As those of us in the northern hemisphere are heading into fall weather, now is the time to start thinking about how to provide for your cats and colonies so they can get used to their new or refreshed shelters before they genuinely need them. Seasoned caregivers, feel free to show off your own shelter setups in the comments, whether they're homemade or pre-built/store-bought! It's always an inspiration to see what others have come up with and I know I've seen some great shelters shared here over the years. Feel free to pass along any other cold or extreme weather tips and tricks you've picked up as well!
And for any new caregivers to community cat(s) visiting in, here are two basic shelter designs to get you started that can be built quickly, easily, and affordably to provide your cat with warm, dry shelter as the temperature drops or the wind and rain/snow picks up. Also scroll down for more cold weather topics, including heated options and tips for keeping water from freezing!
Temporary Cardboard Shelter
If the cold is closing in, you're short on time and aren't able to run around for supplies, you can make a temporary emergency shelter using a cardboard box, heavy duty garbage bags or drop cloth, and duct tape to hold it all together, then filled with shredded newspaper for bedding (check often and refresh as needed!). It's simple, but in an emergency it can make all the difference and will help tide your cats over until a more permanent shelter option can be set up.
From Neighborhood Cats:
(1) Take the cardboard box and tape all the seams shut with duct tape. Cardboard is actually good insulation.
(2) Wrap the box completely with the drop cloth or trash bags, making as few seams as possible. Secure onto the box with duct tape, liberally and tightly wrapping the tape around the sides of the box and sealing any seams in the plastic. This will make the shelter waterproof.
(3) Cut a doorway in one of the shorter sides of the box approximately 6 inches by 6 inches, leaving the bottom of the doorway a few inches above the bottom of the box to prevent flooding. Use duct tape to secure the loose plastic around the opening you just made.
(4) Place shredded newspaper inside the box, filling it up to the bottom of the doorway in front and a little higher towards the back. The cats will gain added warmth by burrowing into the newspaper.
For added insulation, start by placingĀ a slightly smaller cardboard box inside a larger one and fill the gap between them with rolled-upĀ newspaper. Then proceed with steps 1 through 4, above, being sure to cut the doorway through both boxes.
Basic Insulated Tote Shelter
For something a little more permanent, you can make an effective, relatively inexpensive shelter following along with this guide by IndyFeral using these basic materials:
- 30 gallon plastic storage tote
- Tip: Use a hairdryer to heat up and soften the plastic while you cut out your opening(s). If you're building multiple shelters or are using heavy duty totes, a variable temperature hot knife may be a worthwhile investment for easily cutting through plastic.
- A styrofoam cooler or 1" thick foam board insulation. Foam board can be found in smaller 2x2' project panels like this, or in larger 4x8' sheets that are ideal for making multiple shelters. Some insulation boards, such as R-Tech's, come with one side lined with foil. When placed facing inward, the foil can help make your shelter warmer by reflecting the cat's body heat back towards them.
- Shelter interiors can also be lined with mylar blankets or bubble foil insulation to achieve the same effect when using styrofoam or non-reflective insulation board.
- Straw for bedding. Straw is both moisture repellent and mold resistant, it acts as an insulator, and when fluffed up in your shelter your cat will be able to burrow into it to help trap their body heat all around them. Note: there is a difference between straw and hay. Alley Cat Allies explains here; in short hay does the opposite of what you want inside a shelter. Also avoid blankets/fabric bedding in your winter shelters. This includes self-heating beds; use mylar or bubble foil insulation instead! Fabrics will get damp in rainy/snowy conditions and will either freeze in cold temps or will get moldy. This type of bedding can make your cat colder. Stick with straw!
- Straw bales can typically be found at feed stores, garden centers, local farms, and even online!
- Untreated mini bales can also be found at craft stores and will also work well in a cat shelter, especially if you don't need much straw.
- After Halloween and towards winter you may even have neighbors discarding their fall decorations. You may be able to find someone in your area that has a straw bale they no longer need! Nextdoor or neighborhood Facebook groups can be helpful with this.
- Placing at least 3-4 bricks along the bottom of your shelter underneath your insulation flooring is helpful for adding weight to keep it from budging in extreme wind. Sand or gravel can be other good options for adding weight to the interior of your shelter. This can also help with raising your entrances to mitigate snow buildup!
- Also consider taping or weighing your tote lid down to keep it from blowing open in high winds.
- Cut your entrance up high enough that your shelter floor will have a lip after insulation/bricks are installed for keeping your straw from spilling out as cats go in and out. If you're in an area that sees snowy winters, having a higher entrance will also help keep your cats from being snowed in as easily.
- Alternate entrances for your shelter may include:
- Plastic cat flaps. These can also be a great compromise on a second entrance for wary cats! Secure them open and they're like miniature awnings, or close one to turn your second entrance into a window to allow your cat to feel more secure while reducing excess heat loss from a second opening.
- Flower pots with the bottom removed can be inserted into your shelter opening to create a short tunnel. This provides a nice clean edge for the cat to move through, and also helps protect from rain and snow blowing in at an angle.
- Thin vinyl flaps to provide light cover over openings. Note that cats may not figure solid flaps out right away and may need time to get used to using the shelter with an open entrance first. Cutting the flap into strips may help as there will be gaps that can encourage the cat to poke their face through.
- Interested in roofing? PVC Roofing Panels can be a great addition to your tote shelter to help keep snow from building up around it or blowing in. 8' panels can be carefully cut with heavy duty scissors into smaller sections to fit your tote lids and provide more of an overhang. Round the corners after cutting if they have sharp edges!
u/SilentSixty has taken the time to write up a more detailed guide on building your own feral cat shelter that's loaded with more helpful tips and tricks and goes into great detail on designs and additions that can be used to improve your cat shelters. Check it out if you're looking to build something that's a bit heavier duty or you want to try beefing up your setup from previous winters! Topics covered include heated vs unheated shelters, considerations for a second exit on your shelter, location, and what it might mean if the cats just aren't using your shelter.
Shelter Galleries
Alley Cat Allies and Neighborhood Cats have both compiled lists of various store-bought and DIY shelter schematics into their own galleries if you'd like to see more options and designs than what were covered here. There are lots of creative builds and setups to be found!
Heated Shelters, Pads, and Bowls!
If you have an outdoor electrical outlet, heated shelters and pads can be great ways to provide for your cats in the colder months. However, these should not be your only shelter option; in the most extreme winter weather, power outages are possible, and heavy snow can still cause fabric coverings on heated pads to get damp and cold, or even freeze. Plan ahead and keep some spare unheated, straw shelters as a backup.
Please stay safe when implementing any sort of electrical product into your colony setup! Make sure that you are plugging into a weather-resistant GFCI outlet and have an in-use weatherproof cover installed. If using an extension cord, use one that is outdoor-rated and insulated for cold weather, and use junction covers or boxes for any connections to protect from moisture. Outdoor-rated smart plugs or thermostatically controlled outlets can be great ways to make sure your equipment is only heating when absolutely necessary.
K&H Pets is a reputable brand that makes outdoor-rated, MET listed products intended specifically for outdoor cats (note: their products can often be found at lower price-points on Amazon or Chewy than buying direct). Clawsable is a newer brand whose heated outdoor cat products are now also MET listed. With any product of this nature, particularly when shopping on Amazon, be sure to check the reviews for widespread safety issues or concerns! Avoid products that only have a handful of reviews; don't test unknown products with your cats in extreme weather conditions! For tried and true outdoor heating options you can also broaden your search to products meant for dog houses or chicken coops.
Here are some products that may be a good starting point for your search:
- K&H 32oz Thermal-Bowl: a basic plastic heated bowl that works great for water! Available in larger sizes as well, uses 12-25w depending on size.
- K&H Thermo-Kitty Cafe Bowl: 12oz and 24oz heated bowls (30w) with removable steel inserts that's ideal for feeding wet food and providing water.
- K&H Extreme Weather Heated Kitty Pad: 40w 12.5x18.5" heating pad, also available in Petite size (9x12"). These pads heat to the cat's body temperature, approximately 102Ā°F which can help make a well-insulated shelter quite cozy.
Note: K&H shelters, and often other store-bought options, may require additional weatherproofing depending on how cold and wet your winter extremes are. They may not be adequately waterproofed to hold up to constant snow or wind, particularly if out in the open. It's best to test them out in milder conditions so you have time to reinforce them before the cats absolutely need them. Check reviews to see how other caregivers have set them up too!
Keeping Water from Freezing
Aside from providing adequate shelter, the other challenge caregivers face during the winter is keeping a fresh supply of water readily available at all times. A heated bowl is the most convenient way to provide water in below freezing temps, but for those without outdoor electrical outlets, here are some tips and tricks that might help cut down on how often you need to refresh your water:
- Add a pinch of sugar to your water to lower its freezing point.
- Don't refill with hot water! Hot water will evaporate faster in a cold environment, leaving your bowl with less water that will then freeze more quickly.
- Find the right bowl! A deeper bowl with a narrow mouth will take longer to freeze. Avoid ceramic or steel bowls and instead opt for a plastic one, the thicker the better. Get two and nest them to make your bowl double-walled!
- Find the right placement! Keep your bowl sheltered from wind and snow. Building an insulated feeding station can help slow your water from freezing and protect your food (and the hungry cat!) from the elements. Alternatively, placing your water bowl where it will be in direct sunlight is a great way to keep it warmed up during daylight. Pick a dark bowl or use dark materials to help it absorb sunlight more efficiently.
- Additional measures include applying spray insulation around the exterior of your bowl, or placing it inside a styrofoam cooler or insulation board structure to help block out the cold air and wind.
Snugglesafe Microwave Heating Pads
Another popular option for heating both shelters and water bowls without electricity is the microwaveable Snugglesafe Disc. Be mindful of the heating instructions as they vary by wattage, check your microwave to determine how long the disc should be microwaved for. It is possible to overheat and melt the discs if you are not careful! Also take into consideration that having to swap out a heating pad every couple of hours may spook more feral-leaning cats from your shelters when they need them most. It may be best to focus on weatherproofing and insulating and let the cat provide the heat to do the rest!
Severe Storm and Natural Disaster Preparedness
This guide has mostly covered average weather conditions, but it's important to consider weather events and extremes such as blizzards and hurricanes as well. Check Alley Cat Allies' Quick Tips to Disaster-Proof A Community Cat Colony and lengthier How to Prepare and Keep Cats Safe in a Disaster guide. Neighborhood Cats has published a Storm Preparation and Recovery guide, and the Humane Society also has a page on Community Cat Disaster Preparedness. Please read up now for information on what you can do to help get your cats and colonies through the worst weather so you can be prepared in an emergency, but above all make sure you're staying safe yourself!
Additional Cold Weather Resources
