winter shelter, rubbermaid bin question

bastfriend

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Hi everyone, if I were to make a shelter out of a rubbermaid storage bin how do I cut the entrance hole?   I've found many web pages about making these but they kind of skip past that part.   It's hard to believe a box cutter would be enough to cut that hard plastic.   I don't have electric equipment to use.

Other question....at what temp and conditions do you feel a winter shelter is necessary?    If it gets down to 32F at night and is rainy during the day is that enough or would the kitty be okay?   My problem is that I have no outdoor space that I own being in an upper floor apartment, so any shelter I put out has to be hidden under a bush somewhere.   My worry is that it will draw unwelcome attention to my kitty and potentially make him vulnerable if he's asleep in there and a dog or some children run across it.  

Thoughts?
 

ritz

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First, thanks for making a shelter for the kitty.  32F/rainy conditions--borderline in so far as whether a shelter is needed (always, welcomed!)  The cats in my colony seem to be bothered more by rain than cold.  If there is a gutter or any type of overhang on the buildings in your apartment complex, then that can be sufficient to keep the rain off the cats/shelter. That is one of the places the cats in my colony stay when it is raining.  (Of course, it also depends on which way the wind is blowing.) 

Do you have a balcony you could put the shelter on--how far up are you?   Any trees near by where your kitty could climb the tree and access the shelter?

*My* concern wouldn't be so much drawing unwelcome attention to the kitty as it would whether the shelter would be stolen.  Where I lived, it definitely would have been thrown away within a day or two or stolen.

And, yes, actually, a box cutter is enough to cut the opening, assuming you're strong enough.  I actually use a TALL rubbermaid container as a litter box for Ritz, my (female) cat who pees standing up.  My brother cut an opening for Ritz to go in and out (I didn't want her to have to jump up).
 

ldg

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Well, as to kitty being cornered in the shelter, just cut holes in both ends. It's kind of awkward with the box cutter, but I was able to do it. Shelters with an entrance and an exit are more likely to be used anyway, in my experience.

For something that may be less likely to be noticed, buy a box with dark colors. Also, a small garbage (outside) garbage can works too, just set it on two boards to prevent it rolling. They're expensive for what they are, but the idea is this:
(I think it's really cool Feline Furniture is selling feral cat shelters - straw and all! :lol3: )
 
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bastfriend

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Thanks you guys!

Ritz, good to know a box cutter can work.   I ended up making the "temporary shelter" from http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/HOW_TO_FERAL_CAT_WINTER_SHELTER but I think for longer term the rubbermaid will be better.   I'm too high up for my balcony to work unfortunately - my apartment complex has guys with leafblowers go over every inch of ground once a week.   I've had trouble a couple of times with them getting rid of the water and food bowls I put out in the most discreet spot I can find, but recently they are letting them be.   My concern about exposing Oscar is that I know at least one of my nearby neighbors is not cat friendly and once the weather warms up tons of unsupervised destructive children run around here.   So I worry about how best to keep my feral buddy incognito.

LDG, a second vote for the box cutter - great!   I liked that link of the roundish shelter.   Where can a person buy straw to fill up a shelter with?   Good to know an exit helps - I put the completed temp shelter out in the living room to test with  my two indoor cats and neither would go in - it only has one hole.   I covered it with black plastic sheeting and used black duck tape - hopefully that will help camouflage it.
 

kitsey

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I sawed through mine with a steak knife, which I do not recommend, but it got the job done-lol I read after I made mine that heating up the bin with a hair dryer makes the plastic easier to cut through. Not sure if it helps, but it's worth a shot :) Also do not recommend hauling an entire bale of straw up a flight of stairs into your bedroom, but hey-what can you do? >.< This is the one I made for my ferals Mitten and Budders. Sad to say Buds disappeared in 2010, but Mitten has now been an indoor kitty for a year and a half.


 

ritz

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Regarding straw/hay:  they are not the same thing, get straw (horses eat hay) if you have a choice.  You can buy it at any store that caters to farmers.  One bale is more than enough (I threw away 2/3 of what I bought) and is very cheap.  You might want to see if the store will just give you the leavings, the stuff on the ground/floor.  Also if you transport it in your car, put a large plastic bag on the seat first.  I still have some of the pieces in my car, it sticks to everything.

Your local garden shop might also sell it, but straw/hay is a seasonal item to them, which is why I recommend a store that caters to farmers.

The temporary shelter looks good, too.  I noticed it was very close to the building, which acts as an insulater of sorts.  Yeah, I've run into problems with the maintenance men threwoing away food and plates near where I feed (the dumpster, also out of the way as much as possible).  Ironically, they don't throw away the trash humans leave behind, such as beer bottles, 7-11 Super Gulp cups, etc.
 
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bastfriend

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Thanks for the hair dryer tip Kitsey!  When I'm ready I will try it probably with a box cutter because I don't have any sturdy steak knives.   I'm sorry your Budders moved on but glad MIttens was able to become a pampered indoor kitty.
 

I now know from you and Ritz to watch out for the straw getting everywhere!    I know just the store too that has farmer focused stuff so maybe they will give me a small amount....  
Ironically, they don't throw away the trash humans leave behind, such as beer bottles, 7-11 Super Gulp cups, etc.
So true Ritz!
 

fastnoc

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I had this issue come up recently, caring for a stray.

I used two tubs, a very big one, and a large one for the inside. used Cellulose (basically there is no better insulation other than fiberglass, but you can't get enough to matter (takes 9 inches of space on each side for good insulation).

I used a box cutter, in fact, it's the ONLY way i would do it. I tried a dremel, it just melts the plastic. Take the cutter and score a line all the way around. then simply go back over it again and again till it cuts through. it took less than 5 minutes per tub.

Then i just used a LOT of duct tape to make the tube, piling cellulose around the hole. now, this wasn't the best way to do the tube, but I was in a hurry. ideally you'd make sides, and tape them TO the center.

Also, get a heated cat pad, that's what I did. they turn on by pressure when the cat lays on them.

Finally, cats do NOT like being penned in. So make two hholes. and entrance and exit. If it gets too cold, plug one side.

Mine, with two entries, stays at 55 degrees regardless of outside temp (down to 10 degrees outside).

Here are some pics of how i did it. In total it was about 50 bucks.



it kind of looks like the tops are even but they aren't. There's 3 inches piled on top of the internal tub lid. The insulation is just cellulose (which is actually just shreaded recycled paper) and one bale is enough (10 bucks at home depot of lowes). They come compacted in plastic. they're really meant for machines to blow them into attics etc, but if you just grab them and pull apart they shred just fine. I used one bail and had 1/4 left over that I keep for later. I need to go back inside of mine, because currently I put a camera in mine to monitor the cats. but it's on the floor. I'll mount it in the ceiling later.

fyi my feral moved right in, the first night
 
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bastfriend

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Awesome shelter fastnoc!   I never heard of cellulose before but I've got a home depot nearby so I could get some.   I don't know if Oscar is using the temp shelter I made for him or not - it's in a place where I can't watch it  - now if I had a camera like you I could watch it!   Oh man....am I falling down the rabbit hole?
 

fastnoc

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you get spoiled with the camera, believe me. Plus it's handy for seeing if there's a  problem. It's how I noticed my stray had been hurt.

See how it works :)

 
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bastfriend

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Awwww, Pickle is adorable!  And she looks very cozy in there too.   Do you line the inner clear container with any materials?
 
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