JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — The temperatures outside are decreasing and the number of stray animals across Johnstown seem to keep increasing!
Channel 6 spoke with experts from the Cambria County Humane Society today about the dangers animals face when left out in the cold and experts say animals shouldn’t be outside longer than 30 minutes in weather below 32 degrees and there are ways we can protect the strays in the area as winter quickly approaches.
“The stray cat population in Johnstown while we don’t have street dogs or stray dogs, we do have a lot of stray cats.” said Sarah Oldham the Operations Manager at the Cambria County Humane Society.
Oldham says stray animals can experience danger during cool weather, but “cats are really good at finding warm places.”
Cats and kittens will hide anywhere that protects them from the wind. Stray cats commonly find warmth under porches, by dryer vents or inside small areas of a vehicle.
Oldham adds, “If you know that you have a pretty large population of stray cats and kittens maybe just honk your horn a few times before you start your car.”
"Making sure they have fresh food and water," said Oldham. "Water is actually more important in the cold then in the hot so ensuring they have fresh not frozen water.”
Cat boxes have become popular with strays and Oldham says, “people are making them with coolers and just cutting like a nine inch circle in the cooler or their taking totes and pitting Styrofoam coolers in them. Again, cutting a hole for an insolated box. You could even contact us and we could see if we could get you set up with an outdoor cat box to put them in this winter just so they have somewhere to get out of the weather.”
If you have an animal you can no longer care for, surrender it to someone who can take care of it.
You can always go to your local shelters or talk with your veterinarian.
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfnby4ediorGaglaG9br%2FTq5iyZZGjtq6ty6xkmqtdmLytsIywnJqsmJq%2Fbr3UopqkpKlirrG80aiYnKCVqA%3D%3D