As I lie under the radiator, soaking up the heat on my tummy, I think of the cats living outside. In summer it is a fine life - mice to catch, rats behind the supermarkets, dustbins to raid, caterwauling toms and receptive females.
But in winter....
Living under cars, trying to creep beneath garden sheds, or miserably sheltering underneath cars... it's a tough world for the outside strays.
We cats come from the Middle East. We are designed to live in deserts, among pyramids, or at the edge of the Euphrates. In Europe it is cold and, worse still, wet. We need shelter, as well as food.
In Italy, some towns install little wooden huts for cats, along the pavement. There are cushions on top for fine weather and shelter below for wet days. In Istanbul, people build little cat houses on the steps outside their homes.
Not all of us cats want homes. Some of us prefer to live the outdoor life. There are many humans who feed stray cats. Thank you.
But what about shelters for street cats... think about it, humans.
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