Seeking tips and advice for winter cat shelters!

Hey all!  It's supposed to get down into the 20s tonight, pretty cold for Georgia, I know I'm not happy.  I've been very worried about the outdoor strays I feed - I've wanted to build some shelters for them, but I live on disability and make very little at the part time job I hold down.  Fortunately, though, a wonderful, generous friend who is also an animal lover gave me $50 to work with, so!  I've never built one of these things, so I am looking for any advice from more experienced cat folk. 

I've got at least three cats I'm trying to keep warm, so I figured the best bang for my buck would be to go with the styrofoam cooler inside a straw-lined tote shelter in this tutorial:
If anyone knows better, please, I am all ears!  I'm mostly just worried about losing a finger cutting the hole out - I don't have a hairdryer, either.  I'm also worried they just won't use them.  I'd wanted to get them heated shelters or heating pads to make them more tempting to the cats, but I don't think I can afford that and I'm pretty sure they unfortunately hate each other too much to pile in together    If anyone has any sage words of wisdom, let me know! 

Amy

If you have a protected place to put the coolers, you may not have to get the totes.  Otherwise, a small cooler inside a medium sized tote shouldn't cost too much.

Cutting the hole isn't hard - with the coolers, you can use a box cutter.  I use a zigsaw to cut the holes when I make houses, and use two totes with styrofoam insulation between the two.   I also use a length of PVC pipe as a "porthole" linking the two totes, so there's no leaking in between them.  You can also use a plastic flower pot with the end cut off.

Use straw as the bedding.  It won't wick up moisture the way blankets will.  It will also be super warm and give the cats a place to cuddle down in.

You may be able to get a large doghouse that the three of them may share.  A "door" of plastic sheeting would help keep the wind out.

If they won't share a shelter at all, then you'll need three shelters.

Why not try making one and see if they show interest.  If they begin to use it, make two more.

Here's an article on keeping ferals warm during winter

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