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Roof covered
platforms on both sides of shelter for food & water dishes. Feral cats
can run away quickly if necessary. No dishes ever put inside shelter.
Window at front for peeking out ! |
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Latched door swings
open to clean inside & fill with warm blankets and catnip ! Shrubbery
growing up in front to provide privacy. All stations have wide roof
overhangs to keep out rain. |
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Note "cat face" entry
hole in door; 3rd entry hole (unseen) on right side wall facing onto platform. Base of shelter is off the
ground on 2x4's. |
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Waiting nearby for
his "meals on wheels" delivery .
Fixed, vaccinated, dewormed and welcomed by all humans in the neighbourhood
as "rodent control" captain. |
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Some stations have
battery powered "push on/push off" lights inside lid for
dark winter early morning feeding or night time
trapping. 2nd entry hole
(unseen) on left side of box. Food & water left daily by a roster of
volunteers, at all stations, 365 days a year. |
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Another slightly different
design; entry holes at back & side to suit topography of this station. Slanted roof
keeps rain from pooling. Inside of shelter is bone dry even in wet weather.
In freezing weather, line inside of shelter with newspaper and wool or
fleece blankets. |
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2nd cat in underbrush.
Weight good, coat healthy, eyes clean & bright. Numbers at all stations
reduced humanely through TNR practice. No fight or bite wounds
observed on any fixed males for years.
Cats are fed daily
so not causing trouble in neighbourhoods scrounging for food from dumpsters,
garbage cans, or coming into homes challenging residents' cats. |
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Treats and catnip left
by caregivers !
No feral kittens born at this station for more than
5 years ! Number of
adults reduced by 60% through
natural "TNR" attrition
but remaining cats are healthy and keep rodents down. Ferals
tend to stay hidden away if fed and, if fixed, then the nuisance behaviours
of yowling, spraying and fighting with owned cats is diminished. And
the biggest factor - no more reproduction every 60 days! |