I'm trying to find an economical way to heat a shelter for a cat I care for. He's neutered, blood tested and vaccinated and very friendly, but I can't bring him indoors because he fights with my resident cats.
I have 20 former feral cats so one more wouldn't make any difference. In spite of trying to get them used to each other through the enclosure fence over the past two years he still attacks the cats that are able to get out of the enclosure, and the boys that can't get out throw themselves at the fence yowling whenever they see him.
He has a covered feeding station and a modified dog kennel which he has just started napping in. The kennel is against the side of the house, up on bricks and lined with cardboard and straw. I've got a tarp ready to cover it when it starts to snow, but I've only had it in place for a few weeks so I want to give him time to get used to it before I cover it.
It's adequate for now, but I'm worried about him being cold when the really harsh weather comes. I live up in the mountains and it gets down to -10C or lower in January and February.
I thought about an electric heating pad, but Mr Husband said it will cost too much to have something plugged in over night for two months. I've seen heating pads that you can warm-up in a microwave oven, but I don't have a microwave. So I thought a battery powered heating pad might work.
Has anyone used one? Or any other ideas about how to keep a shelter warm?
He obviously has other places he can shelter, there are lots of abandoned houses in this area and there are a few even I could walk into if I wanted, so I'm sure he isn't out in the woods all night. I just worry about him though. He's such a lovely boy, he deserves a good life.
I have 20 former feral cats so one more wouldn't make any difference. In spite of trying to get them used to each other through the enclosure fence over the past two years he still attacks the cats that are able to get out of the enclosure, and the boys that can't get out throw themselves at the fence yowling whenever they see him.
He has a covered feeding station and a modified dog kennel which he has just started napping in. The kennel is against the side of the house, up on bricks and lined with cardboard and straw. I've got a tarp ready to cover it when it starts to snow, but I've only had it in place for a few weeks so I want to give him time to get used to it before I cover it.
It's adequate for now, but I'm worried about him being cold when the really harsh weather comes. I live up in the mountains and it gets down to -10C or lower in January and February.
I thought about an electric heating pad, but Mr Husband said it will cost too much to have something plugged in over night for two months. I've seen heating pads that you can warm-up in a microwave oven, but I don't have a microwave. So I thought a battery powered heating pad might work.
Has anyone used one? Or any other ideas about how to keep a shelter warm?
He obviously has other places he can shelter, there are lots of abandoned houses in this area and there are a few even I could walk into if I wanted, so I'm sure he isn't out in the woods all night. I just worry about him though. He's such a lovely boy, he deserves a good life.