The cats should be fine. They usually go into a state of diapause when it is too cold for them. I bring most of my cats inside and raise them in cages inside, lets me watch their progress and keeps them safe from predators. You have to be careful of OE spore, though. I thoroughly clean and sterilize my cages between raising groups of butterflies.

I have had lots of activity already this season! I have purchased 2 flats of milkweed and they are all chewed down already! All of the milkweed I have in the ground hasn't bushed out with leaves as yet. I need to get out and cut it all back so the leaves will be stimulated to grow.

Best of luck to you! Keep an eye on your cats and enjoy their progress!

I am so glad for both of you! If you are seeing lots of activity, that's a good omen for us northerners. Take good care of those babies and send them our way when you can. We're getting ready. My goal for today is to get my annual nectar plants planted so they'll be blooming when the Monarchs come through.

Martha

Congrats, Rick!

My milkweed isn't very tall yet - too many cold spells, I guess - but I'll check it for cats.

Sherry

I kept 4 plants in pots under lights in the barn this winter and put them out a couple of weeks ago. They are blooming and have seed pods. The cats seem to prefer the yellow variety over the red/yellow variety, as I have only spotted them on the yellow ones. I checked this morning and everyone seems fine, chewing away. I have some screen material to make an enclosure but haven't gotten to it yet. Hopefully they'll do fine on their own.

Good to know people are seeing butterflies and cats. Gives me hope for warmer and sunnier days.