Winter Shelters for Ferals

Hi there, just a tip for the ones who want to provide ferals with winter shelters:

If you need styrofoam boxes, instead of buying coolers, go to a Petco or PetSmart - or any petstore that has an aquatics department - and ask staff to save some for you. They get fish delivered in big styrofoam boxes and toss them out after use.

As for bedding: straw is always the best because it does not keep moisture and it does mold. Ask a farmer. Otherwise you can buy straw in feed stores or pet stores.

Hey thank you!  I'm going to start work on a couple Rubbermaid shelter tubs this weekend - I just called my Petco and they are setting me aside some styrofoam to pick up tonight    One less thing to buy - yay!

I recently bought a "Cat Condo" made from a large Coleman cooler. It has two swinging doors and a heating pad that is designed for such a purpose, otherwise a regular heating pad can get too hot (even on low setting) and burn the kitty. I live in SW Pennsylvania and below zero temps are not uncommon in our typical winters. My recent feral convert, Callie (or Calvin, now that we know he is a male), has been enjoying it and I'm surprised how quickly he adopted it. The ones that you make yourselves out of Styrofoam are great, although you need to make sure they are tied down due to their light weight.

   Regardless of what it is made out of, make sure it is well insulated and has a bottom that will hold heat and not get moldy or rot...straw works well. Some types of carpeting work, but make sure that it won't get waterlogged of mildewed. I recommend two doors if possible...this helps to keep the cat from worrying about being trapped in case of attack by other wild animals. This might be more of a point with Feral cats. The doors on my unit are smoked, so the cat can see what is going on outside while staying inside (next to a nice and cozy fireplace and big screen TV)

   Good luck and keep up the great work! Winter Kitty's appreciate it!!

Jim

Jim:  Let us know how that works.  I made some houses out of coolers but found that they leaked.  I ended up having to find totes to place them in.

So far, the cooler condo has worked out very well. It is used in the upside down position, so any water would tend to drain out around the lid (now the bottom) of the cooler. They have set the doors so that they are less likely to freeze up and help to keep any wind driven rain or snow out. If it gets brutally cold, I might tape one door shut to keep any cold air from leaking inside...if the cold air can't escape it also won't be as likely to creep in.

   All told, the design seems pretty well thought out and the cat is totally happy with it...for the first time in it's life it won't be freezing as much in his posh cat condo. He was actually purring the other day...I wonder if ferals ever purr by themselves? Callie/Calvin is starting to follow me around the house a little...I think he is finally going to call my house, his home.

Jim M 

JMarkitell said:

 
So far, the cooler condo has worked out very well. It is used in the upside down position, so any water would tend to drain out around the lid (now the bottom) of the cooler. They have set the doors so that they are less likely to freeze up and help to keep any wind driven rain or snow out. If it gets brutally cold, I might tape one door shut to keep any cold air from leaking inside...if the cold air can't escape it also won't be as likely to creep in.

   All told, the design seems pretty well thought out and the cat is totally happy with it...for the first time in it's life it won't be freezing as much in his posh cat condo. He was actually purring the other day...I wonder if ferals ever purr by themselves? Callie/Calvin is starting to follow me around the house a little...I think he is finally going to call my house, his home.

Jim M 

Click to expand...

Oh, I had mine right side up.  I guess that makes the difference.

One of our caregivers has a camera in her feral's house and she said he purred as he fell asleep.  He was probably self-comforting, bless his heart.

I hope Calvin stays inside permanently ...

Here is a good instruction video on how to build an igloo-type shelter: