Local animal organizations invite community to build shelters for feral cats

at 6 the cold can be dangerous to not only humans but for animals who don't have Shelter tonight find out how local organizations are trying to help hello everyone and thank you for joining us for T News at 6 I'm Christina demores aw Browns and the foundation for TJ animals held a workshop event to help build homes for feral cats 20 news reporter car Smith was there and has the story it's winter time and feral cats are out in the community some with no owner or home and to help provide them with a safe place to live aw Brown's Pet and Garden the foundation for tjl animals and members of the community joined together to build cat shelters volunteers made their way to East Long Meadow with all of their supplies ready to get to work and keep feline safe and warm this winter Chris with aw Browns explains what the process is like to make these shelters so you either want to use plastic or styr fo uh something that will keep out snow and water um like a plastic bin with a with a top on it and then you got to use some styrofoam insulative wrap and some straw and um that's kind of the concept of it he says through this event about 30 shelters were made and it will all be placed in different areas throughout the community while the number of unowned cats can vary the US Department of Agriculture says that there's about 30 to 80 million feral cats here in the US and with these freezing winter temperatures the two organizations say it's important to protect them to avoid illnesses or even death it's a rough winter so far and there are quite a bit of feral cats in the western Mass area the ultimate goal is to have you know cats not outside and um spay and neuter is so important now if anyone needs resources to help out these furry friends in the community Cara says they can reach out to TJ animals for assistance working for you Kiara Smith 22 News [Music]