How to Help Sick or Injured Cats Outdoors 19 © 2025 Alley Cat Allies. All rights reserved. Longer-term confined recovery for sick or injured community cats Based on the severity of illness or injury, a cat might need to be placed in a long-term holding area for recovery. Whether that recovery is done in your home or the veterinary clinic, plan beforehand so you don’t have to scramble at the last minute. A good plan makes for an easier recovery for the cat. Connect with your veterinarian and determine if they will house the cat during recovery, or for advice on how to create the best possible recovery space in your home. Remember that any indoor recovery must be for as short a length of time as possible to minimize stress. Longer-term confinement should NOT be… • A humane box trap • A carrier • A small cage • A room with places the cat can climb into, squeeze under, or otherwise be unreachable How to set up a community cat recovery area Utilize as large a holding area as possible. If you have an enclosed area, like a catio, it can be an ideal recovery area for a community cat who is still mobile. Be sure she has a carrier or cardboard cat den to hide in and feel at ease. • Make sure the recovery space is in a temperature-controlled area kept at around 70 degrees. For cats who need to be more immobilized to heal: Set up a feral cat recovery cage A large crate, cat condo, or cat playpen is ideal. • Line the bottom of the holding area with newspaper. This way, regular cleaning is easier. • The bigger the better: You can even connect two cages to double the space! Set up a smaller cat den inside the space Place a feral cat den (best option) or carrier (acceptable but less ideal) inside the larger space, flush against one of its back corners. This is a critical step to give the cat a safe place to hide and relax, and to make it easier to clean the space or remove the cat when ready.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjU4NDQzNg==