Shelter Options for Fall & Winter

Hi everyone. Since the summer is coming to an end I been thinking about what to do with my 4 outdoor cats regarding shelter.
Last year they had the garage but stopped going in when a skunk sprayed in it :-(. Since then they stay on a bench we have in front of the house under an awning & they go under it as well. We put tall potted plants so they feel safer and less exposed.
We were thinking of taking away the bench in the winter and building something that we can put a heating pad or two in. It would have to protect from rain/snow & be off the ground I'm assuming?
Does anyone have any ideas of what to do? Thank you so much in advance for any suggestions!

OrangePoe said:

Hi everyone. Since the summer is coming to an end I been thinking about what to do with my 4 outdoor cats regarding shelter.
Last year they had the garage but stopped going in when a skunk sprayed in it :-(. Since then they stay on a bench we have in front of the house under an awning & they go under it as well. We put tall potted plants so they feel safer and less exposed.
We were thinking of taking away the bench in the winter and building something that we can put a heating pad or two in. It would have to protect from rain/snow & be off the ground I'm assuming?
Does anyone have any ideas of what to do? Thank you so much in advance for any suggestions!

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I myself dont have practical suggestion, but I know we had treads about this.  So if nobody answers, you can surely find them on your own.

One important thing with shelters, they must have an emergency exit on the backside.  So the cat wont get trapped inside if  a predator manages to get in while they are inside...

You can do a quick google search on outdoor cat shelters.  Also you can take a look at my blog ( in my signature below).  I have a section on different types of winter shelters.  Also do a search here and you will find lots and lots of ideas.

I use heat pads as well as a hound heater in a cat shelter my DH built.  There are loads and loads of ideas.  I also use rubbermaid or sterlite boxes with heat pads.