Already frost has come to the inland valleys of Santa Barbara County. I still have vegetables in the garden and fruit on the trees. I also have two front porch kitties, a pair of semi-ferals who have recently picked me to be their feeder. One is a female tortoiseshell, the other a male Siamese; both are fixed.

I have unofficially named the tortie, “Gutter Kitty” because she prefers to drink from that water source rather than the fountain by my front door. The Siamese is named “Tommy” because he used to be a tom, which is indicated the size of his head.

Being soft-hearted when it comes to cats, and having rather a few too many cat beds around the house, I put one outside on the chair where the tortie had been sleeping. She shunned it and moved to a different chair. I even bought her an elevated one from a thrift store, which was also ignored.

I find this curious considering the cat spends many hours a day curled into a tight ball, trying to stay warm on the shady porch as she awaits her next meal. I think a warm, soft bed would surely be inviting, but apparently she doesn’t agree. Still with the night temperatures falling rapidly, I worry about her and Tommy.

I know she doesn’t spend nights on my porch, because my cats and I keep a close eye on Gutter Kitty through the windows. Tommy doesn’t either, only coming for an occasional meal and disappearing soon after eating.

Even with their fur coats outdoor cats need protection from the elements, preferably a warm, draft less place to sleep. This is why one often finds feral cat colonies in and around abandoned buildings, exactly where I trapped my Barney as a tiny kitten. It is also one reason why we strongly encourage “barn cats” be locked up at night; the other obvious reason being safety from predators.

All cats prefer to hunker down in places with easily accessible escape routes. Felines rarely let themselves become boxed in, preferring to have at least two openings available to them. This would explain why the heated dog house my friend thoughtfully put on her porch for the strays she feeds is not used. It is also evident if I have to corner one of my own pets inside the house if care is needed.

When cornered, any animal’s instinct is to defend at all costs. This can be confirmed by any dog that has sustained multiple claw and teeth punctures after a game of chase-the-cat. This also applies to litter box usage, as cats are in a rather compromised position at the time. I’ve had to remove covers and strategically reposition boxes in my house to make it a safer environment for my less-than-alpha boys.

If you have outdoor kitties of your own, be sure they have a warm dry place to go during bad weather. Cats love to sleep in high places. Not only is it usually warmer, but they have the advantage of being able to watch for danger. It is not unusual to find ferals in rafters of barns and sheds, and even in hollow trees.

Garages are full of great hiding places for cats, both high and low. Often attached to the house and insulated, it is where the hot water heater may be located, a great source of constant warmth. You can leave your garage door cracked enough to allow a cat in. If you are worried about rodents accessing the opening, your feline guest inside will welcome the fresh meal and keep your garage pest free.

The heat from a car engine will linger for a long time which is very inviting and also a valid concern. Each year cats and kittens are killed because they have chosen the engine compartment of a recently run vehicle as their nighttime hideout. Please make it a habit to pound on the hood of the car before starting it up on cold mornings.

We can put out comfy beds and insulated boxes for our front porch kitties, but they may not use them. Think like a cat and try again, offering several choices in different places. Hopefully one will be to the cat’s liking and you will be rewarded by low cost pest control and the knowledge that you have given welcomed shelter to an animal in need.