Why Working with the Group Matters

Why Feeding or Providing Shelters Without Coordination Can Cause Problems

We understand why people want to help cats — compassion is natural, and we truly appreciate that instinct.

However, feeding or placing shelters without coordination can unintentionally create problems for both cats and neighbors.

Uncoordinated feeding can:

• Attract wildlife and pests

• Create sanitation issues

• Disrupt carefully balanced feeding schedules

• Interfere with trapping and veterinary care

• Cause cats to congregate in unsafe areas

  
  

When multiple people feed independently, caregivers may not know:

• Which cats are eating

• Whether a cat is sick or injured

• Whether a cat needs medical attention

• Whether a cat is being prepared for TNR

  
  

Shelter placement and construction matter

While shelters are offered with good intentions, improperly built or placed shelters can be dangerous.

Common issues include:

• Blankets or towels, which absorb moisture and can freeze in cold weather

• Shelters that flood or collapse during rain

• Poor insulation that provides little protection from wind or cold

• Placement in areas that increase risk from vehicles or predators

  
  

Well-meaning shelter setups can unintentionally increase the risk of hypothermia or injury, especially during winter weather.

Why coordination matters

Managed colonies rely on consistent routines and safe infrastructure. Caregivers use shelters designed to stay dry, retain heat, and allow cats to escape quickly if needed.

When shelters or food appear unexpectedly, it becomes harder to:

• Monitor cat health

• Keep areas clean

• Ensure shelters are safe and weather-appropriate

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If you’d like to help, the best way is to connect with the established caregivers, who can guide your support in ways that truly benefit the cats.