Andrea Lambrecht responded to the call of the wild—the call was to build a shelter for cats.

The former Brainerd Dispatch nature columnist from Backus has co-hosted a two-day construction activity in Brainerd from Saturday, October 23, to build shelters for wild cats or semi-wild cats to keep warm in winter.

"It is mainly used for cats that are excluded in winter.... They are all distributed locally to cats in need," Lambrecht said.

The environmental biologist invites people to volunteer their time or donate to build homemade shelters using plastic tote bags and coolers, styrofoam, straw, sand and tape.

"Brainard has several cat herds," said Lambrecht, who retired from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

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Lambrecht also called for donations of electric heating pads, hot water bowls, cat food, etc., and also sought volunteers to make winter cat litters and transport them.

Lambrecht said on Sunday: "I received a call two days ago saying that a cat that people have seen is just a stray cat. It has been wandering around the city all summer and no one has claimed it." "So they thought. Find a shelter for it."

On Saturday, October 23, 2021, a number of cat litters were constructed in a storage facility behind the corner store west of Baxter. Kelly Humphrey / Brainard Dispatch

According to data from the National Feline Research Council, there are an estimated 32 million feral cats in the country, of which approximately 76% live in urban areas.

"Our main focus is to educate and disseminate information about neutered and neutered animals, because many wild cats, semi-wild cats, and stray cats are cats from unneutered animals....This is not just a cat. It is also a dog. "Lambrecht said.

"When shelters and enclosures are full, animals in enclosures are usually euthanized.... I can't stand it." —Andrea Lambrecht

"When shelters and enclosures are full, animals in enclosures are usually euthanized.... I can't stand it."

Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm, the cat shelter is located in a storage facility near the Corner Store Express west of Baxter. Volunteers who provided shelters received gasoline compensation.

Lambrecht said: "If you go to any rescue location — I am doing rescues across the state and in Wisconsin — there are thousands of animals in need of help, thousands of animals are contained and detained, for These animals are looking for foster homes and permanent homes."

According to data from the National Cat Research Council, cats can start breeding at 6 months of age and produce an average of 1 1/2 litters per year (an average of four kittens per year), but many kittens born outdoors cannot Survive and reproduce.

"When the shelter and the enclosure are full, the animals in the enclosure are usually euthanized....The animal will be put down....I can't stand it. This is unacceptable to me. Yes," Lambrecht said.

On Saturday, October 23, 2021, Jessica Kirby (left) and her daughter Cora Walsh used plastic tote bags, tape, insulation and straws in a store behind the corner store west of Baxter A cat litter was built in the facility. Kelly Humphrey / Brainard Dispatch

According to Lambrecht, Brainard’s Jessica Kirby adopted unclaimed wild cats, stray cats, and lost cats, and neutered or sterilized them through grants from the Humane Society. Kirby’s daughter Cora assisted in Brainard's two-day construction.

Lambrecht himself owns four rescue cats: Simba, Kovu, Willie and Tiger. She said that Simba and Kaowu would be bagged and thrown into the river to die like kittens, and Willie is an orphaned wild cat, and the tiger is considered unacceptable, so she raised and kept him.

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"There have been two constructions this year," Lambrecht said of the activity of building shelters for cats. "One was in Becker-that was last weekend. Then it was Brainard's. I think we might have about 100 cats in need of shelter."

According to Lambrecht, during the two-day local event, about 8 people volunteered to help build and distribute shelters every day.

Volunteers build a cat shelter for wild cats in a storage facility behind the corner store west of Baxter on Saturday, October 23, 2021. Kelly Humphrey / Brainard Dispatch

"We have a list of people or rescuers applying for shelters. If they are a group of cats, a community group, then they will get as many shelters as they need," she said. "Some of these shelters will house one to four cats, so it depends on size, needs and location."

Lambrecht said that about $1,600 in donations has been raised, which will help prevent cats from freezing to death in the winter. For more information on how to help or participate, please contact Andrea Lee Lambrecht or Jessica T. Kirby on Facebook.

For instructions on how to build an outdoor cat litter, please visit https://bit.ly/3pzbga8.