Insulation for an outside cat shelter

I need some advice on what I can use for insulation in an outside cat shelter. I bought a big storage tub and cut a hole in it, but I want to insulate it so it doesn't get to hot in there.

My first thought was to use Styrofoam but I'm not sure how well that would hold up to little cat claws.

I also want to make it inviting so that the little feral kitty will use and get comfortable making it easier for us to trap it and get it neutered/spayed.

Any advice?

I am not sure if any insulation would keep it cool. It's going to get hot inside because there's no way to move air in and out of it. If it's in the shade, it might not get as hot. Have you thought about a shelter with open sides (or maybe sides made of lattice or something similar)?

The shelters made out of totes might be better for winter shelters. I used two totes, one inside of the other, insulated with styrofoam between them.

Regarding trapping - a humane trap is very easy to use, even with the wildest ferals. You get the kitty used to eating inside the trap for a few days or weeks before your appointment for spaying/neutering. Tie the trap open and place the food at the back. If the cat is used to eating this way, you can pretty much spring the trap whenever you need to.

Thanks for helping this kitty.

I would not insulate in the summer. Just move it into some shade and cut the opening much bigger for air to circulate and just use for the summer feeding station. I am only feeding in the morning now. I have tooooooo many unwanted visitors in the evening now. Racoons and their kits, a white oppossum, red fox, coyote and even some deer . My DH calls me Snow White . So the cats have learned I only put food out in the morning and come if they are hungry.

In the winter. I insulate my feeding station with 1 1/2 inch thick insulation all the way around. sides, top, bottom and cut a small hole for a door. I also install an outdoor heating pad in the back half of the shelter. That in itself, even keeps the water bowl from freezing. I am going to look into getting one of those Feral Villas on-line for next winter though.

Agree with the above advice from Ondine. Just lock trap in open position and feed in there for a few days. On trap day, just set trap. You can get a trap on loan from a local TNR organization. They are very willing to assist people in the community in these situations. Good luck

Thanks for the advice! I think I will just put it in a nice shady area. I really only think it would be used if it was raining and possibly to sleep at night. In the winter I will try to insulate it.

For trapping I have called our local shelter and found that they don't rent out their traps. I have a few more places to check with, but what I think I'm going to do it try to start feeding in a big cat carrier and then pull the door shut when kitty is comfortable going inside. We are lucky to have a spay/neuter clinic that puts your name on a list and then when you finally get your feral all you need to do is bring them in at 8 a.m. I normally put out food in the morning, but mr./ms. kitty is still kinda random about showing up.

That is how I have trapped a few over the years too. The crate method can work quite well. Yes, very lucky you are to have found that clinic. That takes the pressure off of you just knowing if you trap in the morning, the cat can be brought immediately into the clinic. Most don't allow that, you have to call and make that appt. for the next day. Sounds like a very good plan

Originally Posted by Mai_kitties

I need some advice on what I can use for insulation in an outside cat shelter. I bought a big storage tub and cut a hole in it, but I want to insulate it so it doesn't get to hot in there.

My first thought was to use Styrofoam but I'm not sure how well that would hold up to little cat claws.

I also want to make it inviting so that the little feral kitty will use and get comfortable making it easier for us to trap it and get it neutered/spayed.

Any advice?

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Could be possible with Rockwool and smaller box, make holes to sides of bigger box, add rockwool and smaller box, idea is to make rockwool soaked with water, sun heats it, but as water vaporizes, it cools inner box.

We have here also Finnfoam which is same like insulation as styrofoam, but it is much more durable material, which I did use to make box for my cats when it was really freezing outside, colder than -30C.

It does hold up nicely, even they did scratch it really hard at times.

Insulation alone just slows down the change of temperature, works both ways, to colder or hotter, if you don't have something to cool it, it will heat up, so simplest and cheapest is that water + rockwool method, it is used in 3rd world countries as a fridge.

Oh yes, make sure to make some kind of 'pipe' between the two openings in two boxes so that cat does not get into rockwool, they love to claw the stuff.