MPA Vision: To achieve the best quality of life for Michigan’s companion animals.
MPA Mission: To work in collaboration and speak with a single voice to eliminate abuse and neglect of Michigan’s companion animals and to save all healthy and treatable homeless companion animals through training, technical assistance, education, and advocacy.
MPA Top 3 Goals:
• Advocate for the use of industry best practices in Michigan animal shelters, home-based foster rescue groups, and any group or organization providing services for the well-being of shelter companion animals.
• Set standards; provide training, education, assistance; is a forum of idea exchange and support to colleagues in the compassionate life-saving work.
• Work to affect change in state laws, regulations and local ordinances to improve the care and treatment of companion animals.
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Great information 👍
Thanks for watching!
Can't wait or make my first sniffle ball.my gsd nala is gonna love it.thank you for this easy step by step video.
Thanks for watching!
I’ve made many of these and I’ve never had one cat go in them yet never not one!
Most cats love shelters, so this is puzzling as to why they will not go inside. If the cats are well fed and can get out of the wind, they will probably be okay, even in harsh weather conditions. Thanks for watching!
It's not practical for cats.
At my small town Convenient center, there are a lot of Feral dumped kitties. Me and another lady created four shelters for them similar to the ones with the containers. We put straw inside and we had them sitting up on wooden feet. And then we covered it with a tarp so it helped keeping it dry but it does get messy over the winter all the debris on the tarp and mud. I’m not sure what anyone else is doing when you have several kitties that you’re trying to protect. And then within the tarp we had a little feeder which was nothing but a container sit on its side and we would put the food in there and a water dispenser we had underneath the tarp as well. Well this lady got offended by something I don’t know for sure what her problem was and she removed the three containers for shelter for the kitties so now I only have one and I’m gonna have to figure out how to make some more. And I like the idea of using the Styrofoam within the plastic containers.
Thank you for helping community cats. Sounds like you have come up with a good solution for them. That's a shame someone removed the shelters. Hope you can make some more. Thank you for watching!
Thank you much! The idea of lining with the Styrofoam pieces. I’ve thrown so much Styrofoam away I’m gonna have to start saving it.
Thank you for watching!
Awesome❤
Great video! I moved into a new home and discovered a lot of abandoned cats, strays, feral etc. One of the quickest ways I helped them was to just lean a pallet against a wall, covered it (stapled) with a thick but inexpensive shower curtain liner. On the inside I stuffed some straw into the cubby holes, as well as adding a really thick layer of straw behind the pallet as a bed. This also gave them the means for two exits if needed but tried to add wind and rain protection too.. I tried totes but they would not adapt to them. They definitely burrowed their way into the straw behind the pallet for warmth on the first day. Eventually I purchased some houses for them. I now have 6 cats that have adopted me! (Feeding, neutered/spayed, rabies, deworming them) Some have disappeared but they just keep coming! Have 3 that are part of my yard. Feel good that I have helped them, gave them a home, but mostly reduced the population. Why people abandon, ignore them baffles me? What were you thinking when you took on the responsibility of having a pet?
Sounds like a great solution! Thank you for helping them!
I don’t understand what you’re saying their beds were just behind the pallet. I don’t get it. You’re saying straw behind the pallet for warmth on the first day so the sides were open? Are you saying that you just leaned a pallet up against the wall, covered it with a shower curtain and then put straw behind it and within the in part of the pallet, but they didn’t really have bags it was just laying on the ground? I’m sorry, but I’m so confused.
I came upon your video because I asked Meta AI what a snuggle mat was. Then i saw your snuggle ball. 💜
Thank you for watching!
UPDATE. Instead of using zip ties, you can use shoelaces, string or strong thread. Happy sniffing!
Could you use a strong thread or string instead of zip ties?
Yes! I have actually switched to using shoelaces!
I built one, but I put the hole at the bottom because I didn’t actually build it for adult cats. One of the cats near me gave birth to kittens and I’m more so just trying to build a shelter for them to keep from the rain. I actually hate cats and think they’re destroying our local ecosystem, but for some reason all the cats keep following me around and trying to cuddle with me, one of them even brought me her newborns so now I feel obligated to help them in small ways.
Thank you for helping them! If you can get the kittens and adult cats spayed and neutered, then that will stop the cycle. Otherwise, you will just end up with more cats.
How do you keep the birds out?
Great question! Birds can be a problem at feeding stations, especially in the spring. You might try making the opening smaller to make it more challenging for the birds to access the cat food. You can also put the cat food toward the back of the feeding station to make it more of an effort to reach, which might discourage them. Normally, when natural food (berries, insects, etc.) are more readily available, the birds back away from feeding stations. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic video! Thanks so much for clear, thorough instructions instructions and the detailed materials list! 🥰
Thank you for watching! Hope you and your pup have fun with the snuffle ball!
If you are interested in meeting Benz, please contact the Humane Society of Macomb located in Utica, Michigan. Thanks for watching and sharing! humanesocietyofmacomb.org/contact-us/
We are looking at introducing a kitten to our house. We currently have a 2 year old calico cat. She's a princess! She is very sassy but loving. Loves to play and loves going to see her sister which another family adopted when we adopted our calico. We have had them since 8 weeks old. They live in separate houses but meet about once a month to play for the day or weekend. The second kitten is currently 2 weeks old and we are letting it get older. We are worried that the calico will reject her even though we are very confident she will not. We will be doing the slow introduction like Jackson galaxy states.
Congratulations on your new kitten! Our subject matter expert Jess agrees with Jackson Galaxy ... slow and managed introductions are key. Please keep us posted on their progress. Thanks for watching!
I love this
How is Benz with other dogs and cats?
Benz loves to play with other dogs. He has a female dog in his foster home and they get along very well. His foster home also has cats, but they keep them separated because Benz wants to chase them and play with them. The cats have no interest in his shenanigans.
@@MichiganPetAlliance I live in PA. Does that make me ineligible to adopt Benz?
@@deidreberger7491 - It would be best to contact Humane Society of Macomb directly. Thank you for your interest in Benz! He is an amazing boy. humanesocietyofmacomb.org/contact-us/
Wish we could take him, my dad lives in tecumseh, and we have 6 pup's already. He is beautiful. Love him. He looks like my old pit
Thank you for watching!
❤Love this video on Benz❤ I will share ❤
Thank you for watching and for sharing!
For tips on how to effectively treat and manage parvo in an animal shelter environment, JOIN MPA TODAY: www.michiganpet.org/parvo-tips-for-animal-shelters/
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Thank you for caring and for what you do
You are so welcome!
I like your idea for a feeding station. Do you have to put the station on bricks or 2 x 4's in order to keep water from rain or snow from getting in, or will the fact that the opening is a little higher from the bottom keep the water out? In addition, I need to make this station less noticeable as possible, (even though I am putting it in a wooded area very close to where I live) since I have nosey neighbors and they are always looking to cause trouble. They don't want me feeding the cats, but I absolutely can not keep from feeding them. There are only three who come every evening about 5 or 5:30. I try to feed them before it gets dark so that possums, racoons, etc. do not get into the food. They are usually there faithfully. They eat and leave and do not hang around anyone's homes. Could I also cover the feeding station partially with a small brown tarp to make it less noticeable.
If you cut the opening a little higher from the bottom, that should keep out any snow or water. To camouflage it, you can purchase a darker tote or cover with a tarp or brown contact paper. Thanks for watching!
I have a tote and styrofoam to go in it. CAN I PACK THE SPACE between the 2 WITH INSULATION and not Straw? or does it have to be straw? I think insulation would work best and I had some leftover from a project. now Im referring to the space between the tote and styrofoam. I am not referring to Inside the styrofoam. I would use Straw for inside the styrofoam. THank you.
We are not sure of the specific type of insulation you have, so we just want to mention that some animals are sensitive to fiberglass particles. Thank you for being proactive in making a wonderful cat shelter. Packing straw between the tote and the styrofoam works well and has no adverse effects to the cat.
its just regular insulation I got at Home Depo. for Home use. I used that for a previous outdoor cat house. I covered it with Vinyl floor material so cat will not be exposed to it. Thank you.@@MichiganPetAlliance
What are the appropriate sizes?
For the totes used in the video, the gray plastic Sterilite tote with the green lid is 23.8 gallons, 24-5/8” L x 18-3/4” W x 19-1/8” H. The large white foam box is a little larger than that. At 10:19 in the video, our subject matter expert Jenny recommends 18 to 23 gallons for the plastic tote.
Another very cheap option is to make a shelter out of shrink wrap surrounding an improvised cage and wood pallet floor.....
Great idea! Nice way to "upcycle" leftover materials.
Question, if I have a Rubbermaid container, well differents different kids will go in or are they very territorial
Often different cats will share one shelter, but it truly depends on the colony and how the cats are bonded. Some cats may claim a single shelter as their own, while other cats will enjoy the company of another colony cat or two. Hope that answers your question! Thanks for watching and please hit the subscribe button for more!
Hi. Great video. I grow my own farm-fresh catnip and can pair it with these homemade snuffle balls. You said that you had a template for the sizes? I could not find.
Sorry, no actual template available. I found a jar and plates that were the size I wanted and traced the circles on card stock.
can't hear her
Unmute?
Are you able to adjust your volume or unmute the audio?
WHERE DO YOU PUT THE FOOD AND WATER/ CANT LEAVE IT OUTSIDE.
Please watch our video on how to make an outdoor feeding station. kzread.info/dash/bejne/qWRsx69tXabNidI.htmlsi=U92UiW-jXyBR-a7e
I made an adjacent feeding sheltered station, which I check, clean, and refill with clean food and water every day at the same time because cats are routine animals. Timing is very important. Food stations don't have to be insulated but protected from rain, sttong wind, snow, and elements.
@@SueSA2009 - Good point about the timing. Keep up the great work and thank you for helping the kitties!
What puppies and dogs when they have no where to go.
Puppies and dogs should go to an animal shelter, rescue or foster home. Most cities, townships and municipalities do not allow free-roaming dogs.
Good idea - now I have a good use for my blown subwoofers.
I'm gonna make some for my 9 chihuahuas. They're gonna love them off i go to raid hubbys tool box and my fabric stash 😂❤ thanks for a great tutorial.
TFS, this is a great tutorial and I will share on FB and Next Door Neighbor:)
Thank you for watching and sharing!
Maybe add a flat rock on the bottom so the wind doesnt blow it away.
Thank you for your suggestion! Our subject matter Jenny recommends putting pavers on top of the shelter so it is easier to move the shelter (if needed) and more comfortable inside for the kitties. Thanks for watching and please subscribe.
My husky would she shred one in a matter of seconds. 😂
🤣🤣🤣
Thanks For the Video.
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Very well done video! Thank you!❤😊
Thank you for watching!
Thank you for all that you do 🙏 i have a shelter in dubai. The temperature in summer is about 50 C and now in winter is about 8 to 15 C. The cats are not used to the cold at all. It is such a huge problem to cater for spaces that are shady and cool for 9 months in the year. Now in our winter i am using the styrofoam boxes with hay and they love snuggling inside. I have about 50 or so and all are abandoned cats. 😒
Thank you for caring for community cats! Please try to get them spayed and neutered. Also, please do not use hay. Straw is a better insulator and a wonderful deterrent against insects, including fleas.
@@MichiganPetAlliance yesss! Sorry, I meant straw, not hay. All that are old enough are neutered and vaccinated. 🙂
@@adismom64 Keep up the great work!
But what about in areas where hurricanes and tropical storms are common? I’m asking because idk how to make the shelter stay & not blow away. There I about 13 feral cats outside my house. A neighbor & I feed them but I want to make them a shelter but it gets SO windy where I live and idk what to do.
I was thinking the same thing. Our winds here have been really strong in the last week. I would try treating it like a tent. Tent stakes or those spiral screw in dog tie out stakes and strap them down over the top with some sort of strap Not string or thin rope if you are just using Styrofoam. I think something too thin could cut into it if it's too tight.
If you go to your local home improvement store, you can purchase flat concrete pavers that you can place on top of the lid. You might also tie down the shelters by anchoring them into the ground with stakes (similar to sturdying up a tree). If you have shrubbery, placing the shelters inside the area would help block the wind somewhat. With that said, it would be hard for any shelter to withstand hurricane force winds. For your colony of 13 cats, you may need 5 or more shelters. Whether a cat shares a shelter with another feline depends on how bonded your colony cats are to each other. Cats that are spayed/neutered make for a happier, more bonded colony. Cats make definite 'friends' with other colony members and, depending on the shelter size, it is quite common to see 2 or 3 cats bunk up together. This also creates extra warmth for them. Thank you for caring for community cats!
Thank you so much, you're an angel ❤
Thank you for your nice comment. We are so lucky to have Jenny out there advocating and caring for community cats. And thank you for watching! Please subscribe for more videos to help improve the lives of companion animals.
Nice job Jenny. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching! Please be sure to subscribe for more.
Those are excellent ideas, thank you for the information, i didn't think about that with the blanket inside , thank you for caring for the cats ! I have what were feral cats, they had kittens and I've been able to handle them , now they come in and out of the house but some of them like staying outside and sleeping on our patio, i live in Florida but we do get cold spells once in awhile , i put a heater out and try to put up sheets and blankets to block the cold and keep some heat in they love it
Thank you for watching and for caring for those precious cats and kittens! If you haven't already, please get them spayed and neutered so they can't have any more kitties.
❤❤❤ the idea of steeping scraps in catnip. No waste!❤️❤️❤️
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❤❤ We set up heavy cardboard boxes on pallets on our porches with blankets between high filled woodracks along with infrared heat lamps secured well away from being hit by the cats. We've done this now for four years. The feral cats love them but i think the Styrofoam might be better except that we have temps near -40 F and winds here in wyo. We have heated water but the food is a constant challenge. Always defrosting plates and wasting food. Would love suggestions to improve that challenge. Thank you for also loving the ferals. A lot of people hate us.
Check out another video on our channel to make an outdoor feeding station. kzread.info/dash/bejne/qWRsx69tXabNidI.html This will keep your food warmer, dryer, and free of snow, rain and ice. Thank you for watching and please subscribe for more.
thanks for helping the cats
Thank you. I don't see politicians on either side of the aisle dealing with this huge huge issue. I've traveled this country a lot. I've seen Feral colonies at McDonald's in Santa Rosa New Mexico, Arizona, Texas. I see our volunteers getting absolute fabulous arrangements and deals with veterinarians at a much more efficient rate than other charities. We have volunteers, overhead is almost nothing. Where is the political leadership here? Not only feral cats, but the way we treat animals in the meat industry as well. The path towards evolution is empathy.
Education is a powerful tool! Sometimes educating city officials about animal issues can be a win-win both for the people who want to help them, as well as the animals. Maybe your organization can partner with other groups in your area to discuss this issue with your local officials. Thank you for watching and please hit the subscribe button for more!
Do you just wait for them to get in or coax them in with food
Just wait for them to go in on their own. When looking for warm housing for the winter (or housing to stay out of the sun in the summer), most cats love shelters. Also, be sure to place the shelter in a safe, discreet area with the hole facing away from the wind. Normally no coaxing is needed to lure cats into the shelter during cold weather. You can try sprinkling catnip inside the shelter, perhaps in the corners. We recommend putting food and water nearby in an outdoor feeding station. Here is a video on how to make an outdoor feeding station: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qWRsx69tXabNidI.html -- Thank you for watching and please subscribe to our channel for more.