Alright, so I noticed this stray cat hanging around my yard more often. Looked like she was definitely expecting kittens. Poor thing needed a safe place, you know? Out in the open isn’t great for that. So, I decided I’d rig up a simple birthing box for her.
Gathering the Stuff
Didn’t need anything fancy. Went scrounging in the garage and shed.
- Found a decent-sized cardboard box. Not huge, but big enough for a mama cat and some little ones. Had to make sure it was clean-ish inside.
- Grabbed some old towels. The soft, worn-out kind nobody misses.
- Needed something for a bit of weather proofing, so found a plastic trash bag.
- Duct tape. Always need duct tape.
- A box cutter or strong scissors.
Putting it Together
First thing, I cut an entrance hole in one of the shorter sides of the box. Made it just big enough for her to squeeze through, maybe like 5-6 inches across? Didn’t want it too big, keep some warmth in and maybe discourage bigger animals.
Then, to give it some protection from dampness, I wrapped the outside of the box with the plastic trash bag. Didn’t cover the entrance hole, obviously. Used duct tape to hold the bag tight around the box, especially sealing the bottom edges and corners best I could. It’s not perfect, but better than bare cardboard if it gets wet.
Inside, I laid down one old towel flat to cover the bottom. Then I took another towel, kind of bunched it up loosely around the edges inside, making like a soft bumper or nest shape. Left the middle open. Hoped she’d find it cozy.
Finding the Right Spot
This part’s important. Can’t just plonk it down anywhere. Needed somewhere:
- Quiet: Away from where we walk all the time, away from the dog’s usual path.
- Sheltered: Underneath the big evergreen bushes at the back seemed like the best bet. Offers cover from rain and sun, and it’s hidden.
- Accessible for her: Easy for her to find and get into, but not obvious to everyone else.
I placed the box under there, entrance facing away from the wind mostly. Made sure it was sitting level on the ground.
The Waiting Game
Put the box out there and just left it alone. Didn’t want to hover and scare her off. I kept putting food and fresh water out like usual, but a little distance away from the box itself. Didn’t want her associating the box directly with me lurking around.
Took about two days, then I saw her sniffing around it. The next morning, I peeked from the window, and she was coming out of the box! Felt pretty good, seeing that. Means she checked it out and thought it was okay.
Now, just have to wait and see. Hope she uses it when the time comes. It’s a simple thing, that box, but hopefully, it gives her and the kittens a bit of safety and comfort. That’s all I was trying to do.
