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Originally designed by Karin Hancock of Port Washington, NY, the Feral Cat Winter Shelter shown here has many advantages. The two inch thick hard Styrofoam is excellent insulation and traps the cat's body heat, effectively turning the feline into a radiator. Air space is purposely limited, so there is less volume to be heated. Typically, 3 to 4 cats can fit comfortably inside, although more might curl up on a severely cold night. The plans for the shelter can be downloaded from this site (see left margin).
After the cats have begun using the shelters, you might try adding a flap door which can be easily pulled back. A piece of of a clear vinyl mat will do, attached by drilling (or poking) two holes above the door opening and using plastic nuts and bolts (like those used to attach toilet seats). Bowls of food can be placed in the shelter, but never water (which can spill and threaten the cats' health by getting them wet). The cost of the shelter will vary from place to place, but on average, the 8 foot sheet of Styrofoam will run about $9 (uncut). A few linoleum floor tiles, a tube of silicone sealant, some contact paper for the interior walls and enough deck paint will run the total cost up to somewhere from $15 to $25. The CSM
Stray Foundation Winter Shelter
This shelter can be cleaned by taking off the lid and the Styrofoam roof. It's also lightweight and may need to be weighed down. A flap over the doorway is optional. Catnip can be sprinkled inside at first to attract the cats. Other Alternatives Animalkind of Hudson County, NY, provides photos and instructions on its website for converting Styrofoam packing containers into cold weather shelter: http://www.all-creatures.org/ak/feral-shelter.html An adequate shelter for one cat can be made from a simple Styrofoam cooler available at any hardware store for about $6. Glue the lid onto the cooler, turn it upside down and cut a hole in one side (anywhere but in the middle of one of the long sides). The Styrofoam containers used to ship meat can be turned into shelters in the same way and can, depending on their size, house 3 to 4 cats. If you want to get fancy, get a large Igloo cooler and, with a jigsaw, cut a hole towards the left or right of one of the long sides. The attached lid will allow for easy cleaning. In a pinch for just a temporary fix, even a cardboard box is better than nothing - tape the top closed and cut out a hole in one side for a door. Tape a piece of plastic (cut out from a large trash bag) onto the top. Put newspaper on the bottom and, if possible, place the box under something to protect it further from rain -a piece of wood leaned against a fence, under a tree, etc. If possible, raise the box off the ground where it might get wet. Insulation
Extreme Cold Caretakers have reported the Mylar blankets are also effective when laid on the floor of the shelter. They don't absorb and take away body heat like ordinary blankets when a cat lies on top because the Mylar reflects the heat back. Mylar blankets can be purchased at a cost
of $1.49 each from Healthy Harvest. Go to
http://www.healthyharvest.com
and do a search for Another blanket-type product reported to do a good job of warming cats in shelters is the "Flexi-Mat Mysterious Purr Pad." Made of polyester fibers, it absorbs then holds body heat. A set of two costs $9.99 and are available through PETsMART. You can order them online here . The product is also available in a charcoal color for $10.99 for a set of two: click here. |
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The shelter is lightweight and
should be weighed down. Best is to place two shelters about a foot apart
with the doors facing each other. Bridge the gap by laying a piece of
plywood across both roofs. Now the shelters are fully protected against the
elements. 
Materials
needed are: a large Rubbermaid storage bin, an eight foot by two foot
sheet of one-inch thick hard Styrofoam, a yardstick, a box cutter or
utility knife, and straw, shredded newspaper or other insulating material.
Then assemble as follows: