformed into a cozy shelter. The only tool needed is a jigsaw. Carve two square holes on both of the shortest sides, to create an exit and an entry way. Generally, if a cat’s head can fit in a hole, his or her entire body will fit. For added warmth, line the bottom with STRAW (moisture resistant) or blankets that work with body heat. Straw can be ordered online, picked up at a local farm or requested at your local pet store.

Tire Shelter

Cats like to sleep on tires in the winter because it’s a warm, weather resistant place that keeps them guarded from the snow. If your have old unused tires in your backyard or garage, convert them into small cat shelters. Glue a circular piece of plywood on the bottom of the tire and place a large bucket on top that will completely cover the top opening of the tire. Cut two holes into the bucket on either side to give the cat two easy escape routes, and add straw for warmth.

Old Dog House

You can also turn an old dog house into a cat shelter, and it will provide plenty of room for a small colony of stray cats. Just add extra insulation to the walls and floors for added warmth. Don’t forget to create that extra exit point, if they need to escape quickly. If you plan to put the dog house near your home where there’s an outdoor outlet, insert a cat warming pad for added warmth. They cost about $20-$30 and really make a difference.

Old Dresser (Compartments)

If you own an indoor cat, you know how much they love to explore the different compartments in a dresser drawer. If you have a used, old or unwanted small dresser or bureau, use it to create an outdoor cat shelter. Some dressers have three or four dresser drawers and each can act as a compartment for one or two cats. Use a jigsaw tool to cut holes in the sides of each drawer and keep the front drawer panes in place. Line the interior of each drawer with cat-safe insulation or straw. Always remember to create an exit and entry point for each section where the cats have two convenient ways to escape if necessary.

* Another Option to Consider if You Have a Bit More of a Budget

I purchased this outdoor heated kitty house for my favorite feral buddy years ago, and it is still providing her with lots of warmth and comfort during the colder months. If you have the funds to spare, consider this as another option when fall starts turning into winter.

A heated cat shelter for feral cats.
Cat Shelter

Click here for a few other tips to keep an outdoor cat warm.

Here are a few reasons why cats are beneficial to your neighborhood.

Whichever method you use to create an outdoor cat shelter, the three most important factors are:

1- Always create two escapes routes to the shelter for the safety of the cats.

2- Make sure that the bottom of the shelter is off the ground and properly insulated. You can use a couple of wooden pallets or a table to raise the cat house off the ground.

3- Ensure that you use materials that are safe for cats and that will resist moisture/mildew/mold.

* Important: If you’re caring for a colony of neighborhood cats, read this article about Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR). It will go a long way in limiting the amount of cats and kittens that need shelter every year. It’s very humane. Also learn more about TNR programs here and donate to a local organization that does this important work.

God bless you for taking care of your neighborhood kitties during the winter!

Posted by Lorraine

Photo credit: Flickr/jonathan-leung

Why Stray and Feral Cats are Beneficial to Your Neighborhood

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Unfortunately, not everyone is an animal lover — especially when it comes to stray or feral outdoor cats that don’t have a home. Some people look at stray cats as a nuisance to the neighborhood, but they actually provide many benefits to the environment, and to your property. Here are a few reasons why stray and feral cats are beneficial to your neighborhood.

 

Stray Cat
Help make life easier for your friendly neighborhood cats and they’ll help make yours easier in return.

Bye Bye Rodents

One of the most important benefits of welcoming stray cats to your neighborhood and property is that they will help keep the rodent population to a minimum. Mice and garter snakes are no match for the average outdoor cat. If you’re friendly to neighborhood cats, they will surround your property with their scent, which is a great deterrent to keep rodents from invading your home and backyard.

Garden Protection

If you have a garden, you know the usual suspects that try to steal your delicious corn, greens and nuts–birds, rabbits and squirrels. Just having a cat show up to your property every day will make those small woodland creatures think twice about venturing into your garden for a bite. Cats are carnivores, so you don’t have to worry about them stealing your tomatoes. Just put a simple garden fence up to keep them from digging into the soil, which looks a lot like a litter box!

Companionship and Entertainment

Stray and feral cats are very entertaining when you get to know them. When they’re comfortable, they play with each other and have fun. You’ll begin to see them as a fixture, like saying hi to a neighbor in the morning. When you feed them, they will thank you for your generosity by giving you unconditional love and companionship when you venture outside (maybe even a special gift at your front door). Cats also understand plenty of words, so give your neighborhood stray and feral cats names and talk to them in a calm voice. Only touch cats that you have had vaccinated, if they allow you to touch them. Some don’t like to be touched and that’s okay — it’s just a part of their nature.

They Can Be Beneficial for Your Health

Researchers have discovered that cats can actually assist in lowering the blood pressure of humans. In fact, taking care of a cat can help reduce stroke risk by a third, according to a Minnesota University study. They have a very calming quality — when you’re outside doing yard work or gardening, they’ll sit nearby and watch you quietly. They have a relaxing energy that encourages you to unwind, and lets you know that everything will be okay.

 

A Note About Spaying and Neutering Stray Cats (TNR)

You need to understand that the most humane thing you can do is to spade or neuter the neighborhood cat(s) who happen to frequent your property. It’s also imperative that you get them vaccinated — a process called TNR (trap, neuter, return). The cost is commonly around $65 per cat, but it is a wise investment — it will quickly control the cat population so that the existing neighborhood cats can be tended to properly. If you keep stray and feral cats fit, healthy and vaccinated it will lower the risk of diseases spreading among animals in your neighborhood. Set up a small budget for spaying or neutering at least 2 or 3 cats that you see everyday, and see this article on how to trap, neuter and return stray and feral cats. Just having 2 or 3 cats neutered this year will make a huge impact, and be sure to have each cat’s ear clipped so that other cat-friendly neighbors won’t waste money and time trapping a cat that has already been neutered.

Cats are very special creatures that have many useful purposes in our world. They are extremely intelligent and emotional beings. Give your outdoor neighborhood cats an opportunity to show that they can be helpful to you, your neighborhood and your property. Maybe these reasons why stray and feral cats are beneficial to your neighborhood will help convince more people to be compassionate to outdoor cats. Spread the word to practice love for stray and feral cats who don’t have a home and who don’t know where or when their next meal will be coming from.

Posted by Jade

Image credit: Flickr/zoonabar

5 Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Kids

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When school is back in session, so are the hectic mornings. Kids need a healthy and filling breakfast to start their day, instead of a breakfast filled with sugar and processed foods. You can’t rely on the school’s breakfast options to provide your children with proper real nutritional value. Most of the meals that are prepared in schools today are filled with sugar.

Sugar as we all know gives the child a burst of energy that soon fades. So your child’s attention span will diminish as the sugar “high” begins to come down, making them feel tired and unfocused. Give your kids meals that will help them stay mentally and physically alert throughout their day at school, so that they will have the best shot at getting good grades. Here are 5 healthy breakfast ideas for kids that are relatively easy to prepare.

 

blueberry pancakes

1- Oatmeal With Honey And Raisins
Make a small batch of steel cut oatmeal for a healthy kids breakfast. Add some organic honey, and top it with raisins or dried cranberries.

2- Breakfast Wraps
Fill a whole wheat (low carb) wrap with scrambled eggs, turkey bacon and a few slices of ripe avocado. Wrap it up in aluminum foil so that your child can eat it at the bus stop.

3- Bran Banana Muffins
Make a batch of bran banana muffins on Sunday and use them for breakfast for the next couple of days. Add ripe bananas, crushed bran cereal, coconut flour, vanilla and organic honey to your mix to help make it tasty.

4- Blueberry Pancakes
For a healthier breakfast, add a handful of organic frozen blueberries to your pancake mix in the morning. If your child is not a fan of blueberries than substitute them with the organic frozen fruit that they prefer.

blueberry pancakes

5- Fruit Smoothie
When you’re really in a rush, make a fruit smoothie for your child to take on the school bus. Add almond or coconut milk, pineapple and/or strawberries, organic honey and some organic Greek yogurt to your smoothie maker. You can even try adding a bit of kale or spinach to give them more vitamins — it depends on what their taste buds will agree with.

 

fruit smoothie

So there are 5 healthy breakfast ideas for kids to try — they might inspire you to think of even more. Once you get into the routine of preparing these nutritious meals for your kids, it will get easier and easier. You’re providing your child with the necessary energy and nutritional content to get them through their day successfully. Your extra efforts may not be fully appreciated today, but you’ll see the results when you get their report cards.

Posted by Eve

Image credits: Flickr/geishabot, Flickr/ktylerconk, Flickr/75628061@N03

Quick Halloween Safety Tips and Reminders

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With Halloween around the corner, kids are excited to wear their costumes and collect candy for as long as you will allow during the evening. Halloween has been a fun day for kids for many generations. You want your children to have fun, yet it’s also crucial to make their safety your top priority. Here are some Halloween safety tips for kids to keep in mind in advance of October 31.

Reflective Costumes

It’s important to make sure that your child’s costume has some reflective properties so they are easily visible at night. If the child chose a dark colored costume, simply purchase plenty of glow sticks that will make their presence known while trick or treating. These glow sticks can be hand held or fashioned into a necklace or bracelet. Explain to them why these reflective elements and glow sticks are important, so that drivers will be able to spot them easily when they’re trick or treating. It’s also a good idea to provide each child with a flash light for added safety.

 

Trick or Treat
Well Lit Neighborhoods Only

Choose a well lit neighborhood that is child friendly for trick or treating (preferably a neighborhood that has speed bumps and plenty of stop signs to force motorists to slow down). When a house is dimly light, it’s probably a good idea to pass it up because they may not be Halloween-friendly. If the neighborhoods that surround you are not well-lit or child friendly, no worries. Call you local libraries and malls to see if they are giving out candy to children.

No Candy Until It’s Checked
The most important Halloween safety tip is that your children are not allowed to consume ANY candy before it is checked by you or another trusted adult at home. When you and the children arrive home, empty the bag of candy on a table and inspect each and every piece of candy. Look for any open wrappers or punctures in the candy wrapper. If ever in doubt, just throw it out! Your child’s safety always comes first. Only allow your child to keep candy that has a wrapper. Any candy without a wrapper should immediately be thrown away.

Trick or Treat Right After School

If your child is still in elementary or middle school, always accompany him or her when trick or treating and go right after school is out. Most schools encourage kids to come to school dressed up in their costumes, so it’s just a matter of having a quick after school snack and heading out the door. Finish up your trick or treating activities by sunset.

In our modern times it’s extremely important for parents to discuss Halloween safety tips and rules for the evening of October 31 with their children of all ages. Make it clear to your kids why these rules are necessary — because they are for their protection.

Posted by Eve

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce

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Tartar sauce really brings out the flavor or fried fish. You can purchase a jar in any supermarket, but when it’s processed it can have all sorts of preservatives and unnecessary ingredients. Just make it fresh instead — it’s so easy! Homemade tartar sauce consists of just a few simple ingredients that are probably in your kitchen right now. If you try this recipe, purchasing the store brand tartar sauce will be a thing of the past.

 

 

Homemade Tartar Sauce
Ingredients

1/2 cup of mayonnaise
1/4 cup sweet relish
1/2 tablespoon of shredded carrot (optional)
A pinch of salt and pepper
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon (a whole lemon if you really like it tart)

Instructions

In a medium bowl add all ingredients and mix well. Taste sauce to ensure that it tastes to your liking.

It’s just that simple. You can feel free to use the mayonnaise of your choice for your homemade tartar sauce. If you tend to like your sauce a little spicy just add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Allow the tartar sauce to chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Check out our recipe for Battered Fish and Shrimp with French Fries.

Enjoy!

Posted by Eve

Asian-Inspired Pork with Brown Rice

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This recipe for Asian-Inspired Pork with Brown Rice is packed with Asian flavors that are sure to stimulate your taste buds. It’s a meal that will taste like you’re enjoying it at a top Asian restaurant.

Asian Pork Plate
Ingredients

1-2 Lbs pork (you can use pork loin, pork ribs, chicken or even steak)
2 tablespoons of Olive oil
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup oyster sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
One medium piece of ginger grated and peeled
Three large garlic cloves
One stalk of lemongrass peeled and coarsely chopped
One cup of brown rice made with chopped scallions

Instructions

The meat needs to marinate for one hour. For the best results, marinate meat overnight in a sealed flat container. Begin by adding all spices except the olive oil to either a food processor or blender. Blend until all ingredients are combined. Place the meat into a container.

Now poke holes in the meat with a knife or fork. Make plenty of holes in the meat so the marinade can seep in. Then pour the entire marinade over the meat. Let meat sit for 30 minutes then flip over, cover and put back into the refrigerator.

Asian PorkTo cook the meat, place it on a grill or skillet on medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Carefully placed me into skillet. While cooking, pour half of the marinade on the meat. Repeat this step when you flip the meat over. Allow the meat to cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Be aware that the sugar will make the meat caramelize and brown, so don’t worry.

Serve this Asian-Inspired Pork with Brown Rice and chopped scallions. For added flavor add a half of a teaspoon of soy sauce to the rice.

Enjoy!

Posted by Eve