I have a few outdoor cat shelter/ housing Questions

Hi I recently posted asking for feedback regarding outdoor shelter for my stray/feral cats. I recently started caring for 2 strays. Now I have two more dilemmas I need advice on

1. I was able to find a "dogloo" on craigslist for cheap ( kinda like igloo looking one) and I am going to turn it in to an outdoor cat house. The dogloo is very spacious and insulated but what is the best bedding for a dogloo? I keep hearing blankets, towels etc are not great for certain reasons but thats what I have in there for now. Is that bad? Do people put straw in igloos as well? that would be alot of straw! I would like some feedback please. Has anyone used an igloo/dogloo type shelter and if so what did you put in there?

2. While I am searching for dogloo shelter #2, I have built an emergency  outdoor cathouse out of a cardboard box. I put a smaller box inside a slight larger box for more insulation and since I did not have "straw" I went ahead and shredded some newspaper for the time being and put it in  the box. I was all proud of my creation and I tried to lure the cats into it and put food in there and they aren't buying it! One of the strays is afraid of it. I think I've been laying blankets everywhere for so long that they aren't sure about this this shredded paper business! haha. 

So of course, I need reassurance on this shredded newspaper/ straw biz. Is it really all thats it's cracked up to be and how can I get my kitties in there? Will it just take some time? Help!

Thank you so much

I used a dogloo for awhile.  My problem was that it was an XL size and the opening was huge.  So huge infact that it let in so much cold air, snow and rain.  I tried putting strips of plastic to cover the door yet still allow the cats to go inside easily.  They freaked out. 

I tried using straw which is supposed to be the best as it can tolerate being a bit wet and will dry out. Blankets once wet will not dry out and create so much cold.  You can use blankets as long as you check them each day to be sure they are not wet.  My problem was overnight when the rain/snow came and it got wet inside.  My ferals hated straw.  I tried and tried to get them to use my houses, but the straw did not appeal to them.  My dogloo would get used during the day.  It warmed up nicely in the sun.  I prefer to use the electric outdoor heat pads.  They work so well if you have an outdoor electrical outlet.  If not there are microwave discs that you heat up each night and put under their bedding.  The heat will hold for 6-10 hours depending on how cold it is.  You can find both of these on Amazon. 

I also love the cat house on Amazon.  You can get it heated or unheated.  If you don't have an electrical outlet you can buy it unheated and use the microwave discs.

This one is heated, but the unheated sells for about $50

Thank you for thinking of these cats--and for thinking ahead.
For the first time I'm going to try to give my stray cat colony an outdoor shelter.
In the good old days, one year there was a vacant apartment, ground level, with a near empty utility shed. In there I squeezed three boxes, the kind that mail carriers use, and put straw in them along with a blanket. The strays/ferals did use it. Unfortunately, that unit was sold that spring, so I can't use it any longer.
Instead of cardboard, I'm going to use a huge rubbermaid type container, with a square cut in the front for easy access. I have some Styrofoam sheets that I found in the trash can (perhaps originally used to protect the shipping of a television set) and will cut to size. Then I will put in straw and maybe some blankets.
You could also use a stryrofoam cooler, which you can get for cheap at thrift stores. Insulated, plastic coolers would be better, though I'd still would put in the stryofoam (available at craft stores).
My problem now is I live 30 minutes from the colony (I moved) and only get there on the weekends. So if it rains unexpectedly, the blankets will remain wet. And this is the same area/condo where people stole two of my humane Havahart traps. So I am going to have to literally chain the winter shelter to an immovable object, probably a tree. The only place I am reasonably sure it won't be thrown away by maintenance men or stolen immediately, is up a steel incline. (I know anything like a dog igloo would get stolen--and the chain cut.) I think this winter is going to be a bad one (Ritz was rescued after a 20" snow storm), so I want to protect them as much as possible.

Straw is really best. Blankets and towels will mold. At around $6.00 for a bale, straw is still the cheapest way to give them warmth. Fill the igloo loosely but full - the cats will snuggle in and make little pockets for themselves.

I would think straw would be kinda uncomfortable, and would have to be replaced often. The same with shredded paper. Towels or any kind of cloth would have to be washed  Sorry, I don't have any suggestions. Hopefully, now that I have answered you, someone else will come up with some ideas.

It is usually best not to post the same question on two boards. Everybody will think the other thread will be answered.

I live in the tropics so I don't know how useful my suggestion is. What I use as bedding are old pillowcases loosely stuffed with straw. I close the open end by sewing it  enough so the straw does not fall out. Of course after some time due to scratching and kneading, the pillowcases will be shredded to bits and they are replaced.  I don't use newspaper because of the "crinkly" noise it makes and strays/ferals don't seem to like it. 

Two advantages to straw is that it is long-lasting and you can add diatomaceous earth to it to help keep the bugs down.  By fluffing it up, you can make it last a little longer, too.

In wetter weather, blankets or other textiles will mold.