Happy New Year everyone! We hope you’re all staying warm (and keeping your furbabies safe).
We’ve had our first dusting of snow and real cold snap and we hope your pets are managing the cold well. The dogs at the Shelter like to go for short walks outside, but no one appears to be begging for more time to run around in the outside play yards. Our cats are only interested in going out into the Catio when the sun is shining in the afternoon.
If you are aware of a Feral Cat Community near you, you might want to help provide them a safe winter too. If these cats need to be spayed/neutered, please contact the Shelter at 870-449-7387 to get assistance for spay and neuter. Here are a few tips that you can do easily for feral cats this winter.
- Provide a plastic or Styrofoam container (totes, coolers, or shipping boxes) and cut a doorway. You can nest different sizes of totes with straw or insulation between the layers and a hole for an entrance or fit a container inside a larger tote. There are many online links for instructions. Here is a link to Alley Cat Allies page for instructions:https://www.alleycat.org/resources/how-to-build-an-outdoor-shelter/.
- Even a cardboard box is better than nothing. Just raise it off the ground and cover with a garbage bag then fill with straw.
- Weigh the container down with something heavy so it does not blow away.
- Straw is the best choice of bedding since blankets and hay absorb moisture like a sponge.
- Keep snow removed from the entrance.
- Keep water and lots of dry/unfrozen food available. Heated water bowls help keep water from freezing. Gravity feeders also keep snow and rain off food.
- Remember, salt and Snow Melt can be toxic when licked off paws.
Meet Fay!

This week’s featured kitty is Fay, a young female who arrived at the Shelter in mid-October. She came in with an adult female, Breanna, who may be her mom. At first, Fay was very nervous about leaving her kennel to interact with the other kitties on the Cattery floor. But with time, patience and nurturing, she has learned that coming out of her kennel means playing and having fun!
Fay gets along well with the other kittens but we’re not sure how she is with dogs. She is not very vocal but loves to play and interact with people.
If you’d like to meet Fay or any of our other adoptable cats and dogs, give Have A Heart a call at 870-449-7387 or stop by the Shelter located at 657 Highway 202 West in Yellville during our normal business hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm.