Whether you allow your family pet to venture outside or you're concerned about the feral, stray and abandoned kitties that frequent your neighborhood, you probably know that all cats outdoors need a safe haven. It doesn't have to be fancy, but some features are necessary. Any outdoor shelter should be a few inches off the ground, to keep the inside dry, and it should be level; you can use bricks or wood or cement blocks for this. It also should be out of sight---for the safety of the cats, for their sense of security, and to avoid complaints from unsympathetic neighbors. Good shelters are available commercially, but you can also make one from common materials that you may already have on hand.
Existing Structures
You may have discovered cats seeking shelter in your carport, garage, barn, storage or tool shed, under the house or porch, or elsewhere on your property---especially places where hot-water pipes may provide warmth in winter. If it's acceptable to you, you can "improve" the area by ensuring safe access (a 6-inch opening should be adequate) and by providing warm and comfortable sleeping accommodations.
Emergency Shelter
If a winter storm is on the way and you haven't already set up a shelter, even a trash can turned on its side and braced against the wind is better than nothing. If you have a large shipping carton, tape the top closed, and tape a sheet of heavy plastic---an old shower curtain, a heavy-duty trash bag---over the top. Cut a hole in the side for an entrance. Line the bottom with appropriate bedding. If you can, put the box in a protected place and raise it off the ground, so it will stay as dry as possible.
Plastic Foam Cooler
You can make a shelter for one cat from an inexpensive plastic-foam cooler, which you can find at most supermarkets, drug stores and hardware stores. Glue the lid onto the cooler, turn it upside down, and cut a 6-inch hole near one corner. Foam containers used to ship meat can be used the same way. In fact, any insulated cooler can be adapted for use as a shelter, and the hinged lid will make it easy to clean. For these, use a jigsaw to cut the entry hole.
Plastic Storage Container
Heavy-duty plastic storage containers with lids can be adapted in much the same way, except the lid should remain on top. If you turn them over with the lids on the bottom, rain can pool around the edge of the lid and seep inside. Cut a 6-inch entry hole close to one corner, 4 or 5 inches from the bottom edge, to keep water out.
Insulation and Bedding
Bedding material should be dry and loose, so cats can burrow into it. Straw is best, but you can use wood chips or even shredded newspaper. You can also add cedar in small amounts or sprinkle a little flea powder, to discourage fleas. Do not use hay; it's prone to mold. For the same reason, don't use blankets, towels or folded newspaper. Not only do these tend to mold and mildew, but they don't provide the insulation of nesting materials. Straw is available at feed stores, pet stores and garden-supply shops. Whatever you choose for bedding, however, you must change it regularly, to be sure it remains dry. It's better to have nothing inside the shelter than to have damp bedding.
Tags: entry hole, with lids