Best winter shelter for feral cat

A few months ago, I posted about the little feral mama and kittens who were living under my porch. I had her spayed and released her back into the yard, and the kittens are all in good homes now. (Two in mine!)

I am still leaving food for Little Mama, and every few weeks I do get a glimpse of her so I know she's still coming to eat it. She is incredibly shy, and only feeds at dusk or at night. So it doesn't look like there's much chance of luring her indoors before winter closes in.

Winters here in Wisconsin can be brutally cold and snowy (we're talking weeks of subzero temps, snow measured in feet--Ack!) I want to provide Little Mama with a really good shelter that will keep her safe and comfortable, and I'm willing to spend some money to do it.

So I'm looking for a good, insulated shelter to keep out the cold and snow, and it should be able to hold an outdoor-rated warming pad (something like the K&H Lectro-Kennel.

Sorry, I posted before I finished my question! I'm thinking the most promising possibilities are: 1) the Ark Workshop Outdoor Cat House, or 2) the Feral Villa.

So I wondered if any of you experienced feral care-givers have used either of these? Do you have recommendations for or against?

I'm pretty sure Little Mama is solitary (although she must have hooked up with a Tom at some point , so she won't have any other cats to snuggle up and share body heat.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Thank you for wanting to help Little Mama.  Here is a great link to a heated cat house

http://stabobspethouses.net/ 

My DH built a feral villa for me, but it only had one entrance.  Many feral cats want something with an entrance and exit.  Yet this makes the shelter much colder.  Do a google search on "feral cat winter shelters" and search under images.  You will see lots and lots.

You can take a look at the shelters I have used and currently use in the link to my blog in my signature. 

I just ordered the Medium Cat House from the Ark Workshop. I have bought many over the years . This one is the best Ive seen. Also, stay away from K & H.  I also have bought lots of them since they are crap and stop working within a year or so of buying them. If you want a pet heater that is as well constructed as the Ark house, get them from http://www.kanemfg.com/pet-heating/ . They are a US family business that builds stuff for farmers and pet owners. Its built like a tank and they will fix it if it ever breaks!

@ Tom - can you post a link to the Ark Workshop? I'd like to see the houses.

Tom Daigon said:

 
I just ordered the Medium Cat House from the Ark Workshop. I have bought many over the years . This one is the best Ive seen. Also, stay away from K & H.  I also have bought lots of them since they are crap and stop working within a year or so of buying them. If you want a pet heater that is as well constructed as the Ark house, get them from http://www.kanemfg.com/pet-heating/ . They are a US family business that builds stuff for farmers and pet owners. Its built like a tank and they will fix it if it ever breaks!

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I have many of the K&H heating pads and have had some for 5 years and they are still going strong.  They heat well and hold up well outside during extreme cold weather.  I have no problem at all with them.  They also are readily available online.

Ondine said:

@ Tom - can you post a link to the Ark Workshop? I'd like to see the houses.

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I found this @Ondine

http://www.arkworkshop.com/MEDIUM-Outdoor-Cat-House-MCH-LS-SQ.htm

Thanks for the tip about the Kane Mfg pads! I haven't had great results with the K&H pads either--but I didn't know what alternatives were available for use outside.

This is where I was looking at the Ark Workshop houses:
http://www.arkworkshop.com/

Heres a link to the Ark Workshop. Very nice MoM and Pop own and run it.   http://www.arkworkshop.com/main.sc

lcf2015 said:

Thanks for the tip about the Kane Mfg pads! I haven't had great results with the K&H pads either--but I didn't know what alternatives were available for use outside.

This is where I was looking at the Ark Workshop houses:
http://www.arkworkshop.com/

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Yes, I just ordered 2 of those for the backyard colony I am caretaker of. I have several already from other vendors and I think these are the best. I got the Medium House with a Poly door, straw for warmth bedding and painted with a protective sealant.

ShadowsRescue said:

 
I have many of the K&H heating pads and have had some for 5 years and they are still going strong.  They heat well and hold up well outside during extreme cold weather.  I have no problem at all with them.  They also are readily available online.

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Glad they are working for you.  I prefer to buy American (K & H is made in China) and a product that built like a tank.  

Those are great houses! And not that expensive, either. I like that they offer two doors. Most outside cats like having an escape hatch.

Ondine said:

Those are great houses! And not that expensive, either. I like that they offer two doors. Most outside cats like having an escape hatch.

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The second door is not standard.  You need to pay extra for an "escape" door.  The price is good, but be sure you know that with the standard cat house there is only one door.

My boys would freak without an escape door.  It's such a bummer as the escape door does add additional cold air into the unit.

ShadowsRescue said:

 
The second door is not standard.  You need to pay extra for an "escape" door.  The price is good, but be sure you know that with the standard cat house there is only one door.

My boys would freak without an escape door.  It's such a bummer as the escape door does add additional cold air into the unit.

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Interesting. I currently have 3 house that have no escape doors and my ferals are fine with them. Two "cabins" have heated mattes and poly doors which make them nice and toasty in the winter. The 2 I just ordered from the Ark Workshop dont have extra doors so I can keep the coast down. Good thing it doesnt seem to be issue with my Vegas Cats     ; )

Your cats might feel comfortable enough with one another. They are lucky kitties!

I know a lot of outdoor cats who, like ShadowsRescue's boys, would not use the house without an escape hatch. Some cats are a little more cautious and others may had had a bad experience.

Just out of curiosity (I'm also thinking ahead to the winter months and my backyard feral I feed), how do you encourage ferals to use it? I don't want to invest into something that she ends up being too scared of to use.

You can put a little catnip in the straw bedding. I usually don't feed inside the house because it can draw critters but some people have successfully done that. They feed during the day and remove any food before nightfall.

Using straw bedding keeps the shelter nice and cozy and it won't mold like blankets. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth in the bedding to help cut down on fleas and ticks. Ticks might not be a problem in winter but fleas can be.

As mentioned above, sometimes a second opening helps, too. Covering it with a clear plastic flap will help the skittish cat while can help cut down on the wind cutting in.

In my case it just takes time and motivation n their part.

They have to get used to its presence and smell (its a little gross, but they seem to like them better after some male cats have "claimed" them by spraying a little of their marking scent on them).

The 2 Im getting from the Ark Workshop really wont be needed until the end of November, but I will be putting them out their around Sept. 15 when I receive them. In my colony there is always the one thats brave enough (and cold enough or wet enough) to blaze the trail which shows the others that they arent traps.