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We have a feral cat at our house. She is spayed, so that's not an issue. But it's been hovering around zero a few nights this week. I feed her a few times a day. Then she waits for me to get about 20 feet away and she eats her food and drinks the water I gave her. Anything else I can do for her? I can't bring her in the house. She would claw me up and destroy the house trying to get out. She is very wild. I think she's been living under our shed, which isn't warm, but I guess it's warm enough to survive.
I think the worst of the winter (hopefully) is over, but I wonder if there's anything else I can do. I've just been feeding her cat food and leaving her water. During the summer, she kills birds and rabbits and squirrels, but there's not much to kill right now.
You could put out a box with an old blanket or towels in it to keep her warmer. I hear that plastic rubbermaid containers work well, lined with styrofoam along with blankets. They're also waterproof.
Cats are pretty good at finding small spaces they can heat up with their body temps. You can certainly try putting out a blanket or somesuch for her - but chances are she won't go near it.
Hay is a brilliant insulator. She might accept that (i.e. it's something she might be familiar with). You could try stuffing some around the edges of the shed for her to nest into or drag further underneath.
GOOD calories are the key - she'll be burning a lot keeping warm. As good food as you can possibly afford for her really - perhaps supplemented by things like raw chicken liver or the gizzards you get out of a whole chicken.
I think leaving her outside with good shelter is the key, a feral cat isnt really a pet in the sense... and they are used to a wild state its not easy but you do what you must.
We've been using "Hot Hands." The bigger size lasts for 18 hours and you can get them at Wal-Mart or any sporting goods store. They come in a package of three for a couple dollars at Wal-Mart. They really give off a lot of heat and the cats love them. The Friends of Ferals organization here use them.....that's how I found out about them. They're great!
be sure only cats are fed otherwise you could be breaking laws... also I would lay low on feeding to people you could have legal problems
I don't think the poster was intending to feed the neighbor kids the beef.
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(I'm sure she's put them to very good use! 
)
