The photo below has made the rounds on social media showing how old tires can be made into cat beds for feral cats. The discussion topic for today is whether or not old automobile tires make a safe cat bed for feral cats or should they be avoided.
On the surface, this sounds like a good idea. The cat would stay dry during harsh weather and the project converting an automobile tire into a cat bed looks fairly simple.
A lot of people say using old tires could pose a health risk to the cat. So I Googled it and this was the first thing to pop up.
“According to the EPA, benzene, mercury, styrene–butadiene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and arsenic, among several other chemicals, heavy metals and carcinogens, have been found in tires. Studies have found that crumb rubber can emit gases that can be inhaled.”
On the flip side, an article about rubber being used in playgrounds states the total opposite
“Although tire rubber causing toxicological harm has been disproved many owners will have community groups that are not convinced or are not sure that they are being delivered recycled tire rubber that meets North American tire manufacturing requirements.”
I’ve seen the tire beds for feral cats posted on several feral cat Facebook pages and the reaction tends to remain mixed.
What do the readers think? Great idea or don’t do it? Please give your opinion and add any links you may have found on this topic.
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How do you cut a hole in the tire with a steel belt.
I guess you pick tires without steel belts! 😉 Or the belt does not run across the entirety of the tire. Thanks for stopping by Peggy.
Awesome. I do tnr and I have no achieved half if what you have. But have also homed many kittens. I still have a colony of 5 here. Used to be 12 plus 15 kittens..feels good helping them. People always say oh God is gonna bless you for helping the cats..I always reply..he already did.. Precious animals that need us to have the best possible life we can offer. It so take a lot..just gotta love them. Thank you for all u have done for them♥️
Why is it that when a good idea comes up for re-purposing old tires, everyone immediately JUMPS on the negative effects? If these are made to be properly ventilated, they’d be perfectly safe. It’s not like the animal would be “trapped” inside for long lengths of time. I’d even go as far as to make sure there is a 2nd entry, so the user couldn’t be “cornered”, which I would think would be of greater concern.
As a cat lover, cat rescuer, former small ethical breeder, cat specialist and professional artist, I have also been concerned about the safety of tires being offered as beds for homeless cats. Definitely, the fumes from the rubber toxins could cause health problems. I have used trash cans turned on their sides and customized… as well as dog houses with altered smaller door openings. In 1988, my late husband used a crate he had for previously transporting a hunting dog to create an insulated duplex for feral cats in our village of Grand Rapids, Ohio. I rescued many kittens from this duplex before completing my TNR work. All kittens and some adults were adopted into indoor-only homes. Today, the quaint village has no feral cats.
Thanks Nikki.